In correlation with the end of life (EOL) date for MSR 4.0.x, Mirantis
stopped maintaining this documentation version as of July 17, 2026. The
latest MSR product documentation is available
here.
File System backup vs Snapshot backup#
Filesystem Backup (FSB) A backup method that works with almost any storage type, including NFS, local disks, or cloud storage that does not support snapshots. Useful when snapshots are not available or when fine-grained control over files is needed.
Snapshot Backup A fast, efficient way to back up entire volumes that is tightly integrated with the storage provider. Ideal for cloud-native environments where CSI snapshots are supported.
Note
- Filesystem backups are NOT truly cross-platform because they capture files and directories in a way that depends on the underlying storage system. If you back up on AWS, for example, restoring to Azure might not work smoothly.
- Snapshot backups are also NOT cross-platform by default because they rely on storage provider technology (like AWS EBS snapshots or Azure Disk snapshots). However, if you use a snapshot with a data mover, you can transfer it between cloud providers, making it more portable.
Advantages and disadvantages#
| Feature | Filesystem Backup | Snapshot Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slower – Reads and transfers all files, making large backups time-consuming. | Faster – Works at the storage level, quickly capturing an entire volume. |
| Efficiency | More storage needed – Stores files individually, which may increase backup size. | More efficient – Uses incremental snapshots, reducing backup size and time. |
| Compatibility | Works with almost any storage – Supports NFS, local storage, cloud object storage, etc. | Requires CSI drivers or storage provider support – Only works if the storage supports snapshots. |
| Portability | Not fully cross-platform – Can be tricky to restore across different storage systems. | Cross-platform with data mover – Can be transferred between cloud providers with extra tools. |
| Granular restore | Can restore individual files – Useful if you only need specific files. | Restores entire volume – No easy way to get individual files without additional tools. |
When to use each backup type#
Use Filesystem Backup if:
- Your storage provider doesn't support snapshots (e.g., NFS, EFS, AzureFile).
- You need to restore specific files instead of the whole volume.
- You want a backup that works with different storage backends (but not necessarily cross-platform).
Use Snapshot Backup if:
- You want a fast and efficient backup for large persistent volumes.
- Your storage supports CSI snapshots or cloud-native snapshots (e.g., AWS EBS, Azure Disks).
- You need incremental backups to reduce storage costs.