Intro to EBS Snapshots
- Snapshots: Point-in-time copies of your EBS volumes.
- Snapshot Creation: Can be done without detaching the volume, but it's recommended for data consistency.
- Cross-Region/AZ Copying: Copy snapshots across Availability Zones (AZs) or Regions for disaster recovery.
Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM)
- Automation: Create, retain, and delete EBS snapshots and AMIs on a schedule.
- Tagging: Use resource tags to identify resources for backup by DLM.
- Limitations: Cannot manage resources created outside of DLM or instance-store backed AMIs.
Fast Snapshot Restore (FSR)
- Problem: Initial I/O latency when restoring snapshots from S3.
- Solution: FSR pre-initializes volumes for you for faster restoration.
- Cost: Expensive, typically used for short-term initialization before disabling.
Additional EBS Snapshot Features
| Feature |
Description |
| EBS Snapshot Archive |
Move snapshots to a cheaper archive tier (75% less cost). |
| Recycle Bin |
Protects against accidental deletion, allows snapshot recovery. |
Key Points
- Snapshots are efficient, storing only changed data since the last snapshot.
- Snapshots improve backup reliability and enable cross-region replication.
- Use DLM to automate EBS snapshot backup procedures and reduce manual effort
- Fast Snapshot Restore offers improved performance for critical situations, but can be costly.
Extras: