Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) are a popular choice for hosting various applications and services in the cloud. The Azure platform offers several features that ensure high availability and reliability of these VMs. One such feature is the ability to create snapshots of VMs, which is a backup of the VM’s disk at a particular point in time.
In this article, we will provide a easy steps guide on how to create an Azure VM snapshot.
Benefits of Creating an Azure VM Snapshot
Creating a snapshot of an Azure VM offers several benefits, including:
- Disaster Recovery: In case of a disaster, such as a hardware failure, you can quickly restore the VM to its last known good state using the snapshot.
- Save Time: You can use the snapshot to quickly create a new VM with the same configuration and data, which can save you time and effort compared to manually setting up a new VM from scratch.
- Easy Backup: Snapshots are a convenient and easy way to back up your VM’s data. You can keep multiple snapshots over time to provide a historical view of your data.
Prerequisites for creating an Azure VM Snapshot
Before you create a snapshot of an Azure VM, you need to meet the following prerequisites:
- An Azure subscription: You need an Azure account to use Azure VMs. If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for a free trial.
- An Azure VM: You need to have an existing Azure VM that you want to create a snapshot of.
- Access to the Azure portal: You need to log in to the Azure portal to create the snapshot.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create an Azure VM Snapshot
Follow these steps to create a snapshot of an Azure VM:
- Log in to the Azure portal.
- Go to the virtual machine that you want to create a snapshot of.
- In the left navigation menu, click on Disks.
- Select the disk that you want to create a snapshot of and click on Create snapshot.
- In the Creation snapshot blade, provide a name and description for the snapshot.
- Select a subscription and a resource group, or create a new one if necessary.
- Click on Review + create and then click on Create.
Once the snapshot is created, it will appear in the snapshots section of the Disk’s blade. You can use this snapshot to create a new VM or restore the original VM in case of a disaster.
Best Practices for Using Azure VM Snapshots
Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using Azure VM snapshots:
- Regular snapshots: Regularly creating snapshots of your VMs ensures that you always have a recent backup of your data. You can use the Azure Automation service to schedule regular snapshots.
- Test snapshots: Regularly test the snapshots to ensure that you can successfully restore the VM in case of a disaster.
- Use snapshots for disaster recovery only: Snapshots are intended to be used for disaster recovery only and should not be used as a replacement for regular backups.
- Delete old snapshots: Regularly delete old snapshots to reduce storage costs. You can use the Azure Automation service to automatically delete old snapshots.
Common Questions and Answers on Azure VM Snapshots
Here are some common questions and answers related to Azure VM snapshots:
Can I create a snapshot of a running VM?
Yes, you can create a snapshot of a running VM without disrupting its operation.
Can I use snapshots to migrate a VM to another region or subscription?
No, snapshots are not intended to be used for migrating VMs between regions or subscriptions. You should use Azure Site Recovery or Azure Storage for such migrations.
How long Time does it take to create a snapshot?
The time it takes to create a snapshot depends on the size of the disk and the amount of data that needs to be backed up. Generally, snapshots are created within a few minutes.
How much does it cost to store a snapshot?
The cost of storing a snapshot depends on the size of the disk and the amount of data that needs to be backed up. You can view the cost of storing a snapshot in the Azure portal.
Conclusion
Creating a snapshot of an Azure VM is a quick and easy way to back up your data and ensure disaster recovery. By following the steps in this guide, you can create a snapshot of your Azure VM in just a few minutes. Remember to regularly create and test snapshots, and to use them for disaster recovery only.