RDS backup and snapshots in AWS - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is an RDS automated backup?

An automated backup is a daily backup of your RDS database that AWS performs automatically. It includes the database and transaction logs, allowing point-in-time recovery within the retention period.

beginner

What is the difference between an RDS snapshot and an automated backup?

An RDS snapshot is a manual backup you create anytime and keep until you delete it. Automated backups happen daily and are retained only for a set period.

intermediate

How long can automated backups be retained in RDS?

Automated backups can be retained from 0 (disabled) up to 35 days. After that, backups are deleted automatically.

intermediate

Can you restore an RDS database to a specific point in time?

Yes, using automated backups and transaction logs, you can restore your database to any second within the backup retention period.

intermediate

What happens to snapshots when you delete the original RDS instance?

Manual snapshots remain even after the original RDS instance is deleted. Automated backups are deleted with the instance.

What type of backup in RDS is created automatically every day?

A Incremental snapshot

B Manual snapshot

C Export backup

D Automated backup

Automated backups are created daily by AWS without user intervention.

How long can you keep automated backups in RDS?

A Up to 7 days

B Up to 14 days

C Up to 35 days

D Indefinitely

Automated backups can be retained for up to 35 days.

Which backup type must you create manually in RDS?

A Manual snapshot

B Point-in-time recovery

C Automated backup

D Continuous backup

Manual snapshots are created by the user whenever needed.

What happens to automated backups when you delete an RDS instance?

A They are deleted with the instance

B They are retained indefinitely

C They convert to manual snapshots

D They are archived automatically

Automated backups are deleted when the RDS instance is deleted.

Can you restore an RDS database to a specific second in the past?

A No, only to the last snapshot

B Yes, within the backup retention period

C Only if you have manual snapshots

D Only if you export the data

Point-in-time recovery allows restoring to any second within the retention period using automated backups.

Explain the difference between automated backups and manual snapshots in RDS.

Think about who controls the backup timing and how long backups last.

Describe how you can restore an RDS database to a specific point in time.

Consider what backups and logs are needed for precise recovery.

Practice

1. What is the main difference between automated backups and manual snapshots in AWS RDS?

easy

A. Automated backups are stored outside AWS; manual snapshots are stored inside AWS.

B. Automated backups happen daily and expire; manual snapshots are created on demand and kept until deleted.

C. Automated backups are created only when the user requests; manual snapshots happen automatically every hour.

D. Automated backups cannot be restored; manual snapshots can only be viewed.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand automated backups

   Automated backups run daily and keep data for a set retention period, after which they expire automatically.

2. Step 2: Understand manual snapshots

   Manual snapshots are created by the user anytime and remain until explicitly deleted.

3. Final Answer:

   Automated backups happen daily and expire; manual snapshots are created on demand and kept until deleted. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Backup type difference = Automated expire, manual keep [OK]

Hint: Automated expire, manual keep until delete [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking manual snapshots expire automatically
• Believing automated backups are user-triggered only
• Confusing storage location of backups and snapshots

2. Which AWS CLI command correctly creates a manual snapshot of an RDS instance named mydbinstance?

easy

A. aws rds create-db-snapshot --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance --db-snapshot-identifier mydbsnapshot

B. aws rds backup-db-instance --instance mydbinstance --snapshot mydbsnapshot

C. aws rds snapshot-create --db-instance mydbinstance --snapshot-name mydbsnapshot

D. aws rds make-snapshot --db-instance-id mydbinstance --snapshot-id mydbsnapshot

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct AWS CLI syntax

   The correct command to create a manual snapshot is aws rds create-db-snapshot with required flags.

2. Step 2: Match parameters

   Use --db-instance-identifier for the instance and --db-snapshot-identifier for the snapshot name.

3. Final Answer:

   aws rds create-db-snapshot --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance --db-snapshot-identifier mydbsnapshot -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct CLI command = aws rds create-db-snapshot --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance --db-snapshot-identifier mydbsnapshot [OK]

Hint: Use create-db-snapshot with instance and snapshot IDs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using incorrect command verbs like backup-db-instance
• Mixing parameter names like --snapshot-name instead of --db-snapshot-identifier
• Assuming snapshot creation is automatic without command

3. Given this AWS CLI output snippet after running aws rds describe-db-snapshots --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance:

{
  "DBSnapshots": [
    {"DBSnapshotIdentifier": "snapshot1", "Status": "available"},
    {"DBSnapshotIdentifier": "snapshot2", "Status": "creating"}
  ]
}

What does the status "creating" mean for snapshot2?

medium

A. "snapshot2" is currently being created and not ready for restore.

B. "snapshot2" is ready and can be used to restore the database.

C. "snapshot2" creation failed and needs retry.

D. "snapshot2" is deleted but still listed temporarily.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand snapshot status meanings

   Status "creating" means the snapshot process is in progress and not yet complete.

2. Step 2: Interpret the impact on usage

   While "creating", the snapshot cannot be used for restore until status changes to "available".

3. Final Answer:

   "snapshot2" is currently being created and not ready for restore. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Status creating = snapshot in progress [OK]

Hint: Creating means snapshot not ready yet [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming creating means snapshot is ready
• Confusing creating with failed or deleted status
• Thinking snapshot is deleted but still listed

4. You wrote this AWS CLI command to create a manual snapshot but got an error:

aws rds create-db-snapshot --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance

What is missing that causes the error?

medium

A. The --region parameter is required for all commands.

B. The --db-instance-identifier value is incorrect and must be the snapshot name.

C. The --db-snapshot-identifier parameter with a snapshot name is missing.

D. The command must be run with sudo privileges.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check required parameters for create-db-snapshot

   The command requires both --db-instance-identifier and --db-snapshot-identifier to name the snapshot.

2. Step 2: Identify missing parameter

   The command lacks --db-snapshot-identifier, so AWS cannot create the snapshot without a name.

3. Final Answer:

   The --db-snapshot-identifier parameter with a snapshot name is missing. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Missing snapshot ID causes error [OK]

Hint: Always provide snapshot name with --db-snapshot-identifier [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to specify snapshot identifier
• Assuming region is always mandatory
• Thinking sudo is needed for AWS CLI commands

5. You want to keep daily backups of your RDS instance for 7 days automatically and also keep a manual snapshot before a major update that you want to keep indefinitely. Which combination of settings and actions achieves this?

hard

A. Create a manual snapshot daily and delete old ones after 7 days; no automated backups.

B. Disable automated backups and create 7 manual snapshots daily plus one before update.

C. Enable automated backups with 7-day retention and rely only on them for the update.

D. Enable automated backups with 7-day retention and create a manual snapshot before update.

Solution

1. Step 1: Set automated backups retention

   Enable automated backups with a 7-day retention period to keep daily backups automatically.

2. Step 2: Create manual snapshot before update

   Manually create a snapshot before the update to keep a permanent backup unaffected by retention.

3. Final Answer:

   Enable automated backups with 7-day retention and create a manual snapshot before update. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Automated + manual snapshot = daily + permanent backup [OK]

Hint: Automated backups expire; manual snapshots keep forever [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Disabling automated backups losing daily backups
• Relying only on automated backups for permanent backup
• Manually creating many snapshots instead of using automated backups