---
title: "Create a snapshot of a node"
description: "Take a snapshot of a supported node before a risky change, so you keep this exact point to build from."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "node"
platform: "MyAccount"
url: "/myaccount/node/how-to/create-a-snapshot/"
topic: ["images-and-snapshots"]
---

# Create a snapshot of a node

A snapshot captures a node at a point in time. If a change does not go as planned, you can
launch a node from that point through a saved image. Take one before something risky, like an upgrade or a configuration you are unsure
about. Creating a snapshot needs a node in the C3, M3, SDC3, GDC3, E1, or E1WC family; [Node families](/myaccount/node/concepts/node-families/) says what each is. The
node must be unlocked and either **Running** or **Powered off**.

## Take the snapshot

1. Open the node's detail page and go to its **Snapshots** tab.
2. Click **Snapshot Now**.
3. The name starts filled in as **snapshot-** plus a random number; keep it, or rename it using
   only letters, digits, underscores, and hyphens.
4. To capture attached storage at the same moment, choose one, several, or all of the node's
   attached volumes to snapshot alongside it.
5. Check the price, shown per GB per hour, then confirm.

The new snapshot shows in the list on the **Snapshots** tab under its name.

## While the snapshot is being taken

Leave the node alone until the snapshot finishes: hold off on reinstalling, rebooting, or locking
it.

## Take snapshots on a schedule

The **Snapshots** tab also links to scheduling snapshots and setting a snapshot lifecycle. That
way a node can snapshot itself on a repeat, instead of you clicking **Snapshot Now** each time.
See [Schedule snapshots for a node](/myaccount/node/how-to/schedule-snapshots).

To launch new nodes from this point in time, see
[Create an image from a snapshot](/myaccount/node/how-to/create-an-image-from-a-snapshot/). If
**Snapshot Now** is greyed out, or other actions are blocked while it runs, see
[Troubleshooting node actions and lifecycle](/myaccount/node/troubleshooting/actions-and-lifecycle/#snapshot-in-progress-blocks-other-actions).

To choose between a snapshot, a backup, and a saved image, see
[Snapshots, backups, and saved images](/myaccount/snapshots/concepts/snapshots-vs-backups-vs-images/).