Backup, export, and restore

The data in your AuraDS instance can be backed up, exported, and restored using snapshots. A snapshot is a copy of the data in an instance at a specific point in time.

The Snapshots tab within an AuraDS instance shows a list of available snapshots. To access the Snapshots tab:

  1. Navigate to the Neo4j Aura Console in your browser.

  2. Select the instance you want to access.

  3. Select the Snapshots tab.

Snapshot types

There are two different types of snapshot:

  • Scheduled - Runs when you first create an instance, when changes to the underlying system occur (for example, a new patch release), and automatically once a day.

  • On-demand - Runs when you select Take snapshot from the Snapshots tab of an instance.

Scheduled daily snapshots are kept for 7 days for Professional instances and 14 days for Enterprise instances. On-demand snapshots are kept in the system for 180 days for all instances.

Snapshot actions

Take a snapshot

You can manually trigger an On-demand snapshot by selecting Take snapshot in the Snapshots tab. The snapshot status is shown as In progress until the snapshot has been created; then, the Status becomes Completed.

Restore

You can restore data in your instance to a previous snapshot by selecting Restore next to the snapshot you want to restore.

Restoring a snapshot requires you to confirm the action by typing RESTORE and selecting Restore.

Restoring a snapshot overwrites the data in your instance, replacing it with the data contained in the snapshot.

Backup and export

By selecting the ellipses (…​) button next to a snapshot, you can:

  • Export - Download the database as a compressed file, allowing you to store a local copy and work on your data offline. The compressed archive contains a .dump file that can be imported directly or pushed to the cloud.

  • Create instance from snapshot - Create a new AuraDS instance using the data from the snapshot. This opens a window where you can assign a name to the instance that will be created.