In Elasticsearch, a snapshot repository is a location where Elasticsearch stores snapshots of index data and cluster metadata. A snapshot repository can be a shared file system, a cloud-based storage service, or a network file system.
A snapshot repository is used to store backups of Elasticsearch data, which can be used for disaster recovery, data migration, and testing. Snapshots can be created and restored using the Elasticsearch snapshot and restore API.
To create a snapshot, you first need to create a repository where the snapshot will be stored. You can use the Elasticsearch `_snapshot` API to create a repository. The repository can be of different types, depending on the storage mechanism used. The most common types of snapshot repositories are:
– File System Repository: A file system repository stores snapshots on a shared file system that is accessible by all Elasticsearch nodes in the cluster. You need to specify the path to the file system in the repository configuration.
– S3 Repository: An S3 repository stores snapshots on Amazon S3, which is a cloud-based storage service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). You need to specify the AWS access key and secret key in the repository configuration.
– Azure Repository: An Azure repository stores snapshots on Microsoft Azure, which is a cloud-based storage service provided by Microsoft. You need to specify the Azure storage account name and access key in the repository configuration.
– Google Cloud Storage Repository: A Google Cloud Storage repository stores snapshots on Google Cloud Storage, which is a cloud-based storage service provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You need to specify the GCP project ID and the JSON key file in the repository configuration.
To create a snapshot, you can use the Elasticsearch `_snapshot` API to specify the repository and the index or indices to be backed up. The snapshot is stored in the repository and can be restored later using the Elasticsearch restore API.
Overall, a snapshot repository is a key component of Elasticsearch backup and recovery, providing a way to store and manage backups of index data and cluster metadata. By using snapshot repositories, you can safeguard your data and ensure business continuity in case of disasters.