Configuring a Cross-Region Backup Policy

Scenarios

RDS can store backups in a region different from that of the DB instance for disaster recovery. If a DB instance in one region fails, you can use backups from another region to restore the data to a new DB instance.

If you enable cross-region backup, backups are automatically stored in the region you specify. On the Backups page of the RDS console, you can click View Backup in the Operation column and manage cross-region backups. If cross-region backup is not enabled, backups are stored in the region where your instance is located by default.

After you disable cross-region backup for your DB instance, backup files in the destination region will be deleted.

You can set cross-region backup policies for up to 150 instances under an account by default.

Constraints

You can only configure a cross-region backup policy for your DB instance, but not for read replicas.

Billing

Supported Regions

To use cross-region backup, submit a service ticket to apply for required permissions. Cross-region backup is supported only in certain regions. To obtain the supported source and destination regions, contact customer service.

Enabling or Modifying a Cross-Region Backup Policy

1. Log in to the management console.
2. Click in the upper left corner and select a region.
3. Click in the upper left corner of the page and choose Databases > Relational Database Service.
4. On the Instances page, click the target DB instance.
5. In the navigation pane on the left, choose Backups & Restorations.
6. In the upper right corner of the page, choose Modify Backup Policy > Configure Cross-Region Backup Policy.
   Figure 1 Setting a cross-region backup policy
   
   • If you enable Cross-Region Full Backup, automated full backup files of the DB instance are stored in OBS in the region you specify.
   • If you enable Cross-Region Log Backup, full and incremental backup files of the DB instance are stored in OBS in the region you specify.
   • Cross-region backup files can be retained from 1 to 1,825 days.
   • Only new backup files generated after you set a cross-region backup policy will be stored in OBS in the region you specify.
   • After the cross-region log backup function is enabled, you can restore a DB instance to a specified time point only after the next automated full backup replication is complete. The specified time point must be later than the time when the automated full backup is complete.
   • All cross-region backups of your DB instances are stored in the region you specify.
   • After you enable cross-region backup, the completed backup files in the region where your instance is located will be asynchronously replicated to the region you specify.

7. Click OK.
8. To manage cross-region backups, return to the instance list, choose Backups in the navigation pane, and click the Cross-Region Backups tab.
   • By default, all instances with cross-region backups are displayed.
     • To modify the cross-region backup policy, click Set Cross-Region Backup in the Operation column.
     • To view generated cross-region backup files, click View Cross-Region Backup in the Operation column. If a DB instance fails, you can use the cross-region backup files to restore data to a new DB instance.
       Figure 2 Full backups
       
       Figure 3 Incremental backups
       

Disabling a Cross-Region Backup Policy

1. Log in to the management console.
2. Click in the upper left corner and select a region.
3. Click in the upper left corner of the page and choose Databases > Relational Database Service.
4. On the Backups page, click the Cross-Region Backups tab.
5. Locate a DB instance and click Set Cross-Region Backup in the Operation column. On the displayed page, disable the cross-region backup policy.
   

   Disabling the cross-region backup policy deletes the backups stored in the destination region.

   Figure 4 Disabling a cross-region backup policy
   

6. Click OK.