Overview

Cloning an instance is to create an instance with the same data and configuration as the original instance by means of Backup+Binlog. The instance cloning allows the user to Minimize the online Data Loss or Damage resulted from the misoperation. If a misoperation occurs, the user can recover the database to the specified time before the misoperation occurs.

The instance cloning allows you to copy new instances for data recovery by Point in Time and Backup Set. Details are as follows:

• By backup set:
  The backup set is a data set of all completed and available backups. The name of each backup set is the point in time when the backup is complete.
• By point in time: The recovery time range is from the completion time of the earliest available backup set to the current time (the point in time is non-optional where no backup set is available). The default point in time is the current time.

Description: When the user chooses to clone an instance by point in time, an error is reported, and the reason is given after the selected point in time if the upgrading/data recovery/xmaster repair occurs between the backup point in time and the target point in time.

Application Scenarios

Typical application scenarios for cloning an instance are as follows:

• Misoperation of the database. The instance cloning is to restore the database to a specified previous automatic/manual available backup set;
• Misoperation of the database. The instance cloning is to restore the database to a specified point in time in the past;
• Restore a specific datasheet of the database or the data of a specific database to a new datasheet or a new database;
• On the premise of not affecting the normal operation of the online environment, create a test environment consistent with the online environment.

Billing Description

The billing standard of the cloned instance is the same as that of the master instance. For billing details, refer to Pricing.

Considerations

1. You can clone the master instance only. If the read-only and proxy instances are mounted under the original instance, you can clone the master instance only;
2. The whitelist setting of the new instance is the same as the master instance. The external network enabling setting is not affected by the original instance and is disabled by default;
3. The database information in the new instance is only consistent with the information of the backup set that you select to clone;

4. The account information of the new instance is as follows:

   • If both of the backup set and master instance belong to a high-privilege account, the account of the new instance is the high-privilege account of the master instance.
   • If both the backup set and the master instance belong to an ordinary account, the account of the new instance is the same as the backup set.
   • If the backup set belongs to a normal account and the master instance belongs to a high-privilege account, the account of the new instance belongs is the high-privilege account of the master instance.
   • After the new instance starts running, the management of the instance is not related to the source instance.

Prerequisites

• At present, the instance cloning only supports MySQL Databases.
• If you want to clone an instance by a backup set, there must be at least one backup replica of the master instance backup set.

Operation Guide

The name of all new cloned instances should be "$ Original Instance Name_replica". The creation of the cloned instance should not influence the status and operation of the master instance. The region, availability zone, database type, and version of the new instance are the same as the master instance, but its instance specifications may be higher than the master instance.

Method 1: Clone an instance on the instance list page

1. Log in to RDS Management Console
2. In the upper left corner of the console page, select the Region where the instance resides. Enter the “Baidu AI Cloud RDS Instance List” page.
3. Find the target instance you want to clone, and click Clone Instance in the corresponding action column to enter the cloning page.

4. In the Clone Instance page, set the following parameters:

   Parameters	Description
   Billing mode	Prepaid mode: means the annual and monthly payment. You need to pay the bill when you create an instance. It is suitable for the long-term demand of stable business. The cost is lower than the postpaid mode. Also, the longer the duration, the more discount you can enjoy. Postpaid: means billing by traffic, i.e., deduct your account balance by hours, and generate the bill according to the actual instance configuration at exactly the hour of Beijing time. It is applicable to the short-term requirements. You can release the instance immediately after the use, saving the cost.
   Availability zone	Same as the master instance by default; When you select a single-MZ, you can create the default master and slave nodes of the RDS in this availability zone; When you select a multi-AZ, the master and slave nodes are distributed in different availability zones.
   Data recovery	You can clone an instance by two methods, i.e., by point-in-time or by backup set. You need to choose a method according to your needs. By backup set: The backup set is the data set of all completed and available backups. The name of each backup set is the point in time when the backup is complete. By point in time: The recovery time range is from the completion time of the earliest available backup set to the current time (the point in time is non-optional where no backup set is available). The default point in time is the current time.
   Specification	It is the successor master instance by default(To be reviewed), which can also be bigger than the master instance.
   Storage disk	It is the successor master instance by default(To be reviewed), which can also be bigger than the master instance.
   Network type	Baidu AI Cloud RDS supports the general network and virtual private cloud (VPC). You need to create a VPC network in advance, or you can also change the network type after you create an instance.
   Purchase information	Duration (prepaid): After you select the required duration, the system should calculate the corresponding configuration fee automatically. The longer the duration, the bigger the discount you can enjoy. Auto renewal (prepaid): Auto Renew is not selected by default, that is, the instance is not renewed automatically. With Auto Renewal selected, the instance should be renewed automatically and the auto renewal cycle should be the same as the original order cycle. Number of cloned instances you want to buy: You can buy up to five cloned instances.

   5. After the configuration, click Next to buy the instance.

   Method 2: Clone an instance on the backup management page.

   1. Log in to RDS Management Console
   2. In the upper left corner of the console page, select the Region where the instance resides.
   3. Find the target instance, and click Instance Name to enter the Instance Details page.
   4. Click Backup in the left navbar to enter the Backup List page.

   5. On the backup list page, click Clone Instance.

      

   6. On the configuration page, select the "prepaid" or "postpaid” mode according to your needs and enter the corresponding tab to select the configuration. You can clone an instance by two methods, i.e., point in time and backup set. Choose a method according to your needs.

   7. Select the region information, data recovery method, and configuration information. For specific parameter descriptions, see the Parameter List for the “Method I”.

      Descriptions:

      • There are two methods to restore data, either by point in time or by backup set.
      • The memory and disk in the configuration information of the cloned instance inherit the master instance by default and can also be larger than the master instance.
      • When cloning instances in batches, you can clone up to 5 instances at one time.

   8. After the configuration, click Next to buy the instance.

   Subsequent Operation

   1. The process of cloning an instance lasts for several minutes. The time required for cloning an instance is related to the data volume of the instance.
   2. When the instance status is “Cloning”, the instance management is disabled so that you cannot perform any operation. After the cloning is complete, you can perform other operations.