Step-by-step technical guide on restoring your Hovixa VPS from an existing snapshot. Learn how to perform a full system rollback to recover from configuration errors or failed updates.
Restoring a VPS Environment from an Existing Snapshot
Restoring from a snapshot is the fastest way to recover a Virtual Private Server (VPS) that has become unstable due to software conflicts, corrupted configurations, or unsuccessful OS upgrades. Unlike a full OS reinstallation, a snapshot restore returns the disk to the exact state it was in—including all files, users, and installed applications—at the moment the snapshot was captured.
⚠️ CRITICAL: Data Overwrite Warning
When you initiate a restore, the current state of your VPS is permanently deleted and replaced by the snapshot data. Any files created, emails received, or database entries added after the snapshot was taken will be lost. If you have critical new data, back it up externally before proceeding.
1. Identifying the Correct Snapshot
Before restoring, verify that you are selecting the intended point-in-time image. In the SolusVM 2 dashboard (vm.hovixa.com), snapshots are listed with their creation date and the custom name you provided.
2. The Restoration Process
- Log in to vm.hovixa.com.
- Select the VM you wish to recover.
- Navigate to the Snapshots tab in the management sidebar.
- Locate the snapshot in the list and click the Restore button (usually represented by a circular arrow or clock icon).
- A confirmation prompt will appear. Type "RESTORE" or click the confirmation toggle as requested by the UI.
- The system will automatically stop the VM and begin the restoration process.
3. Post-Restoration Verification
Once the process reaches 100%, the VM will reboot. You should perform the following checks via the VNC Console or SSH:
- Service Status: Verify that critical services (Nginx, MySQL, Docker) have started correctly.
- Connectivity: Ensure that network settings are functional. Since the snapshot contains old network configurations, verify they haven't been superseded by portal changes.
- Log Audit: Check
/var/log/syslogorjournalctl -xefor any "unclean shutdown" errors that may have been captured during the snapshot creation.
4. Comparison: Restore vs. Reinstall
| Feature | Snapshot Restore | OS Reinstall |
|---|---|---|
| Data Retention | Preserves all data from the snapshot time. | Deletes everything (Factory Reset). |
| Configuration | Settings remain exactly as they were. | Requires full reconfiguration. |
| Duration | Near-instant (seconds to minutes). | 1–2 minutes + manual setup. |
| Use Case | Undoing a specific mistake or error. | Starting a completely new project. |
5. Technical Implementation Details
- Block-Level Reversion: The hypervisor points the virtual disk back to the base image and discards the "delta" file created after the snapshot. This is why the process is significantly faster than a file-based restore.
- Power State: If the VM was "Running" when the snapshot was taken, it will still undergo a full boot sequence upon restoration. Modern KVM snapshots at Hovixa do not save the "Live RAM" state to ensure disk consistency.
- Task Locking: While a restore is in progress, all other power actions (Reboot, Shutdown) and networking changes are locked to prevent disk corruption.
Sysadmin Tip: If you are restoring a snapshot to fix a security breach, remember that the vulnerability that allowed the breach likely exists in the snapshot as well. Patch your software immediately after the restore finishes.
