Snapshot Management

A snapshot is a backup of the system settings and products. It includes:

  • File system, with customized files

  • System configuration (interfaces, routing, hostname, and similar)

  • Software Blades configuration

  • Management database (on a Security Management Server or a Multi-Domain Server)

A snapshot is very large. A snapshot includes the entire root partition, part of the /var/log partition, and other important files.

For this reason, snapshots cannot be scheduled the same way that Backups can.

Backup and Restore is the preferred method of recovery.

Notes:

  • When Gaia creates a snapshot, all system processes and services continue to run.

    Policy enforcement is not interrupted.

  • You can import a snapshot created on a different software release or on this software release.

    You must import a snapshot on the appliance or open server of the same hardware model, from which it was exported.

  • After importing the snapshot, you must activate the device license from the Gaia Portal or the User Center.

  • We do not recommend to use snapshots as a way of regularly backing up your system.

    System Backup is the preferred method.

    Schedule system backups on a regular basis, daily or weekly, to preserve the Gaia OS configuration and Firewall database.

Best Practice for creating snapshots:

  • Immediately after Gaia installation and first time configuration.

  • Before making a major system change, such as installing a hotfix or route changes.

  • In addition, see Lightshot Snapshot.

Important:

  • After you take the Gaia snapshot, export it to an external storage.

    You must not rename the exported image. If you rename a snapshot image, it is not possible to revert to it.

  • See sk98068: Gaia Limitations after Snapshot Recovery.

  • Maestro Security Groups that contain different Security Appliance models do not support Gaia Snapshot operations (in the Global Gaia Portal or Global Gaia Clish).

    To collect or import a Gaia Snapshot in such a Security Group, connect directly to Gaia Portal or Gaia Clish on each Security Appliance in the Security Group.