# Creating a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot for Amazon RDS
<a name="USER_CreateMultiAZDBClusterSnapshot"></a>

When you create a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot, make sure to identify which Multi-AZ DB cluster you are going to back up, and then give your DB cluster snapshot a name so you can restore from it later. You can also share a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot. For instructions, see [Sharing a DB snapshot for Amazon RDS](USER_ShareSnapshot.md).

You can create a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot using the AWS Management Console, the AWS CLI, or the RDS API.

For very long-term backups, we recommend exporting snapshot data to Amazon S3. If the major version of your DB engine is no longer supported, you can't restore to that version from a snapshot. For more information, see [Exporting DB snapshot data to Amazon S3 for Amazon RDS](USER_ExportSnapshot.md).

## Console
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**To create a DB cluster snapshot**

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the Amazon RDS console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/).

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Databases**.

1. In the list, choose the Multi-AZ DB cluster for which you want to take a snapshot.

1. For **Actions**, choose **Take snapshot**.

   The **Take DB snapshot** window appears.

1. For **Snapshot name**, enter the name of the snapshot.

1. Choose **Take snapshot**.

The **Snapshots** page appears, with the new Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot's status shown as `Creating`. After its status is `Available`, you can see its creation time.

## AWS CLI
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You can create a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot by using the AWS CLI [ create-db-cluster-snapshot](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/rds/create-db-cluster-snapshot.html) command with the following options:
+ `--db-cluster-identifier`
+ `--db-cluster-snapshot-identifier`

In this example, you create a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot called *`mymultiazdbclustersnapshot`* for a DB cluster called *`mymultiazdbcluster`*.

**Example**  
For Linux, macOS, or Unix:  

```
1. aws rds create-db-cluster-snapshot \
2.     --db-cluster-identifier mymultiazdbcluster \
3.     --db-cluster-snapshot-identifier mymultiazdbclustersnapshot
```
For Windows:  

```
1. aws rds create-db-cluster-snapshot ^
2.     --db-cluster-identifier mymultiazdbcluster ^
3.     --db-cluster snapshot-identifier mymultiazdbclustersnapshot
```

## RDS API
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You can create a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot by using the Amazon RDS API [CreateDBClusterSnapshot](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_CreateDBClusterSnapshot.html) operation with the following parameters:
+ `DBClusterIdentifier`
+ `DBClusterSnapshotIdentifier`

## Deleting a Multi-AZ DB cluster snapshot
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You can delete Multi-AZ DB snapshots managed by Amazon RDS when you no longer need them. For instructions, see [Deleting a DB snapshot for Amazon RDS](USER_DeleteSnapshot.md).