The image feature lets you create an image of your Instance, which contains all its volumes. You can use this image to restore your Instance and its data and create a series of Instances with a predefined configuration.
This feature is available on Instance types. Creating images of your Instance is free. However, keep in mind that as the image feature creates snapshots of your volumes, you will be billed for these snapshots.
This creates an image that is a complete backup of your Instance including all of its volumes. The snapshot feature, on the other hand, creates snapshots of specific volumes. Consider creating a snapshot if you want to use different snapshot strategies for different volumes of your Instance, e.g., if it has one volume containing the OS and another containing application data.
To complete the actions presented below, you must have:
When you create an image, each of the Instance’s volumes are snapshotted. You will be able to see the snapshot of each volume via the Snapshots tab of your Instance dashboard.
There are two different ways to create a new Instance from your image:
Follow the instructions for creating an Instance. At the Choose an image step of the creation wizard, click the My images tab, and select the desired image.
A new Instance is created from your image.
Click Instances in the Compute section of the side menu. The Instances page displays.
Click the Instance you created an image of.
Click the Images tab.
Click «See more Icon» next to the Instance’s image.
Select Create Instance from image on the drop-down list. You are redirected to the Instance Creation wizard, where the image has been preselected for you at step 2.
Finish configuring the Instance according to your requirements, and click Create Instance.
A new Instance is created from your image.