Phase Verbs / Action Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| take a snapshot | capture a point-in-time backup of an EBS volume |
| copy (snapshot across AZ/region) | duplicate a snapshot to use it in another location |
| restore (from snapshot) | create a new EBS volume using a snapshot |
| archive (a snapshot) | move to cheaper storage tier (slower to restore) |
| recover (from recycle bin) | bring back an accidentally deleted snapshot |
Technical Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| EBS Snapshot | A point-in-time backup of an EBS volume; stored in S3 internally |
| Archive tier | Cheaper snapshot storage (75% less) with 24-72 hour restore time |
| Recycle Bin | Retention bin for deleted EBS snapshots; prevents permanent accidental deletion |
| Fast Snapshot Restore (FSR) | Pre-initializes snapshot data so restored EBS has no latency on first use |
| Cross-AZ copy | Moving a snapshot from one AZ to another (enables moving EBS volumes across AZs) |
| Cross-region copy | Copying a snapshot to a different AWS region for disaster recovery |
Key Concepts
What is an EBS Snapshot?
- A point-in-time backup of an EBS volume
- Not necessary to detach the volume first, but recommended for consistency
- Snapshots can be copied across AZs or regions → the way to move EBS volumes between AZs
Moving an EBS Volume Between AZs (Exam Pattern)
EBS Volume (us-east-1a) → Snapshot → Restore to us-east-1bYou cannot move an EBS volume directly — you must snapshot it first and restore in the target AZ.
EBS Snapshot Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Snapshot Archive | Move snapshot to archive tier → 75% cheaper → restore takes 24-72 hours |
| Recycle Bin | Deleted snapshots go here instead of being permanently lost; retention: 1 day to 1 year |
| Fast Snapshot Restore (FSR) | Forces full pre-initialization → no latency on first use; expensive — use only when needed |
Exam Tips
- Snapshots are the mechanism for moving EBS across AZs and regions
- Archive tier = cheap but slow (24-72 hour restore) — for rarely accessed backups
- Recycle Bin = undo accidental deletions (must set retention period)
- FSR = instant ready after restore, but costly — use for large snapshots in time-sensitive scenarios
- You don’t have to detach the volume to snapshot, but it’s recommended for data consistency