# Create multi-volume EBS snapshots from an EC2 instance
<a name="ebs-create-snapshots"></a>

By default, when you create multi-volume snapshots from an Amazon EC2 instance, Amazon EBS creates snapshots of all the Amazon EBS volumes that are attached to the instance. However, you can choose to exclude the root volume, or specific data volumes if needed.

**Tip**  
We recommend that you tag your multi-volume snapshots so that it's easy to identify and manage them collectively. You can also copy the tags from the source volumes to the corresponding snapshots to set the snapshot metadata, such as access policies, attachment information, and cost allocation, to match the source volume.

**Considerations for multi-volume snapshots**
+ If all of the snapshots complete successfully, a `createSnapshots` CloudWatch event with a result of `succeeded` is sent to your AWS account. If any one snapshot in the multi-volume snapshot set fails, all of the other snapshots enter the `error` state and a `createSnapshots` CloudWatch event with a result of `failed` is sent to your account. For more information, see [Create snapshots (createSnapshots)](ebs-cloud-watch-events.md#create-snapshots-complete).
+ Multi-volume snapshots support up to 128 Amazon EBS volumes attached to an instance, including the root volume and up to 127 data volumes.
+ Each snapshot in the multi-volume snapshot set is an individual snapshot that can be used in the same way, and that supports the same features, as an individual snapshot.
+ You can take application-consistent snapshots of all the Amazon EBS volumes attached to an Amazon EC2 Windows instance using [AWS Systems Manager command documents](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/create-vss-snapshots-ssm.html).

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#### [ Console ]

**To create multi-volume snapshots**

1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2/).

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Snapshots**, **Create snapshot**.

1. For **Resource type**, choose **Instance**.

1. For **Description**, enter a brief description for the snapshots. This description is applied to all of the snapshots.

1. If the instance is on an Outpost or in a Local Zone, the **Snapshot destination** field appears. Do one of the following:
   + If the instance is in a Local Zone, choose **Local Zone** to create the snapshots in the same Local Zone, or choose **AWS Region** to create the snapshots in the parent Region of the Local Zone.
   + If the instance is on an Outpost, choose **AWS Outpost**, to create the snapshots on the same Outpost, or choose **AWS Region** to create the snapshots in the parent Region of the Outpost.
**Note**  
If the instance is in a Region, the **Snapshot destination** does not appear. The snapshot is automatically created in the same Region as the instance.

1. (*Optional*) To exclude the instance's root volume, select **Exclude root volume**.

1. (*Optional*) To exclude data volumes, select **Exclude specific data volumes**. The **Attached data volumes** section lists all of the data volumes that are currently attached to the selected instance.

   Select the data volumes to exclude. Only the volumes that remain unselected will be included in the multi-volume snapshot set.

1. (*Optional*) To automatically copy tags from the source volumes to the corresponding snapshots, for **Copy tags from source volume**, select **Copy tags**.

1. (*Optional*) To assign additional custom tags to the snapshots, in the **Tags** section, choose **Add tag**, and then enter the key-value pair. You can add up to 50 tags.

1. Choose **Create snapshot**.

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#### [ AWS CLI ]

**To create multi-volume snapshots**  
Use the [ create-snapshots](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/create-snapshots.html) command.

```
aws ec2 create-snapshots \
    --instance-specification InstanceId=i-1234567890abcdef0 \
    --description "from a multi-volume snapshot of i-1234567890abcdef0"
```

To exclude the root volume, add the following to the `--instance-specification` option.

```
ExcludeBootVolume=true
```

To exclude a data volume, add the following to the `--instance-specification` option.

```
ExcludeDataVolumeIds=vol-01234567890abcdef
```

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#### [ PowerShell ]

**To create multi-volume snapshots**  
Use the [New-EC2SnapshotBatch](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/latest/reference/items/New-EC2SnapshotBatch.html) cmdlet.

```
New-EC2SnapshotBatch `
    -InstanceSpecification_InstanceId i-1234567890abcdef0 `
    -Description "from a multi-volume snapshot of i-1234567890abcdef0"
```

To exclude the root volume, add the following parameter.

```
-InstanceSpecification_ExcludeBootVolume $true
```

To exclude data volumes, add the following parameter.

```
-InstanceSpecification_ExcludeDataVolumes "vol-01234567890abcdef"
```

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