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In netcup’s Server Control Panel (SCP), snapshots are managed at Media > Snapshots. You can create, revert, export and delete them there. For a backup you can keep, export, or use to move a server, create an offline snapshot while the server is switched off. Online snapshots capture a running server, but they cannot be exported and can cause irreparable data loss if files change during capture.
Where snapshots live and what you can do with them
Open the server in SCP and go to Media > Snapshots. From that page you can create a snapshot, revert the server to one, export a snapshot as a download, or delete one. Each of these actions changes either the server or the stored copy, so it is worth reading the rest of this article before you click anything on that page. The official reference for these operations is netcup’s Media documentation.
Offline or online: choose before you create
The two snapshot types look alike in the interface, but they serve different purposes. The table below uses only the differences netcup documents.
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| Question | Offline snapshot | Online snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Is the server running during creation? | No. The server is off while the snapshot is created. | Yes. The server is on while the snapshot is created. |
| Can it be exported? | Yes. It can be downloaded and imported into another netcup server. | No. Online snapshots cannot be exported. |
| Risk to file changes during creation | Not applicable while the server is off, as no changes occur during creation. | Making file changes while the snapshot is taken may result in irreparable data loss. |
| Server stability during creation | Not stated for offline snapshots in the Media documentation. | The server may become unresponsive for a few minutes. |
| Captures running state | Not stated in the Media documentation. | Yes. Running activity can be reverted to the captured state. |
| Local Block Storage | Not stated in the Media documentation. | Not available. |
| netcup’s recommended use | Backup before major or potentially breaking changes, and migration. | Capturing a live state; not presented as a substitute for a consistent backup. |
Offline snapshots: the recommended default
netcup recommends offline snapshots before major changes that could break the system, and for migration. Because the server is off during creation, the snapshot is a stable image you can export. If you plan to import it into another netcup server, the destination disk has to be at least as large as the partition used by the backed-up server. The migration section below covers that in detail.
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Online snapshots: useful for live state, risky for changing files
An online snapshot is taken while the server is running. Its documented benefit is that it also saves server state, so running activity can be reverted to the captured point. The cost is that it cannot be exported, the server may be unresponsive for a few minutes, and changes to files during capture may lead to irreparable data loss. Do not treat an online snapshot as a safe stand-in for a backup of data that is actively being written.
Create and export a snapshot
- Log in to SCP and select the server.
- Open Media > Snapshots.
- Enter a name and description, choose Online or Offline, then select Create. For an offline snapshot, shut the server down first.
- To export, select Export, then Download when that option appears. netcup’s documentation also allows copying the download link into a download manager.
An ISO image attached to the server as a CD-ROM or DVD prevents a new snapshot from being created. Detach it before you create one.
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Decompress the download before reuse
Snapshot downloads are compressed by default with zstd. Decompress the file before you upload it or reuse it:
zstd -d snapshot.raw.zst -o snapshot.rawnetcup’s documentation also shows a streaming form that decompresses while downloading. Replace the placeholder with the real download link from SCP:
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curl <download-link> | zstd -do snapshot.rawMigrate a server to another netcup server
netcup recommends migration via snapshot when you want to clone a server with all of its contents, including the system, packages and services. The workflow depends on an offline snapshot and a destination disk that is large enough.
- Shut down the source server.
- In Media > Snapshots, create an offline snapshot and export it.
- The exported snapshot appears under Images > Custom Images on the servers.
- Select the destination server, open Media > Images, and install the snapshot.
- Check the network configuration on the destination and adjust it if needed. Network settings may need changing after installation.
The destination disk must be at least as large as the partition used by the source server. If migration via snapshot does not work as expected, netcup suggests considering rsync as an alternative. netcup’s migration documentation is the reference for these steps.
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Revert, delete and reset are different actions
Three controls can change your server, and they do different things:
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- Revert resets the server to the selected snapshot after you confirm. It restores the snapshot’s state; it does not create a new copy of the snapshot.
- Delete removes the selected snapshot after you confirm. This cannot be undone, and deleting a snapshot does not restore anything.
- Reset is a separate control in SCP. It is a forced restart, and netcup warns that data loss may occur. It is not a way to restore a snapshot. The Control documentation describes the restart and reset distinction.
Changes to the server’s storage driver are also treated by netcup as nontrivial. In the worst case the server may no longer boot, and switching to SATA or IDE severely affects other functions, including snapshots. Make storage changes only with a verified export in hand.
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Export allowance
netcup states that every server includes one free export. Additional exports can be booked in the Customer Control Panel (CCP) under Products, then the relevant product, then Snapshot. netcup’s documentation does not give a universal current price for extra exports, so check your account in CCP for current availability and cost before you plan around them.
Logging in and the SCP home page
The SCP home page lists your servers with their current state and uptime. Its settings cover language and password options. The documentation also describes a SOAP web service for automation, such as starting and stopping servers. It is disabled by default. The overview does not establish that snapshot actions are available through that service.
netcup’s SCP login documentation states that two-factor authentication is supported directly in SCP from July 20, 2026, with TOTP and passkey options. That date has now passed, so check the login page for the methods your account currently offers. netcup recommends configuring WebAuthn as an additional second factor, so you still have a way in if you lose access to your primary method.
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