Being a cloud architect, it is our responsibility to configure applications for Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity. We should know how to migrate our application or database easily from one region of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to another. This can be easily achieved using the new feature of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Block Volume which allows copying Block Volume backup Across Regions.
If you want to know more about the Regions in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, please check our previous post on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) (Region, AD, FD, Tenancy, Compartment, VCN, IAM, Storage Service)
To know more about Block Volume & various other storage options in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, then check my previous post on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) )Storage Object, Block | File Storage, Data Transfer Service
Copying Block Volume Across Region
Copying block volume across region feature enables you to move your backup of block volume from one region to another within your tenancy.
The feature is provided at zero additional costs to the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure customers. It is only available on the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Console, API, CLI, SDK, and Terraform. If you aren’t aware, we manage Oracle Cloud Infrastructure resources such as compute, storage, databases, network, etc via OCI Console, Rest API, various SDK, or DevOps tool like Terraform.
Limitations
- So far, it is not possible to copy boot volume across regions. However, we can expect this feature in the future updates.
- This feature allows only one backup at a time.
Steps To Copy a Backup Across Regions:
1. Under the Block Storage section in OCI Console, go to block volume backups in the appropriate compartment.
2. Click on the hamburger menu (…) and select the backup you want to copy to another region using the Copy to Another Region option.
3. Specify the name and the target region for the backup, and click on the Copy Block Volume Backup.
4. Click on “OK” to confirm the backup copy settings.
5. From the Console, go to the target region where you have copied the backup. Verify that the backup is available there.
Now, you can restore the required backup at the target destination by creating a new volume from the backup.
And that is how we can copy our block volume from one region to another region within the tenant.
Related/Further Readings
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) )Storage Object, Block | File Storage, Data Transfer Service
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Steps to Resize a Volume [Block/Boot]
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Architect Live Training
- Download the Step-By-Step Activity Guide to Register for an Oracle Cloud Trial Account.
Begin your journey towards becoming an Oracle Cloud Architect by Joining the FREE Masterclass on How To Become Oracle Cloud Architect in 8 Weeks.
Click on the image below to Register for the FREE Masterclass NOW!
FREE Community
Arun says
Thanks for the useful info Rohit. I have a requirement of copying a block volume to another tenancy in the same region, is that possible in current features available with OCI ?
Rohit Pathak says
Hi Arun,
Glad that you have like this post, when you saying another tenancy it means you are copying your block volume from one cloud account to another, this is not possible as of JAN 2019.
Thanks & Regards,
Rohit (TeamK21)
Unnikrishnan says
what is the procedure to clone an instance/boot volume between the regions.
Rohit Pathak says
Hi Unnikrishnan,
The steps will be same just take the backup of the boot volume to another region and then using theat backup you can create a instance.
Thanks & Regards,
Rohit
Vijay says
Hi Rohit,
Are you saying the procedure to copy Boot or Block volume across region is same but currently BOOT volume copy across region is NOT supported where as only BLOCK volume copy across region is support ?
Please correct me if this understand is correct ? If so, is there any other way to copy/clone the BOOT volume from one region to another region in OCI ?
Piyush Jain says
Hi Vijay,
As of 10-Sept.-2019, you can copy only Block Volume Across the region. It is not possible to Copying boot volume backups across regions.
Please check this link for reference: https://docs.cloud.oracle.com/iaas/Content/Block/Tasks/copyingvolumebackupcrossregion.htm
Thanks & Regards
Piyush Jain(Team K21)
azeem says
what is the cost of copying block/boot volumes across regions?
Rahul Dangayach says
Hi Azeem,
Regarding your request, please check the below link for the price list:
https://www.oracle.com/uk/cloud/price-list.html#compute-legacy
Hope this helps.
Thanks and Regards
Rahul Dangayach
Team K21 Academy