# ecs-snapshot

Part of **ECS**

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# ECS Storage Console Guide

## Operations Overview

| Operation | Console Navigation Path | Prerequisites | Description |
|----------|------------------------|---------------|-------------|
| Create Automatic Snapshot Policy | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies | ECS instance exists; permissions granted; region supports snapshots | Create a scheduled policy for automated disk backups |
| Apply Snapshot Policy | Console > ECS > Disks > Automatic Snapshot Policies | Disk exists; policy already created | Apply or cancel an automatic snapshot policy on one or more disks |
| Modify Snapshot Policy | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies > Modify Policy | Policy already exists; user has modification permissions | Update name, frequency, retention, or time settings of an existing policy |
| Delete Snapshot Policy | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies | None | Remove an unused automatic snapshot policy |
| View Snapshot Policies | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies | None | List and inspect configured automatic snapshot policies |
| Create Snapshot | Console > ECS > Disks > Create Snapshot | Disk in Running state; attached instance in Running or Stopped state | Manually create a point-in-time backup of a single disk |
| Delete Snapshot | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Delete Snapshot | Snapshots not used by custom images | Permanently remove one or more snapshots (non-recoverable) |
| View Snapshots | Console > ECS > Snapshots > View Snapshots | None | Search and filter snapshots by name, ID, disk, time, or tag |
| Create Snapshot-Consistent Group | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Snapshot-consistent Groups | Instance in Running/Stopped state; ≤16 standard/premium performance disks; total size ≤32 TiB | Create crash-consistent snapshots across multiple disks simultaneously |
| Delete Snapshot-Consistent Group | Console > ECS > Snapshots > Snapshot-Consistent Groups > Delete Group | None | Remove a snapshot-consistent group |
| Roll Back Disks Using Consistent Group | Console > ECS > Instances > Disks > Snapshot-Consistent Groups | Instance stopped; group exists; OS unchanged; snapshots intact | Restore multiple disks to a consistent state from a snapshot-consistent group |

## Operation Steps

### Create Automatic Snapshot Policy

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies

**Prerequisites**:
- An ECS instance must exist in the target region
- User must have permissions to create and manage snapshot policies
- A resource set and organization must be available for selection

1. Click the **Automatic Snapshot Policies** tab  
   - Element: **Automatic Snapshot Policies** (tab) — top navigation panel

2. Click the **Create Policy** button  
   - Element: **Create Policy** (button) — top-right corner of the page

3. In the **Create Policy** dialog box, configure the following parameters:  
   - Element: **Create Policy** (dialog) — center of screen  
   - Notes: Ensure all required fields are filled. Default time zone is UTC+8.

4. Click **OK** to submit the policy creation request  
   - Element: **OK** (button) — bottom of dialog  
   - Notes: The policy is created but not yet applied to any disk.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Options/Values | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|----------------|-------------|
| Organization | dropdown | Yes | — | The organization in which to apply the automatic snapshot policy. |
| Resource Set | dropdown | Yes | — | The resource set in which to apply the automatic snapshot policy. |
| Region | dropdown | Yes | — | The ID of the region in which to apply the automatic snapshot policy. |
| Policy Name | text_input | Yes | — | The name of the automatic snapshot policy. Must be 2 to 128 characters long and cannot start with a digit or special character. |
| Sharing Scope | dropdown | Yes | Current Organization and Subordinate Organizations, Current Resource Set, Current Organization | The scope in which the automatic snapshot policy can be shared. |
| Creation Time | dropdown | Yes | 00:00, 01:00, ..., 23:00 | The time of day at which to create an automatic snapshot. Multiple values can be selected. |
| Frequency | checkbox | Yes | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | The day of the week when to create automatic snapshots. Multiple days can be selected. |
| Retention Period | radio | No | Custom Period, Permanently | The duration for which automatic snapshots are retained. Default is 30 days. |

### Apply Snapshot Policy

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Disks > Automatic Snapshot Policies

**Prerequisites**:
- Disk must exist in the ECS console
- Automatic snapshot policy must be created before applying
- Disks must be in a state that allows policy application (e.g., not being modified or detached)

1. Find the automatic snapshot policy in the list and click **Apply or Cancel Policy** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Apply or Cancel Policy** (button) — Actions column

2. In the **Apply or Cancel Policy** dialog box, select the appropriate tab based on your intent:  
   - Element: **Apply or Cancel Policy** (dialog) — main content area  
   - Notes: Choose **Disks Without Policy Applied** to apply a policy, or **Disks With Policy Applied** to cancel it.

3. Select one or more disks from the list  
   - Element: Disk checkboxes (checkbox) — within the selected tab

4. Click **Apply Policy** (if on "Disks Without Policy Applied" tab) or **Disable Policy** (if on "Disks With Policy Applied" tab)  
   - Element: **Apply Policy** (button) — lower part of the 'Disks Without Policy Applied' tab  
   - Element: **Disable Policy** (button) — lower part of the 'Disks With Policy Applied' tab

### Modify Snapshot Policy

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies > Modify Policy

**Prerequisites**:
- An automatic snapshot policy must already exist
- User must have permissions to modify snapshot policies

1. Find the policy you want to modify and click **Modify Policy** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Modify Policy** (button) — Actions column

2. In the **Modify Policy** dialog box, update the desired parameters  
   - Element: **Modify Policy** (dialog) — center of screen  
   - Notes: Changes to retention period do not affect existing snapshots; they apply only to future snapshots.

3. Click **OK** to save changes  
   - Element: **OK** (button) — bottom of dialog

### Delete Snapshot Policy

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies

**Prerequisites**: None

1. Find the policy to delete and click **Delete Policy** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Delete Policy** (button) — Actions column

2. In the confirmation message, click **Delete**  
   - Element: **Delete** (button) — confirmation dialog  
   - Notes: After deletion, the policy is automatically canceled for all disks it was applied to.

### View Snapshot Policies

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Automatic Snapshot Policies

**Prerequisites**: None

1. Click the **Automatic Snapshot Policies** tab  
   - Element: **Automatic Snapshot Policies** (tab) — top navigation panel

2. Review the list of policies in the table  
   - Element: **List of policies** (table) — main content area

3. Inspect policy details such as name, frequency, retention period, and associated instances  
   - Element: **Policy details** (text_input) — right-side panel or expanded row

4. (Optional) Click **View created automatic snapshot policies** to refresh or load additional data  
   - Element: **View created automatic snapshot policies** (button) — main content area

### Create Snapshot

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Disks > Create Snapshot

**Prerequisites**:
- The associated instance of the disk is in Running or Stopped state
- The disk is in Running state

1. Find the target disk and click **Create Snapshot** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Create Snapshot** (button) — Actions column

2. In the **Create Snapshot** dialog box, configure the parameters  
   - Element: **OK** (button) — bottom of dialog box  
   - Notes: Click **OK** after filling required fields.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Options/Values | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|----------------|-------------|
| Snapshot Name | text_input | Yes | — | The name of the snapshot. Must be 2–128 characters, start with a letter, and cannot start with http://, https://, or auto. |
| Instant Access | checkbox | No | Enable Instant Access, Duration of Instant Access | Accelerates snapshot creation for standard/premium performance disks. Default validity: 1 day. |
| Snapshot Description | text_input | No | — | Description (2–256 characters), cannot start with http:// or https://. |

### Delete Snapshot

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Delete Snapshot

**Prerequisites**:
- Snapshots used to create custom images must first have those images deleted
- Requires access to the ECS console

1. Navigate to the Snapshots page  
   - Element: **Snapshots** (link) — left navigation panel

2. For a single snapshot: click **Delete** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Delete** (button) — Actions column (right side of row)

3. For multiple snapshots: select checkboxes next to each snapshot  
   - Element: (checkbox) — left side of each snapshot row

4. Click the **Delete** button below the snapshot table  
   - Element: **Delete** (button) — below the snapshot table

5. Confirm deletion by clicking **Delete** in the confirmation dialog  
   - Element: **Delete** (button) — confirmation message box  
   - Notes: Deleted snapshots cannot be recovered.

### View Snapshots

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > View Snapshots

**Prerequisites**: None

1. Click **Snapshots** in the left navigation panel  
   - Element: **Snapshots** (link) — left navigation panel

2. Select a filter option (e.g., Snapshot Name, ID) from the dropdown and enter a value  
   - Element: **Filter option** (dropdown) — top of the snapshot list

3. (Optional) Click **Advanced Filter** to specify multiple criteria  
   - Element: **Advanced Filter** (button) — top-right corner  
   - Notes: Use this to combine filters like disk ID, creation time, and tags.

4. Click **Search** to display matching snapshots  
   - Element: **Search** (button) — bottom of the Advanced Filter panel

| Parameter | Type | Required | Options/Values | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|----------------|-------------|
| Snapshot Name | text | No | — | Enter the name of the snapshot. |
| Snapshot ID | text | No | — | Enter the ID of the snapshot. |
| Disk ID | text | No | — | Enter the ID of the source disk. |
| Creation Time | date_picker | No | — | Select a time range for snapshot creation. |
| Tag | text | No | — | Enter a tag key or value to filter by. |

### Create Snapshot-Consistent Group

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Snapshot-consistent Groups

**Prerequisites**:
- Instance must be in Running or Stopped state
- Only standard performance disks and premium performance disks can be used
- Disks must be in Running state
- Total size of selected disks cannot exceed 32 TiB
- Up to 16 disks can be included (including system disk)

1. Click the **Snapshot-consistent Groups** tab  
   - Element: **Snapshot-consistent Groups** (tab) — top navigation panel

2. Click **Create Snapshot-consistent Group**  
   - Element: **Create Snapshot-consistent Group** (button) — top-right corner

3. In the **Create Snapshot-consistent Group** dialog box, configure parameters  
   - Element: **Create Snapshot-consistent Group** (dialog) — main content area

| Parameter | Type | Required | Options/Values | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|----------------|-------------|
| Data Source | dropdown | Yes | — | Select the instances based on which to create the snapshot-consistent group. |
| Disks | checkbox | Yes | — | Select standard/premium performance disks (≤16 total, ≤32 TiB). Includes system and data disks. |
| Group Name | text_input | Yes | — | Name (2–128 chars), must start with a letter; allowed chars: letters, digits, . _ - :; no http:// or https:// prefix. |
| Description | text_input | No | — | Description (2–256 chars), no http:// or https:// prefix. |
| Instant Access | checkbox | No | — | Enable to accelerate snapshot creation (disabled by default). |
| Duration of Instant Access | number_input | No | — | Validity duration after enabling instant access (default: 1 day). |

### Delete Snapshot-Consistent Group

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Snapshots > Snapshot-Consistent Groups > Delete Group

**Prerequisites**: None

1. Find the group to delete and click **Delete** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Delete** (button) — Actions column

2. In the confirmation message, click **Delete**  
   - Element: **Delete** (button) — confirmation dialog

### Roll Back Disks Using Consistent Group

**Navigation**: Console > ECS > Instances > Disks > Snapshot-Consistent Groups

**Prerequisites**:
- A snapshot-consistent group is created based on the disks
- The instance to which the disks are attached is in the Stopped state
- The disks have not been released, detached, or have snapshots being created
- The operating system of the instance has not been replaced since the group was created
- The snapshots of the disks have not been deleted from the group

1. Find the snapshot-consistent group and click **Roll Back** in the Actions column  
   - Element: **Roll Back** (button) — Actions column

2. In the **Roll Back** dialog box, read the precautions  
   - Element: **Start Instance Immediately After Rollback** (checkbox) — Roll Back dialog box  
   - Notes: Check this box if you want the instance to start automatically after rollback.

3. In the **Disk Snapshots** section, select the snapshots to roll back  
   - Element: **Disk Snapshots** (dropdown) — Roll Back dialog box  
   - Notes: Only disks included in the group are listed.

4. Click **Roll Back** to initiate the operation  
   - Element: **Roll Back** (button) — Roll Back dialog box  
   - Notes: A "Rolled back." message appears upon success.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Options/Values | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|----------------|-------------|
| Start Instance Immediately After Rollback | checkbox | No | — | Determines whether the instance starts automatically after rollback. |
| Disk Snapshots | dropdown | Yes | — | Lists snapshots in the group; users must select which to restore. |

## FAQ

Q: Can I apply an automatic snapshot policy to a disk that already has one?
A: No. You must first cancel the existing policy (via the "Disks With Policy Applied" tab) before applying a new one.

Q: What happens if I delete a snapshot that is part of a snapshot-consistent group?
A: The group remains, but the individual snapshot is removed. Rolling back using that group will no longer include the deleted snapshot’s disk.

Q: Are automatic snapshot policies charged separately from snapshot storage?
A: Policy creation and management are free. However, each triggered snapshot incurs standard snapshot storage and request fees.

Q: Can I modify the retention period of a policy and affect existing snapshots?
A: No. Retention period changes only apply to snapshots created after the modification. Existing snapshots follow their original retention rules.

Q: Why is the "Create Snapshot" button disabled for my disk?
A: The disk must be in "Running" state, and its attached instance must be either "Running" or "Stopped". If the disk is being modified, detached, or encrypted without proper setup, the button may be disabled.

## Pricing & Billing

### Billing Model
Snapshot operations follow a per-request billing model. Creating snapshots (manual or automatic) incurs charges per request, while viewing, modifying, or deleting policies and snapshots is free. Storage costs for snapshots are billed separately based on capacity and duration.

### Price Reference
| Tier | Price |
|------|-------|
| Standard snapshot request | 0.0001 / |
| Premium snapshot request | 0.0002 / |
| Automatic snapshot request | 0.001 / or 0.002 / (varies by doc) |
| Snapshot-consistent group rollback | 0 / |

### Free Tier
- Monthly free quota: 100 manual snapshots or 100 automatic snapshot requests (depending on context)
- Automatic snapshot policies: free to create and manage
- Viewing, modifying, or deleting snapshots/policies: always free

### Billing Notes
- Incremental snapshots are billed based on changed data; the first snapshot is full and larger.
- Snapshots are retained until manually deleted—regular cleanup is recommended to control costs.
- Rollback operations are free, but underlying snapshot storage fees continue to apply.
- Retention beyond default periods (e.g., 30 days) may increase storage costs.
- Automatic snapshot execution counts as a billable request each time it triggers.