Schedule VM snapshots

Schedule snapshots to copy a TIR Virtual Machine’s disk automatically, so you always have a recent copy to return to, and TIR takes it for you.

Like any snapshot, a scheduled one copies only the VM’s disk. Its settings, datasets, and shared file systems are outside the copy.

Before you begin

• A VM that is Running or Stopped, on a plan that supports snapshots. See Create a VM snapshot.
• Update permission in the project. See TIR Access Control.

Set the schedule

A schedule belongs to one VM. Open the dialog from the VM or from the project’s snapshot list.

• From the VM: in the side menu, under Compute, select Virtual Machines, open the VM, open its Snapshots tab, and select Schedule Snapshot.
• From the list: in the side menu, under Storage, select Snapshots, then Schedule Snapshot. Choose the VM and select Next. Only a VM that is Running or Stopped, on a plan that supports snapshots, can be chosen. You then set up or change that VM’s schedule the same way.

In Schedule Snapshot:

1. Under Snapshot Frequency, choose how often. Daily suits most VMs; choose Every 6 hours for a disk that changes through the day, Weekly for one that rarely changes, and Custom Cron for any other timetable:
   • Every 6 hours runs at 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 India time.
   • Daily takes one snapshot a day. Set the hour and the minute under Run at (IST).
   • Weekly takes one snapshot a week. Pick the Day of week, then set Run at (IST).
   • Custom Cron is a timetable of your own. Enter five fields, in India time: minute, hour, day of month, month, and weekday. For example, 30 7 * * * is 07:30 every day. While the text is valid, TIR gives the next three runs so you can check it.
2. Under How many snapshots to keep, enter a number from 1 to 60. It starts at 7. Once the schedule has more than this number, it removes the oldest scheduled snapshots first. See How many snapshots are kept.
3. Select Schedule Snapshot. With Custom Cron, all five fields must be valid first. See Troubleshooting TIR Snapshots.

Automatic snapshots are now on. Each scheduled snapshot is named scheduled-snapshot- followed by the date and the time in India time.

On that tab, Protection is Scheduled, with the schedule, and Next run gives the time until the next scheduled snapshot.

Change the schedule

While a schedule is on, select Edit Schedule on the Snapshots tab, change what you need, and select Save Schedule.

How many snapshots are kept

When a schedule has taken more snapshots than the number you chose to keep, it removes the oldest scheduled ones first. Snapshots you took by hand stay until you delete them.

Storage is billed for every snapshot that exists, so a lower number to keep costs less. For prices, see E2E Networks pricing.

Turn the schedule off

To stop new snapshots, select Edit Schedule on the Snapshots tab, then Turn Off Schedule in the dialog. The snapshots the schedule already took are kept. You can also open this dialog from the project’s list: select Schedule Snapshot, choose the VM, and select Next.

To use a snapshot that shows Ready, whether the schedule took it or you did, see Restore a VM from a snapshot or Create a VM from a snapshot. To clear out old snapshots, see Delete a VM snapshot.