1028 - Snapshots

What is a snapshot?

A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of all your data which can be used as a seed (initial) backup (for example, onto external media) to save on transfer costs and allow business operations to continue while your full first backup to the Storage Platform is completed. Additionally, snapshots are encrypted for security purposes.

What can you do with snapshots?

• Export a backup snapshot.
• Import a backup snapshot.
• Export a restore snapshot.
• Import a restore snapshot.
• Upload multiple snapshots in sequence.
• Upload multiple backup snapshots from local or network drives without physical access to a Storage Platform. 
  Note: Recommended only for use over a fast internet connection or LAN.
• Filter out duplicate or invalid snapshots.

Where are snapshots located?

• The upload will prefer the folder specified in the StorageServer setting SnapshotImportFolder as specified in the ProgramData\{Brand Name}\SS_Service\Settings.xml file).
• If this folder does not have enough free space or is not writable, the following folder will be used:{AccountGuidFolder}\Temp\UploadedSnapshots\{NewGuid}.

Note: Snapshot files are not split between locations. All of the files associated with the snapshot are uploaded to the same path.

How much disk space does a snapshot take up?

Disk space of double the size of the snapshot will be needed while the snapshot is being imported (after the upload). 

The reason for this is that the snapshot contents need to be decrypted before the snapshot can be added to the Storage Platform. This results in an additional data set temporarily existing, i.e. the encrypted and the decrypted snapshot data.

What happens to my Account while a snapshot is being uploaded?

• SE Accounts: You will not be able to backup or restore until the snapshot import starts. In the Storage Platform Console, your account will show as Disabled.
• ESE Accounts: You will be able to do restores, but not backups, until the snapshot import starts. In the Storage Platform Console, your account will not show as Disabled since restores are still possible.

How do I seed a backup if I have a poor internet connection?

If you are having trouble uploading a seed backup to Redstor because of limited bandwidth, you can copy the seed data to an external hard drive and take this to a different physical location (e.g. office) with better bandwidth or a different ISP. From here, you can then upload the data to Redstor's cloud for backup.

Should you need to recover data in an environment with no internet connection, it is possible for Redstor to ship a hard drive containing your backed-up data to you, which you can then import as a snapshot into your environment without connecting to the internet.