When managing your VPS/server in SolusVM 2, you have two protection options: Snapshot and Backup.
They serve different purposes and should be used differently.
Snapshot (Temporary safety / quick undo)
A snapshot works like a “Save Point” or “Undo button.”
Before you make changes to your server (updates, installs, config edits), you take a snapshot.
If something breaks, you can quickly roll back to the previous working state.
Easy way to understand:
Like editing a document → press Ctrl + Z to undo.
Good for:
Testing updates
Installing software
System changes
Short-term rollback
Not good for:
Long-term storage
Disaster recovery
Hardware failure protection
Because:
Snapshots are stored together with the same VM disk.
If the disk crashes → snapshot is gone too.
Backup (Long-term protection / disaster recovery)
A backup is like an insurance copy stored separately.
Even if your server is deleted, hacked, or crashes, you can still restore everything from the backup.
Easy way to understand:
Like saving your files to an external hard drive or cloud backup.
Good for:
Server crashes
Ransomware/hacking
Accidental deletion
Full server restore
Migration to new server
Best practice:
Always keep regular backups scheduled daily/weekly.
Snapshot vs Backup (SolusVM 2)
Feature | Snapshot (SolusVM 2) | Backup (SolusVM 2) |
| Duration | Meant for short-term use (minutes or hours during testing or changes) | Designed for long-term protection (kept for days, weeks, or months) |
| Dependency | Tied to the same VM disk. If the VM or disk fails, the snapshot may also be lost | Stored separately from the VM, so it remains safe even if the server fails completely |
| Use Case | Quickly roll back system changes such as updates or configuration edits | Restore full server or files after major issues or data loss |
| Performance | Keeping snapshots for too long may slow down disk performance and affect server speed | Runs on schedule with minimal impact to server performance |
| What users can leverage | Acts like an “undo” button — safely test updates or changes and revert instantly if something breaks | Acts like an “insurance copy” — protects your data and allows full recovery anytime |
| Real-life situation | Before upgrading OS/cPanel, installing software, or modifying settings. If something fails, revert immediately | Server hacked, ransomware attack, accidental deletion, or hardware crash. Restore from backup to recover everything |
| Recommendation | Delete snapshots after testing or once changes are confirmed stable to avoid performance issues | Keep regular scheduled backups and retain multiple restore points for better protection |