Take a snapshot of a database

Before a risky change, such as a migration or a bulk load, take a snapshot to keep a backup of the data as it is. A snapshot copies the primary node’s disk. You can later restore it into a new database.

Before you begin

• A database in the Running state. Create Snapshot is available only then.
• The create permission for DBaaS in the project. Deleting a snapshot needs the delete permission. See TIR Access Control.

Take a snapshot

1. Choose Create Snapshot in one of these places:
   • The database’s row menu on the Manage Databases list.
   • The three-dot menu on the database’s details page.
   • The Snapshots tab of the details page.
2. In Create Snapshot, keep the suggested Snapshot Name or type your own. The suggestion is the database name, a hyphen, and the current date and time in UTC, such as mydb-20261026-093000. A name uses lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens, starts and ends with a letter or number, and is at most 63 characters. Each snapshot of a database needs its own name.
3. Select Create.

TIR starts the snapshot, and it appears on the Snapshots tab as Creating. The database stays online while the snapshot is taken. When the snapshot is ready, its status changes to Completed. The person who created the database then gets an email with the subject “Your snapshot ‘’ is ready”. If the snapshot fails, its status shows Failed; the email comes only for a Completed snapshot.

Follow your snapshots

The Snapshots tab lists every snapshot of the database, newest first. The list refreshes by itself while a snapshot is Creating. For each snapshot it shows:

• Snapshot Type: Manual for a snapshot someone took, Scheduled for one taken by the snapshot schedule.
• Created At (IST): when the snapshot was taken, in Indian Standard Time.
• Status: Creating, Completed or Failed.
• Size: shown once the snapshot is Completed.

The Overview tab also shows Last Snapshot, with how long ago the newest snapshot was taken and its status.

Each snapshot is also recorded on Activity Timeline: “Snapshot created”, then “Snapshot completed” or “Snapshot failed”.

Delete a snapshot

You can delete a snapshot in any status, whatever state the database is in. Deleting a snapshot is permanent, so restore it first if you still need its data. When you delete a database, its snapshots go with it. See Delete a database.

1. On the Snapshots tab, open the snapshot’s row menu and choose Delete.
2. In Delete Snapshot, select Delete.

TIR deletes the snapshot, and it leaves the list.

To get your data back from a snapshot, see Restore a database from a snapshot. To take snapshots on a timetable instead of by hand, see Schedule snapshots.