Database Backup:Use storage plans

Usage notes

• You can view the prices of storage plans on the DBS buy page.

• You can renew your storage plans, but you cannot upgrade or unsubscribe from the storage plans.

• You can purchase multiple storage plans and use them together. For example, you can use one storage plan of 2 TB or two storage plans of 1 TB each to offset 2 TB of storage usage.

• Subscription storage plans cannot be used to offset the storage usage of cross-region backups for ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances that use local disks, ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instances, and ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances.

Offsetting objects

Offsetting rules

Example of using storage plans to offset storage usage

A backup schedule instance in the China (Hong Kong) region is estimated to consume 120 GB of DBS storage. You purchase a 100 GB storage plan to offset the storage usage. This is how the storage plan offsets the backup storage usage:

1. The storage plan's effective capacity is approximately 88.4956 GB (100 GB/1.13). This offsets 88.4956 GB of DBS storage consumption.

2. The remaining 31.5044 GB (120 GB - 88.4956 GB) is billed at the pay-as-you-go rate. Note that the example uses approximate figures; refer to your bills for final prices.

Offset factors of storage plans

The following table describes the offset factors that apply to different regions.

Purchase a storage plan

1. Go to the buy page of storage plans.

2. Set the Product Type parameter to Storage Bag.

3. Set the Type, Region, Specification, Quantity, and Duration parameters based on your business requirements.

   Parameter	Description
   Type	The type of storage plan. In this example, Backup Instance Storage Plan is selected. For more information about other types of storage plans, see the Offset objects section of this topic.
   Region	The region in which you want to use the storage plan. The default value is Global Common. This indicates that the storage plan can be used in the following regions: China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Nanjing - Local Region), China (Beijing), China (Qingdao), China (Zhangjiakou), China (Hohhot), China (Ulanqab), China (Shenzhen), China (Heyuan), China (Guangzhou), China (Chengdu), China (Hong Kong), Singapore, South Korea (Seoul), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Indonesia (Jakarta), Japan (Tokyo), Philippines (Manila), Thailand (Bangkok), Germany (Frankfurt), UK (London), US (Silicon Valley), US (Virginia), and UAE (Dubai).
   Specification	The specifications of the storage plan.
   Quantity	The number of storage plans that you want to purchase. Valid values: 1 to 99.
   Duration	The validity period of the storage plan. Valid values: 1 Month, 2 Months, 3 Months, 4 Months, 5 Months, 6 Months, 7 Months, 8 Months, 9 Months, 1 Year, 2 Years, 3 Years, and 5 Years. Note Storage plans become invalid after they expire. For example, if you purchase a storage plan whose validity period is three months, the storage plan becomes invalid three months after you purchase it. Storage plans of larger storage capacities provide larger discounts.

4. Click Buy Now.

Comparison between backup instance storage plans and pay-as-you-go

To store large amounts of data, we recommend that you use subscription storage plans because they are more cost-effective than the pay-as-you-go billing method. Storage plans of larger storage capacities provide larger discounts. The following table describes the comparison between the prices for backup instance storage plans and pay-as-you-go. In this example, the China (Hangzhou) region is used. For more information, see Storage fees.