> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xloud.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Instance Snapshots

> Create instance snapshots to capture VM state. Use snapshots as templates to launch new instances or restore configurations.

## Overview

An instance snapshot captures the current state of an instance's root disk as an image.
Snapshots can be used to launch new instances with identical configurations, create
backups before maintenance operations, or share instance states across projects.

<Note>
  **Prerequisites**

  * An instance in `Active`, `Shutoff`, or `Suspended` status
  * Sufficient image storage quota for the snapshot
  * Bare metal instances do not support snapshots
</Note>

***

## Create a Snapshot

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Open the Create Snapshot dialog">
        Navigate to **Compute > Instances**. Click the **More** dropdown on the
        instance row, then select **Create Snapshot** under the **Backups & Snapshots**
        group.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure the snapshot">
        | Field                      | Description                            |
        | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
        | **Instance**               | Current instance name (read-only)      |
        | **Instance Snapshot Name** | Name for the snapshot image (required) |

        For boot-from-volume instances, a read-only table of attached volumes is
        displayed showing which volumes will be included in the snapshot.

        <Note>
          For boot-from-volume instances, the system checks snapshot quota. If
          insufficient quota is available, the submit button is disabled.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create the snapshot">
        Click **Confirm**. The snapshot appears in **Compute > Instance Snapshots**
        with status `Saving`, transitioning to `Active` when complete.

        <Check>Snapshot appears in the Instance Snapshots list with status `Active`.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Source credentials" theme={null}
    source openrc.sh
    ```

    ```bash title="Create an instance snapshot" theme={null}
    openstack server image create \
      --name my-snapshot \
      <INSTANCE_ID>
    ```

    ```bash title="Check snapshot status" theme={null}
    openstack image show my-snapshot -c status
    ```

    <Check>Snapshot status is `active`.</Check>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Manage Instance Snapshots

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Navigate to **Compute > Instance Snapshots** in the sidebar. The list shows:

    | Column          | Description                                     |
    | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
    | **ID/Name**     | Snapshot identifier (clickable to view details) |
    | **Description** | Optional description                            |
    | **Disk Format** | Image format (e.g., QCOW2, RAW)                 |
    | **Status**      | Active, Saving, or Error                        |
    | **Created At**  | Creation timestamp                              |

    **Available actions**:

    | Action              | Location              | Description                                                 |
    | ------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Edit**            | First row action      | Edit snapshot name and description                          |
    | **Create Instance** | More dropdown         | Launch a new instance from this snapshot (must be `Active`) |
    | **Create Volume**   | More dropdown         | Create a block storage volume from the snapshot             |
    | **Delete**          | More dropdown / batch | Delete the snapshot image                                   |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash title="List instance snapshots" theme={null}
      openstack image list --property image_type=snapshot
      ```

      ```bash title="Show snapshot details" theme={null}
      openstack image show <SNAPSHOT_ID>
      ```

      ```bash title="Launch instance from snapshot" theme={null}
      openstack server create \
        --image <SNAPSHOT_ID> \
        --flavor <FLAVOR> \
        --network <NETWORK> \
        my-restored-instance
      ```

      ```bash title="Delete a snapshot" theme={null}
      openstack image delete <SNAPSHOT_ID>
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Launch an Instance" href="/services/compute/launch-instance" color="#197560">
    Create a new instance from a snapshot
  </Card>

  <Card title="Resize an Instance" href="/services/compute/resize-instance" color="#197560">
    Take a snapshot before resizing as a safety measure
  </Card>

  <Card title="Block Storage Snapshots" href="/services/storage/snapshots" color="#197560">
    Create volume-level snapshots for persistent storage
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting" href="/services/compute/troubleshooting" color="#197560">
    Resolve snapshot creation failures
  </Card>
</CardGroup>