How to Create an Image of the Cloud VPS Using Snapshots

A snapshot is a copy of your Cloud VPS at a specific moment in time. It acts as a complete image of the server with respect to data structure and system configuration. Network and compute resources are not saved—snapshots restore only the disks and their configuration.

Creating and maintaining a snapshot on SeFlow is free and does not incur additional costs.

What You Need to Know About Snapshots

• You can create only one snapshot at a time per Cloud VPS.
• Snapshots require at least 10% free disk space on the VPS.
• Once created, a snapshot is kept for 48 hours, then removed automatically.
• To restore a snapshot, the VPS must be powered off.
• After restoration, the snapshot is automatically deleted.

Why Create a Snapshot

Snapshots are recommended whenever you are about to perform operations that may cause instability or unwanted changes, such as:

• installing new software or services;
• upgrading the operating system or critical applications;
• making major system configuration changes (firewall, services, web server, database, etc.);
• performing risky edits on critical files or data.

How to Create a Snapshot of Your Cloud VPS

To create an image of your Cloud VPS using snapshots:

1. Log in to the SeFlow Control Panel.
2. Open the details page of the Cloud VPS you want to snapshot.
3. Under the VPS name, select the Snapshot section.
4. Click CREATE SNAPSHOT.
5. Wait for the operation to complete:
   • the snapshot will appear with its creation date and expiration date (48 hours later);
   • the snapshot remains available for 48 hours.

How to Restore the Cloud VPS from a Snapshot

Restoring from a snapshot returns your Cloud VPS to exactly the state it was in at the moment of snapshot creation, including all data and disk configurations.

1. Open the details page of your Cloud VPS.
2. Ensure the VPS is powered off:
   • If it is running, shut it down using SHUT DOWN SERVER.
3. Select the Snapshot section.
4. Locate the snapshot you want to use and click RESTORE.
5. The Restore Snapshot window will open:
   • verify the selected snapshot is correct;
   • confirm by clicking OK, CONFIRM.
6. After the operation completes:
   • you can start the VPS again;
   • the snapshot is automatically deleted, allowing creation of a new one.

How to Delete a Snapshot

If you no longer need a snapshot, you can delete it before the 48-hour expiration.

1. Open the Cloud VPS details page.
2. Select the Snapshot section.
3. Select the snapshot you want to delete.
4. Click REMOVE.
5. In the Remove Snapshot window, confirm by clicking OK, REMOVE.
6. After the operation completes, the snapshot will no longer appear in the list.

Snapshots vs Backups

It is important to distinguish snapshots from backups:

• Snapshots provide short-term recovery points (48 hours);
• Backups provide long-term data protection and safeguard against accidental deletion/modification over time.