Docs / Servers / Archive, Disconnect, and Delete Differences

Archive, Disconnect, and Delete Differences

Published · Last updated: May 2026 · 1 min read

Overview

When you are finished with a server, CloudAIPilot offers three distinct ways to remove it from your dashboard, each with different consequences for your data and cloud billing.

1. Delete (Destructive)

  • What it does: CloudAIPilot contacts your cloud provider (e.g., AWS) and physically destroys the VM and its disks.
  • Consequence: All data is permanently lost. Billing stops immediately.
  • Safety: Blocked if the server is tagged as Production unless you are an Owner and pass the mandatory human-in-the-loop confirmation.

2. Disconnect (Non-Destructive)

  • What it does: CloudAIPilot simply forgets the server. The VM remains running in your cloud provider account, hosting your sites.
  • Consequence: You continue to be billed by your cloud provider. CloudAIPilot will no longer monitor, backup, or orchestrate the server.

3. Archive (Cold Storage)

  • What it does: Takes a final, full snapshot of the server and stores it in your Cloud Storage vault. It then Deletes the live server.
  • Consequence: The live server is destroyed, stopping expensive compute billing. However, the data is safely preserved as a backup snapshot, which can be restored later.

Related Articles