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Detach Volume from Server

The Detach Volume feature allows you to remove a volume from a server without data loss. This is useful for replacing, removing, or transferring volumes to other servers.

Pre-Detachment Preparation

To ensure safe volume detachment, follow preparation steps:

1. Stop Processes Using Volume

Critical Warning

Before detaching, you must stop all processes writing data to the volume. Otherwise, data corruption or loss may occur.

For Linux:

  1. Identify processes using the volume:

    sudo lsof /mnt/mount-path
  2. Stop those processes:

    sudo kill -TERM [PID]
  3. Unmount the volume:

    sudo umount /mnt/mount-path

For Windows:

  1. Close all applications using the volume
  2. In Disk Management, right-click volume and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths"
  3. Remove all assigned paths for the volume

2. Verify Critical Data

  • Ensure important data is backed up if needed
  • Document mount point information for easy reconfiguration later

Volume Detachment Process

Figure needed: Server volumes management interface showing attached volumes list Server volume management interface

1. Access Management Interface

  1. Access server details page
  2. Scroll to Instance Volumes section

2. Perform Volume Detachment

  1. Find volume to detach in the list
  2. Click the action menu (three dots) on the right of the volume
  3. Select Detach Volume

3. Confirm Detachment

Figure needed: Detachment confirmation dialog with permanent deletion option Volume detachment confirmation dialog

When confirmation dialog appears:

  1. Verify volume name to ensure detaching correct volume
  2. Read warning message carefully
  3. Decide on permanent deletion:
    • If only detaching: DO NOT check "Delete volume permanently"
    • If permanently deleting: Check "Delete volume permanently"
  4. Click Detach to confirm
Permanent Deletion Warning

If you choose permanent deletion:

  • All volume data will be deleted
  • Data cannot be recovered after deletion
  • No further charges for this volume

Use Cases

Detach Only (No Deletion)

In this case, volume remains in system and billing continues. Suitable when:

  • Moving volume to another server
  • Temporarily detaching for troubleshooting
  • Changing server configuration

Detach and Permanently Delete

Suitable when:

  • No longer need the volume
  • Want to stop all volume charges
  • Volume data no longer needed

Common Errors and Solutions

ErrorCauseSolution
"Unable to detach volume"Volume in use by system or applicationsUnmount volume before detaching
"Operation not permitted"Insufficient permissionsCheck account access permissions
"Disk busy"Processes using volumeFind and stop processes using volume
Cannot detach system volumeSystem volume with OS cannot be detachedOnly data volumes can be detached

After Detachment

If Not Deleted

After successful detachment:

  1. Volume status changes to "Available"
  2. You can:
    • Attach volume to another server
    • Create snapshots of volume
    • Expand volume size
    • Delete volume later if no longer needed

If Permanently Deleted

  • Volume and all data completely removed
  • Volume no longer appears in volume list
  • System stops billing for this volume

Billing Notes

  • Detached but not deleted volumes continue to be billed
  • Only permanent deletion stops volume billing
  • Volumes charged by allocated capacity, regardless of server attachment status

Best Practices

Recommendations
  • Always unmount volume in OS before detaching
  • Document configuration including mount points and related applications
  • Create snapshots before detaching volumes containing important data
  • Never detach system volumes - only detach data volumes
  • After attaching to another server, may need to reconfigure fstab for auto-mount on boot