# Backup virtual computers and disks with Lightsail for Research snapshots
<a name="snapshots"></a>

Snapshots are a point-in-time copy of your data. You can create snapshots of your Amazon Lightsail for Research virtual computers and storage disks, and use them as baselines to create new computers or for data backup. 

A snapshot contains all of the data that's needed to restore your computer (from the moment when the snapshot was taken). When you create a new virtual computer from a snapshot, it begins as an exact replica of the original computer that was used to create the snapshot. 

Because your resources might fail at any time, we recommend creating frequent snapshots to avoid permanent data loss.

**Topics**
+ [Create snapshots of Lightsail for Research virtual computers or disks](create-snapshot.md)
+ [View and manage virtual computer and disk snapshots in Lightsail for Research](view-snapshots.md)
+ [Create a virtual computer or disk from a snapshot](create-computer-from-snapshot.md)
+ [Delete a snapshot in the Lightsail for Research console](delete-snapshot.md)

# Create snapshots of Lightsail for Research virtual computers or disks
<a name="create-snapshot"></a>

Complete the following steps to create a snapshot of your Lightsail for Research virtual computer or disk.

1. Sign in to the [Lightsail for Research console](https://lfr.console.aws.amazon.com/ls/research).

1. Choose **Snapshots** in the navigation pane.

1. Complete on of the following steps:
   + Under **Virtual computer snapshots**, find the name of the computer you want to snapshot and choose **Create snapshot**.
   + Under **Disk snapshots**, find the name of the disk you want to snapshot and choose **Create snapshot**.

1. Enter a name for your snapshot. Valid characters include alphanumeric characters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and underscores.

   Snapshot names must also meet the following requirements:
   + Be unique within each AWS Region in your Lightsail for Research account.
   + Contain 2–255 characters.
   + Start and end with an alphanumeric character or number.

1. Choose **Create snapshot**.

# View and manage virtual computer and disk snapshots in Lightsail for Research
<a name="view-snapshots"></a>

Complete the following steps to view snapshots of your virtual computers and disks.

1. Sign in to the [Lightsail for Research console](https://lfr.console.aws.amazon.com/ls/research).

1. Choose **Snapshots** in the navigation pane.

   The **Snapshots** page displays virtual computer and disk snapshots that you have created.

   Archived snapshots are located on this page as well. Archived snapshots are snapshots of resources that have been deleted from your account.

# Create a virtual computer or disk from a snapshot
<a name="create-computer-from-snapshot"></a>

Complete the following steps to create a new Lightsail for Research virtual computer or disk from a snapshot. 

When you create a virtual computer from a snapshot, use a plan that's the same size or larger than the one used for the original computer. You can't use a smaller plan than the original virtual computer.

When you create a disk from a snapshot, choose a disk size that's larger than the original disk. You can't use a smaller disk than the original.

1. Sign in to the [Lightsail for Research console](https://lfr.console.aws.amazon.com/ls/research).

1. Choose **Snapshots** in the navigation pane.

1. On the **Snapshots** page, locate the name of the computer or disk snapshot you'll use for creating the new computer or disk. Choose the **Snapshots** dropdown menu to view a list of available snapshots for that resource.

1. Select the snapshot that you want to use to create the virtual computer.

1. Choose the **Actions** dropdown menu. Then, choose **Create virtual computer** or **Create disk**.

# Delete a snapshot in the Lightsail for Research console
<a name="delete-snapshot"></a>

Complete the following steps to delete a snapshot.

1. Sign in to the [Lightsail for Research console](https://lfr.console.aws.amazon.com/ls/research).

1. Choose **Snapshots** in the navigation pane.

1. On the **Snapshots** page, locate the name of the computer or disk snapshot want to delete. Choose the **Snapshots** dropdown menu to view a list of available snapshots for that resource.

1. Select the snapshot that you want to delete.

1. Choose the **Actions** dropdown menu. Then, choose **Delete snapshot**.

1. Verify that the snapshot name is correct. Then, choose **Delete snapshot**.