Restore a WorkSpace in WorkSpaces Personal - Amazon WorkSpaces

Restore a WorkSpace in WorkSpaces Personal

Restoring a WorkSpace recreates both the root volume and user volume using a snapshot of each volume that was taken when the WorkSpace was health. Restoring a WorkSpace rolls back the data on both the root and user volumes to the point in time when the snapshots were created. Rebuilding a WorkSpace only rolls back the data on the user volume. This means that restoring requires you to have snapshots of both the root volume and user volume, while rebuilding a WorkSpace only requires a snapshot of the user volume. To rebuild a WorkSpace, see Rebuild a WorkSpace in WorkSpaces Personal.

Restoring a WorkSpace causes the following to occur:

  • The root volume (for Microsoft Windows, drive C; for Linux, /) is restored to the date and time specified using a snapshot. Any applications that were installed, or system settings that were changed after the snapshot was created, are lost.

  • The user volume (for Microsoft Windows, the D drive; for Linux, /home) is recreated to the date and time specified using a snapshot. The current contents of the user volume are overwritten.

The restore point

When you choose Actions and Rebuild / Restore WorkSpace, the date and time of the snapshots used for the operation are shown. To verify the date and time of the snapshots used for the operation using the AWS CLI, use the describe-workspace-snapshots command.

When snapshots are taken

Snapshots of the root and user volume are taken on the following basis.

  • After a WorkSpace is first created — Typically, the initial snapshots of the root and user volumes are taken soon after a WorkSpace is created (often within 30 minutes). In some AWS Regions, it might take several hours to take the initial snapshots after a WorkSpace is created.

    If a WorkSpace becomes unhealthy before the initial snapshots are taken, the WorkSpace can't be restored. In that case, you can try rebuilding the WorkSpace or contact AWS Support for assistance.

  • During regular use — Automatic snapshots for use when restoring a WorkSpace are scheduled every 12 hours. If the WorkSpace is healthy, snapshots of both the root volume and user volume are created around the same time. If the WorkSpace is unhealthy, snapshots are created only for the user volume.

  • After a WorkSpace has been restored — When you restore a WorkSpace, new snapshots are taken soon after the restore is finished (often within 30 minutes). In some AWS Regions, it might take several hours to take these snapshots after a WorkSpace is restored.

    After a WorkSpace has been restored, if the WorkSpace becomes unhealthy before new snapshots can be taken, the WorkSpace can't be restored again. In that case, you can try rebuilding the WorkSpace or contact AWS Support for assistance.

You can restore a WorkSpace only if the following conditions are met:

  • The WorkSpace must have a state of AVAILABLE, ERROR, UNHEALTHY, or STOPPED.

  • Snapshots of the root and user volumes must exist.

To restore a WorkSpace

  1. Open the WorkSpaces console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose WorkSpaces.

  3. Select the WorkSpace to restore and choose Actions, Rebuild / Restore WorkSpace.

  4. Under Snapshot, select the snapshot's time stamp.

  5. Choose Restore.

To restore a WorkSpace using the AWS CLI

Use the restore-workspace command.