MSR 4.0 reaches End of Life (EOL) on July 17, 2026. To maintain support and receive updates, Mirantis recommends upgrading to the latest version.
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.