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. You can manage cross-region backups on the Backups page of the RDS console. 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 RDS console.
2. Click in the upper left corner and select a region.
3. On the Instances page, click the target instance name.
4. In the navigation pane, choose Backups & Restorations.
5. 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 the region you specify.
   • If you enable Cross-Region Log Backup, full and incremental backup files of the DB instance are stored in the region you specify.
   • Cross-region backup files can be retained from 1 to 1,825 days.
   • Only backups generated after a cross-region backup policy is enabled will be stored in the target region. Backups created before the policy is enabled will not be replicated across regions.
   • 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.

6. Click OK.
7. 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 RDS console.
2. Click in the upper left corner and select a region.
3. On the Backups page, click the Cross-Region Backups tab.
4. 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
   

5. Click OK.