1---
2layout: docs
3page_title: 'Commands: volume snapshot create'
4description: |
5  Create external volume snapshots.
6---
7
8# Command: volume snapshot create
9
10The `volume snapshot create` command creates a snapshot of an existing
11[Container Storage Interface (CSI)][csi] volume. Only CSI plugins that
12implement the [Controller][csi_plugins_internals] interface support this
13command.
14
15## Usage
16
17```plaintext
18nomad volume snapshot create [volume] [snapshot_name]
19```
20
21The `volume snapshot create` command requires a volume ID or prefix. If there
22is an exact match based on the provided volume ID or prefix, then the specific
23volume is snapshotted. Otherwise, a list of matching volumes and information
24will be displayed. The volume must still be [registered] with Nomad in order
25to be snapshotted.
26
27If an optional snapshot name is provided, the argument will be passed to the
28CSI plugin to be used as the ID of the resulting snapshot. Not all plugins
29accept this name and it may be ignored.
30
31When ACLs are enabled, this command requires a token with the
32`csi-write-volume` capability for the volume's namespace.
33
34## General Options
35
36@include 'general_options.mdx'
37
38## Examples
39
40Snapshot a volume:
41
42```shell-session
43$ nomad volume snapshot create ebs_prod_db1
44Completed snapshot of volume ebs_prod_db1 with snapshot ID snap-12345.
45```
46
47Snapshot a volume with a suggested snapshot ID:
48
49```shell-session
50$ nomad volume snapshot create ebs_prod_db1 snap-12345
51Completed snapshot of volume ebs_prod_db1 with snapshot ID snap-12345.
52```
53
54[csi]: https://github.com/container-storage-interface/spec
55[csi_plugin]: /docs/job-specification/csi_plugin
56[registered]: /docs/commands/volume/register
57