Updated on 2025-07-30 GMT+08:00

Creating a Disk from a Snapshot

Scenarios

You can create new disks from snapshots by either locating the target snapshot in the snapshot list and create a disk or specifying parameter Create from snapshot when creating a new disk.

Constraints

Table 1 Constraints

Item

Description

Legacy snapshots

  • Batch disk creation from a snapshot is not supported.
  • A disk created from a snapshot has the same device type (SCSI or VBD), encryption attribute, AZ, region, and disk type as the snapshot's source disk.
  • A snapshot whose name starts with autobk_snapshot_vbs_, manualbk_snapshot_vbs_, autobk_snapshot_csbs_, or manualbk_snapshot_csbs_ is automatically generated during backup. Such a snapshot can only be viewed. It cannot be used to create new disks.

Standard snapshots

  • A standard snapshot with Instant Snapshot Restore disabled can only be used to create disks when the snapshot status is Available.
  • If Instant Snapshot Restore is enabled for a standard snapshot, when its upload is in progress, you can use it to create a disk but cannot change the device type (SCSI or VBD), encryption attribute, AZ, and type of the new disk. They are kept the same as those of the snapshot's source disk.
  • You can use a standard snapshot to batch create disks after its data upload is complete.
  • After a standard snapshot has been uploaded, you can change the device type (SCSI or VBD), encryption attribute, AZ, or type of the disks when using this snapshot to create disks on the console.

General constraints

  • When you create a disk from a snapshot, the disk capacity must be greater than or equal to the snapshot size. In the condition that you do not specify a disk capacity, if the snapshot size is smaller than 10 GiB, the default capacity 10 GiB will be used as the disk capacity; if the snapshot size is greater than 10 GiB, the snapshot size will be used as the disk capacity.

You can view the snapshot upload progress in the status column. If there is a progress bar, the upload is still in progress. After the progress bar disappears, the upload is complete.

Creating an EVS Disk from a Snapshot

  1. Sign in to the EVS console.
  2. In the navigation pane on the left, choose Elastic Volume Service > Snapshots.

    The Snapshots page is displayed.

  3. In the snapshot list, locate the target snapshot and click Create Disk in the Operation column.
  4. Configure the disk parameters. For details, see parameter descriptions and operations provided in Purchasing an EVS Disk.

    To specify a disk capacity larger than the snapshot size, simply enter your desired capacity in the Disk Specifications area.

  5. Click Next.
  6. Confirm the configuration and click Submit.
  7. If you are buying a yearly/monthly disk, make the payment and click OK.

    The disk list page is displayed.

  8. In the disk list, view the disk status.

    When the disk status changes to Available, the disk is successfully created.

  1. Follow-up operation: A disk created from a snapshot already has partitions and file systems. You need to attach the disk to an ECS and then mount the partitions before you can use the disk.

    • If you choose not to attach to server during the disk creation, attach the disk to an ECS by referring to Attaching an EVS Disk.
    • If you choose to use existing partitions instead of re-initializing the disk, mount the partitions in the OS.
      • In Linux, mount the partitions on desired mount points and configure auto mount at system startup. For details, see the steps for mounting partitions and configuring auto mount in Initializing a Linux Data Disk (Less Than or Equal to 2 TiB).
      • In Windows, no further action is required. You can simply use the existing partitions.
    • If you choose to re-initialize the disk, do as follows:

      Note that re-partitioning a disk will erase all the existing data on the disk, so you are advised to use snapshots to back up the disk data first.

      • In Linux, unmount the partitions, delete them (by running fdisk <disk-name>, entering d and the partition number, and entering w), and then re-initialize the disk.
      • In Windows, delete the partitions (using the volume deletion tool) and then re-initialize the disk.

      For details about how to initialize a disk, see Initializing EVS Data Disks.

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