# Why snapshot API requires shared file system? **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [July 29, 2019, 6:58am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612 "2019-07-29T06:58:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mmk1995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mmk1995](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mmk1995)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:58am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/1 "2019-07-29T06:58:50Z")
My case wanted to backup only one node of a cluster, I know it is good practice to backup the whole cluster, but my ELK infrastructure do not have a shared file system, if there is no other choice, of course I will create the shared file system, but I just wonder why I can't put my backup on local disk, what is difference between backing up in local disk and shared disk? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:10am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/2 "2019-07-29T07:10:05Z")
If it's a single node then the local FS will be fine, as there are no other nodes to write from. ---
**Author:** ![mmk1995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mmk1995](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mmk1995)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/3 "2019-07-29T07:37:05Z")
So I actually can snapshot 1 node in a cluster if I specify a path pointing a local FS? Since I cannot find any prove on Elasticsearch official document or Google search. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:59am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/4 "2019-07-29T07:59:24Z")
Yep, only for a one node cluster though. It's not documented as we recommend clusters being 3 or more nodes. ---
**Author:** ![mmk1995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mmk1995](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mmk1995)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 8:13am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/5 "2019-07-29T08:13:47Z")
Thanks for answering. How about 1 out of 3 node cluster? Is it possible to snapshot 1 node in the cluster if I specify a path pointing a local FS of 1 node? Another question is what would be the "type" for the API request? (Official site only suggest "fs" for shared FS) > PUT /\_snapshot/my\_fs\_backup > { > "type": "fs", > "settings": { > "location": "/mount/backups/my\_fs\_backup\_location", > "compress": true > } > } ---
**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 8:24am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/6 "2019-07-29T08:24:00Z")
> [@mmk1995](#): > > How about 1 out of 3 node cluster? Is it possible to snapshot 1 node in the cluster if I specify a path pointing a local FS of 1 node? Nope, **all** nodes need to be able to write data to the storage location. > [@mmk1995](#): > > Another question is what would be the "type" for the API request? (Official site only suggest "fs" for shared FS) Just use `fs`. ---
**Author:** ![mmk1995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mmk1995](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mmk1995)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:14am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/7 "2019-07-29T09:14:39Z")
thanks for answering, one more further question How much size would the backup be if my index is 10G in size? Or how large I should assume the size for the backup be? ---
**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:16am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/8 "2019-07-29T09:16:51Z")
It'd be a similar size. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 9:30am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-snapshot-api-requires-shared-file-system/192612/9 "2019-08-26T09:30:09Z")
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