Volumes are block storage devices that you attach to instances to enable persistent storage. You can attach a volume to a running instance or detach a volume and attach it to another instance at any time. You can also create a snapshot from or delete a volume. Only administrative users can create volume types.
Log in to the dashboard, choose a project, and click .
Click .
In the dialog box that opens, enter or select the following values.
Volume Name
Specify a name for the volume.
Description
Optionally, provide a brief description for the volume.
Type
Leave this field blank.
Size (GB)
The size of the volume in gigabytes.
Volume Source
Select one of the following options:
No source, empty volume: creates an empty volume.
Note: An empty volume does not contain a file system or a partition table.
Image: creates a volume from an image. Select the image from the list.
Click .
The dashboard shows the volume on the Volumes tab.
After you create one or more volumes, you can attach them to instances. You can attach a volume to one instance at a time.
Log in to the dashboard, choose a project, and click .
Select the volume to add to an instance and click .
In the Manage Volume Attachments dialog box, select an instance.
Enter the name of the device from which the volume is accessible by the instance.
![[Note]](../common/images/admon/note.png)
Note The actual device name might differ from the volume name because of hypervisor settings.
Click .
The dashboard shows the instance to which the volume is now attached and the device name.
You can view the status of a volume in the Volumes tab of the dashboard. The volume is either Available or In-Use.
Now you can log in to the instance and mount, format, and use the disk.
Log in to the dashboard, choose a project, and click .
Select the volume and click .
Click and confirm your changes.
A message indicates whether the action was successful.
Log in to the dashboard, choose a project, and click Volumes.
Select a volume from which to create a snapshot.
From the More list, select Create Snapshot.
In the dialog box that opens, enter a snapshot name and a brief description.
Confirm your changes.
The dashboard shows the new volume snapshot in Images & Snapshots.
