You can use snapshots to back up and restore data on cloud computers. For example, you can create snapshots before you perform risky operations such as modifying critical system files. If a system failure occurs or a misoperation is performed, you can use the snapshots to restore data. This topic describes how to use system and custom snapshots to back up and restore data. In this topic, a Windows client is used as an example.
Background information
Custom snapshots: You can create custom snapshots at a specific point in time to back up data in specific disks based on your business requirements. In WUYING Workspace, end users who are granted the local administrator permissions can create and delete snapshots on Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients. The end users can also restore data from snapshots.
System snapshots: By default, the system automatically creates snapshots for the system disk and data disk of each cloud computer at 01:00:00 every day. The snapshots are retained for only three days and are automatically deleted upon expiration.
The system also automatically creates snapshots for cloud computers in the following scenarios:
For cloud computers to which an automatic snapshot policy is attached, the system automatically creates snapshots based on the time specified by the policy.
Before the administrator upgrades a cloud computer or custom image, the system automatically creates a snapshot. This way, the system can automatically roll back if the upgrade fails. If the upgrade succeeds, the system disk snapshot of the original cloud computer is deleted and the data disk snapshot is retained.
When you change the image of a cloud computer, the system automatically creates a snapshot if the image is a custom image that has been deleted. After the image is changed, the system automatically deletes the snapshot.
Before you upgrade a cloud computer by using a client, the system automatically creates a snapshot. This way, the system can automatically roll back if the upgrade fails. In this scenario, a maximum of three snapshots can be created for a cloud computer. The snapshots are retained for three days.
For more information about snapshots, see Use snapshots (public preview).
Limits
Custom snapshots of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool cannot be created by using a client.
Custom snapshots of a cloud computer that is assigned to multiple end users cannot be created by using a client.
Up to four custom snapshots can be created for each cloud computer.
Only cloud computers that are in the Stopped state can be restored from snapshots.
If you want to restore a cloud computer from a system snapshot, contact the administrator to create the snapshot. For more information, see Use snapshots (public preview).
Back up data
You can create custom snapshots to back up data. The following section describes how to create a custom snapshot to back up data.
Move the pointer over the card of the cloud computer whose data you want to back up, click Manage, and then click the Snapshots tab.
Click the Custom Snapshots tab.
If no snapshot is created for the cloud computer, click Create Custom Snapshot. If a snapshot is already created for the cloud computer, click Create.
Select the type of disk for which you want to create a custom snapshot and specify a snapshot name as prompted.
Click Confirm.
You can view the creation progress and status of the snapshot on the Custom Snapshots tab. After the custom snapshot is created, data that is generated up to the point in time when the custom snapshot is created is backed up.
Restore data
If data on a disk is lost due to a system failure or an operation error, you can use a snapshot to restore the disk data to the point in time when the snapshot is created. The following section describes how to restore data from a snapshot.
You cannot undo restoration. Proceed with caution. After you restore disk data, the disk is restored to the state at the point in time when the snapshot is created. Data that is generated between the point in time when the snapshot is created and the current time is lost. Make sure that you back up important data before you restore a disk.
Move the pointer over the card of the cloud computer whose data you want to restore, click Manage, and then click the Snapshots tab.
Use one of the following methods to restore the cloud computer data from a system or custom snapshot:
Restore the cloud computer data from a system snapshot
On the System Snapshots tab, select the snapshot that you want to use to restore data and click Confirm.
Restore the cloud computer data from a custom snapshot
On the Custom Snapshots tab, select the snapshot that you want to use to restore data and click Confirm.
In the message that appears, click Confirm.
Delete custom snapshots
WUYING Workspace allows you to create up to four custom snapshots for each cloud computer. You can delete the snapshots that you no longer require to free up the custom snapshot quota. The following section describes how to delete a custom snapshot.
Move the pointer over the card of the cloud computer whose data you want to restore, click Manage, and then click the Snapshots tab.
Click the Custom Snapshots tab.
On the Custom Snapshots tab, move the pointer over the snapshot that you want to delete and click Close in the upper-right corner of the snapshot.
NoteFor mobile and web clients, click Delete in the Actions column of the snapshot that you want to delete.
In the message that appears, click OK.