> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.vergeos-demo.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.vergeos-demo.com/automate-protect-and-extend/backup-and-dr/snapshots-overview.md).

# Snapshots

Snapshots provide nearly-instant, non-disruptive, point-in-time backups that allow for rollback to a previous instance in the event of a hardware failure, faulty application upgrade, VM bluescreen, etc. Snapshot captures and restores can be done at various levels: full system, partial system (select VMs, tenants, VMware services, and volumes based on custom tagging), individual virtual machine, and individual NAS volume.

## Key Features

* **Instant Recovery** – Snapshots can be restored rapidly, minimizing downtime.
* **Minimal Storage Impact** – They are branched against initial data blocks, reducing additional storage consumption.
* **Application-Consistent Snapshots** – VergeOS supports quiescent snapshots, ensuring data integrity by freezing disk activity during capture.
* **Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BC/DR)** – System snapshots can be synchronized to another VergeOS system for offsite protection.
* **Flexible Restore Options** – Users can recover individual VMs and tenants, clone copies for testing, or revert entire environments.

## Automated Snapshots (Scheduled Snapshots)

Snapshots can be automated to take at regularly-scheduled intervals using **snapshot profiles**. A snapshot profile consists of one or more profile periods. Each period determines a frequency for taking snapshots and the default retention time. More information about snapshot profiles is available here: [**Snapshot Profiles (Snapshot Scheduling)**](/automate-protect-and-extend/backup-and-dr/snapshot-profiles.md)

## Manual Snapshots

Snapshots can also be taken manually, with settable expiration. Manual snapshots can be useful for backup immediately before a configuration change, upgrade, or maintenance operation.

## System Snapshot/Restore

System snapshots can be:

* **Full** - captures the entire VergeOS system\
  \&#xNAN;*or*
* **Partial** - capture of select VMs, tenants, VMware services, and volumes based on tagging

### What can be restored from a System Snapshot?

A system snapshot can be used to restore:

* Entire VergeOS system (Full snapshots only)
* Individual VMs
* Individual tenants

For more information see:

* [**System Snapshots**](/automate-protect-and-extend/backup-and-dr/system-snapshots.md)
* [**Restores from System Snapshot**](/automate-protect-and-extend/backup-and-dr/system-snapshot-restores.md)

## VM Snapshot/Restore

VM-level snapshots allow for quiesced capture (requires guest agent) and schedule/retention customizable per individual VM. Partial system snapshots can include/exclude VMs and provide VM quiescing based on custom tagging. For related instructions, see: [**VM Snapshots and Restores**](/automate-protect-and-extend/backup-and-dr/vm-snapshots-restores.md).

## Tenant Snapshot/Restore

Individual tenants can be restored from the parent's system snapshot. For related instructions, see: [**Tenant Restores**](/run-the-platform/tenants/tenant-restores.md)

Additionally, each tenant can utilize [**System Snapshots**](/automate-protect-and-extend/backup-and-dr/system-snapshot-restores.md), independently within their own environment, to back up their complete system or partial snapshots based on custom tagging.

## NAS Snapshot/Restore

Volume snapshots provide quiesced backup/restore of individual NAS volumes. For related instructions, see: [**NAS Volume Snapshots and Restores**](/run-the-platform/nas/volume-snapshots-restores.md)


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