Snapshot Charge Type

Snapshot billing start time

The free trial period for the Cloud Disk Service (CDS) snapshot feature concluded after two months. Official billing for snapshots commenced on March 13, 2020.

Data scope for snapshot billing

• All manual and automatic snapshot data created for your CDS cloud disks (both data disks and system disks);
• Snapshot data created before the official commercial launch of the snapshot service will also be charged;
• Snapshot data in all Baidu AI Cloud regions will be billed, including: North China - Beijing, North China - Baoding, Southwest China - Chengdu, East China - Suzhou, South China - Guangzhou, East China Financial - Shanghai, Central China Financial - Wuhan, Hong Kong (China), and Singapore;
• Snapshots created from CDS cloud disks purchased via the official website event page will be billed normally;
• Custom images created for system disks and cross-region replicated snapshots;
• Only snapshots created from CDS cloud disks are included; snapshots from local disks are excluded.

Snapshot management method

Baidu AI Cloud manages snapshot data generated by CDS cloud disks in the form of [Snapshot Chains](CDS/Snapshot Operation Guide/Introduction to snapshot/Snapshot chain.md). Each CDS cloud disk has exactly one snapshot chain, which contains all manual and automatic snapshot data created for that disk.

• You can check the capacity of each snapshot chain and the number of snapshots it includes through the console or API. Based on actual requirements, you can promptly clean up any unnecessary snapshot data.
• The capacity of a snapshot chain is the total capacity of all snapshots created by the corresponding CDS cloud disk. After the official commercial launch, charges for used storage space will be calculated on a pay-as-you-go basis, with "Snapshot Chain Capacity" as the billing item. You can view the storage charges for each snapshot chain in the Bill Management section.
• Following the commercial release of the snapshot service, the snapshot quota for each CDS cloud disk has been expanded. You can now create up to 512 snapshots per CDS cloud disk, comprising 256 manual snapshots and 256 automatic snapshots.
• When a CDS cloud disk is released, you can opt to retain or release the snapshots created by the disk. If you choose to retain them, the snapshots will continue to be charged, and the release of the cloud disk will not affect the snapshot billing.

Description:

• Snapshots adopt Incremental Snapshot technology. This technology effectively removes redundant duplicate data and reduces storage costs.

Snapshot storage prices

• Billing formula: Snapshot fees = Snapshot chain capacity × Snapshot retention period × Snapshot storage unit price
• Snapshot storage unit price: Snapshot chain capacity is charged in a post-payment (pay-as-you-go) mode for occupied storage space. Unit prices vary by region. For detailed prices, see Cloud Disk Service (CDS) Pricing Instructions -> Snapshots.
• Billing cycle: Charges for storage space used by snapshot chain capacity are calculated hourly, with any duration under one hour rounded up to one hour.
• Billing is determined by the peak capacity of the snapshot chain within the hour. Due to real-time variations in snapshot chain capacity, minor discrepancies may exist between the snapshot chain capacity shown on the bill and that displayed on the snapshot chain page.

Arrears reminders & usage restrictions

Arrears reminders

• Baidu AI Cloud will assess whether your account balance is sufficient to cover the costs for the next 3 days based on your bill from the past 3 days. If it is insufficient, the system will issue a renewal reminder.
• Baidu AI Cloud will assess whether your account balance is sufficient to cover the costs for the next day based on your bill from the past day. If it is insufficient, the system will issue a renewal reminder.

Handling after arrears

At the start of every hour, Beijing Time, the system verifies whether your account balance is adequate to settle the current bill (e.g., at 11:00 Beijing Time, it checks whether funds are sufficient to cover the bill from 10:00 to 11:00). If the balance is insufficient, it results in arrears, and a debt notification will be sent.

Service will be suspended immediately after debts, and the system will send a debt service suspension notification. Data will be retained for 7 days, during which storage space fees will be charged.If no recharge is made within 7 days, the data will be cleared. The system will send a data clearing notification 1 day before data clearing and when data is cleared.

Usage restrictions during arrears

When your account is in arrears, the following snapshot-related operations will be restricted:

• When a disk expires (for prepaid CDS cloud disks) or the account is in arrears, creating new automatic snapshots, new manual snapshots, and adjusting automatic snapshot policies are restricted;
• If the account falls into arrears, snapshot-related actions such as creating custom images, cross-region replication, snapshot rollback, and creating new CDS disks from snapshots will be restricted.

Please recharge your account promptly or clean up any unnecessary snapshot data.