Physical vs virtual backup
Backing up physical servers is different from backing up virtual ones. Physical servers are usually backed up through the operating system or the storage system. With virtual machines, the hypervisor adds another layer that affects how backups are made, changes are tracked and restores work. The key question is not just if backup is possible. What matters is how each platform manages snapshots, tracks changes, handles metadata and restores data.
Using Bareos with Hetzner Object Storage
Bareos offers different approaches for S3-compatible storage. Hetzner has recently published a guide on how to set up Bareos with Hetzner Object Storage. The guide covers installation, configuration and backup setup using the Bareos dplcompat Storage Backend.
Read the Hetzner guide: https://docs.hetzner.com/storage/object-storage/howto-backups/bareos
While the Bareos dplcompat backend uses S3 as storage target, Bareos also supports backing up data stored in S3 with the including the Apache Libcloud Plugin, which gives users additional flexibility depending on their environment and workflow.
For more details on plugins and S3-compatible backends, please see the Bareos documentation.
Bareos 25.0.3, 24.0.10, 23.1.7 Maintenance Releases
We are happy to announce three Bareos maintenance releases with fixes and improvements: 23.1.7, 24.0.10 and 25.0.3.
We recommend upgrading to the latest version. In case you would like our experts to help with upgrading or other planning regarding backup strategy please contact us.
Bareos 25.0.3, 24.0.10, 23.1.7 Maintenance ReleasesRead More »
Bareos 25.0.3, 24.0.10, 23.1.7 Maintenance Releases Read More »
Bareos in Virtual Infrastructures
Storage-Insider.de recently published an article about Bareos in virtual infrastructures and described Bareos as a backup platform for environments such as VMware, Proxmox, and container-based infrastructures. The full article is worth a look here (in german language).
It provides you a useful overview of Bareos and below we’d like to add more details on how Bareos protects virtual platforms..
Virtual infrastructures have different demands on backup than classic physical environments. In many cases, it is not enough to protect only files and directories. You may need consistent backups of complete virtual machines, efficient incremental jobs, and restore workflows that bring back an entire system when needed. That is why platform-specific backup methods matter.
How the Qumulo plugin boosts backup speed
For organizations running large Qumulo environments, backup performance often depends on how quickly changed files can be identified. In very large file estates, traditional backup methods can spend a long time simply identifying changed files before the backup itself even begins. This makes frequent backups difficult and puts achievable RPO (Recovery Point Objective) at risk – in other words, the amount of data you can afford to lose between backups.
Bareos Is Now Available via UGAP
Bareos is now available on UGAP, the French public procurement marketplace for multi-vendor IT solutions.
This makes it easier for public institutions, research centers, local and regional authorities, administrations, and other organizations subject to French public procurement rules to access a professional, 100% open-source backup solution.
With Bareos, you get a backup and recovery platform that supports data sovereignty and fits well into business continuity and service continuity plans.
Find all details on the UGAP listing
The Backup Paradox: Why a Successful Job Doesn’t Mean a Successful Restore
The morning report looks perfect. Last night’s backup jobs all show Success.
That feels like safety. But it is not proof. Until you actually restore, it’s Schrödinger’s Backup: it can be both “working” and “useless” at the same time.
A backup job can finish without errors and still leave you with a restore that fails when it matters. Because a backup that has never been tested is not proof. It is a plan. The proof is the restore.
So the real question is not “Did the job finish?” It is: Can we restore what we need, within the time we need?
…The Backup Paradox: Why a Successful Job Doesn’t Mean a Successful RestoreRead More »
The Backup Paradox: Why a Successful Job Doesn’t Mean a Successful Restore Read More »
Bareos at Chemnitz Linux Days 2026
Bareos at
Chemnitz Linux Days 2026
Bareos will be at Chemnitz Linux Days 2026 on March 28–29, 2026 in Chemnitz, Germany.
Talk:
Jenkins showcase: how Bareos packages are built
On Saturday at 15:00 (Room V6), Andreas Rogge (Bareos GmbH & Co. KG) will give a talk on how Bareos builds and ships binary packages for many platforms, and how our Jenkins pipeline automates building, testing, packaging, and pull request validation from Git to the downloadable artifacts.
We will also be happy to meet you at our Bareos booth. Come by to say hi, ask questions, and talk about open-source backup, plugins, and real-world setups.
We are proud to support the event as a Gold Sponsor.
📅 March 28–29, 2026 · Chemnitz, Germany
Bareos 25.0.2, 24.0.9, 23.1.6 Maintenance Releases
We are happy to announce three Bareos maintenance releases with fixes and improvements: 23.1.6, 24.0.9 and 25.0.2.
We recommend to upgrade to the latest version. In case you like our experts to help with upgrading or other planning regarding backup strategy please contact us.
Bareos 25.0.2, 24.0.9, 23.1.6 Maintenance ReleasesRead More »
Bareos 25.0.2, 24.0.9, 23.1.6 Maintenance Releases Read More »
Kubernetes Data Protection: A Guide to Application-Aware Backups with Bareos
Companies and organizations continuously transform enterprise application delivery. Some have moved their applications to containers, others have transformed existing applications into microservices, or developed new cloud-native applications.
When it comes to data protection and backups, containerized apps are not that different from traditional applications running on virtual machines or bare metal. The backup solution should consider both an application’s state and its data.
This post introduces a backup concept for Kubernetes deployments, creating file-based backups of applications running in multiple containers and pods. It makes use of Bareos’ feature for client-initiated backups and offers the following benefits:
- Protection of business-critical containerized applications
- Quick restore and easy redeployment of application data
- Flexible approach, easy to migrate within and across the cloud
- Consistent backup concept with certified Open Source software
Kubernetes Data Protection: A Guide to Application-Aware Backups with BareosRead More »
Kubernetes Data Protection: A Guide to Application-Aware Backups with Bareos Read More »
The Bareos 25 Proxmox Plugin in Action – Video Overview
We have published a new video showing the new Proxmox plugin in Bareos 25.
In the video, we demonstrate how Bareos performs agentless backups and restores of Proxmox guests. We cover both standard Virtual Machines (VMs) and Linux Containers (CTs). You can see full backups of both guest types, followed by complete restores directly back into the Proxmox environment. We also demonstrate flexible recovery options, such as restoring a machine with a new ID to avoid conflicts.
The Bareos 25 Proxmox Plugin in Action – Video OverviewRead More »
The Bareos 25 Proxmox Plugin in Action – Video Overview Read More »
Configuration as Code: What It Is and Why It Matters
If you’ve managed servers, applications or backup systems, you know the challenge. Settings change over time and after a few months, it’s easy to forget why those changes were made.
Configuration as Code (CaC) helps prevent this problem. Rather than relying on memory or scattered notes, you store your configuration in text files. You can keep these files in Git, share them with your team, review changes, and roll back if needed.
…Configuration as Code: What It Is and Why It MattersRead More »
Configuration as Code: What It Is and Why It Matters Read More »
New Bareos Price List and Pricing Calculator
A new Bareos price list for subscription, support, consulting and training is available now. The changes are minor, but we used this update to make pricing easier to understand and plan. All older price lists are no longer valid.
…Hyper-V Backups with Bareos 25 – Video Overview
We have published a new video showing the Hyper-V plugin in Bareos 25.
In the video, we demonstrate how Bareos backs up and restores a Hyper-V virtual machine. You can see a full backup, an incremental backup and a complete restore after the virtual machine was deleted. The restore recreates both the VM and its disks in Hyper-V.
EDNT and Bareos: A Long-Term Open-Source Partnership
We’d like to continue our series of stories that help you get to know the people and companies using Bareos – our customers, partners and the teams who trust open source for their backup and recovery needs. Today, we’re talking about one of our long-term Bareos Certified and Technology Partners: EDNT IT-Services, a family-run company from Germany. For more than 40 years they help organizations keep their infrastructure stable and their data secure. From cloud hosting and VoIP to modern backup solutions, EDNT’s goal has always been simple: make technology work reliably, without hidden complexity. Their portfolio also includes products that are built on Bareos, such as a Bareos-as-a-Service offering.
This story shows how EDNT works with Bareos, why open-source backup matches their beliefs, and what other organizations can learn from it. This is useful for those looking at open-source options, comparing managed backup services, or planning a move away from proprietary systems.
…EDNT and Bareos: A Long-Term Open-Source PartnershipRead More »
EDNT and Bareos: A Long-Term Open-Source Partnership Read More »
Bareos: 13 Years of Open Source Backup
On December 12, 2025, Bareos GmbH & Co. KG celebrates its 13th anniversary. Since 2012, our focus has remained the same: providing reliable, open-source backup and recovery solutions to organizations of all sizes – from research institutes and large enterprises to public sector environments and service providers.
Over the years, thousands of users have trusted Bareos to protect their data. Today, our software runs in complex HPC clusters, universities, enterprises and government infrastructures across the world. We are grateful for the trust, feedback and collaboration that made this possible.
Bareos at Open Source Experience 2025
📅 December 10–11, 2025
📍 Paris, France – Booth 3D32
We will be at Open Source Experience again this year. If you are attending, visit us at booth 3D32. We look forward to meeting users, partners and everyone interested in open-source backup and recovery.
Bareos 25: Our Main Release for 2025
Bareos 25, our main release for 2025, is now available. We want to give you an overview of the new features you can expect in this version – from extended hypervisor support to Windows bare-metal recovery and improved automation
…Expert Circle: Last Open Spots for the December Session
Our next Expert Circle is only one week away. We still have a few free spots and would be happy to see more of you there.
In this session, we will take a closer look at the soon Bareos 25 release and walk through the main new features.
We will also talk about NIS2 and what the regulation means for organisations and their overall data security.
If you work with Bareos or have an interest in secure and compliant data protection, this is a good chance to join the conversation and ask your questions.
All details and registration:
https://www.bareos.com/meet/
Expert Circle: Last Open Spots for the December Session Read More »
Bareos 24.0.7 Maintenance Release
We’re happy to announce Bareos 24.0.7, a maintenance release with bug fixes.
We recommend upgrading to this latest version. If you’d like our consultants to assist with the upgrade or discuss your backup strategy and open-source setup, please contact us.
Bareos at Capitole du Libre 2025
Bareos will take part in Capitole du Libre 2025 in Toulouse, France, on November 15–16.
Our colleague Bruno Friedmann will give a talk (in French):
“Bareos – a 100% Open-Source Alternative for Backup and Recovery”
📅 Sunday, November 16 · 14:30 · Room A002
More information: capitoledulibre.org
Bareos 24.0.6 Maintenance Release
We’re happy to announce Bareos 24.0.6, a maintenance release with several improvements and bug fixes.
We recommend upgrading to this latest version. If you’d like our consultants to assist with the upgrade or discuss your backup strategy and open-source setup, please contact us.
From Proprietary Backup Issues to Reliable Protection with Bareos
In the past weeks, we’ve shared updates from our community: insights from the Expert Circle, Kielux and our U.S. partner Seda Systems. Today we’d like to continue with a real-world success story from another customer.
…From Proprietary Backup Issues to Reliable Protection with BareosRead More »
From Proprietary Backup Issues to Reliable Protection with Bareos Read More »
Expert Circle Insights, Kielux Talks & Philipp Storz Interview
Last week was full of Bareos updates and community exchange. We hosted the Bareos Expert Circle, took part in the Kieler Open Source & Linux Tage (Kielux) and our co-founder Philipp Storz gave an interview to Heitor Faria from Brazil .
…Expert Circle Insights, Kielux Talks & Philipp Storz InterviewRead More »
Expert Circle Insights, Kielux Talks & Philipp Storz Interview Read More »
Coming in Bareos 25: Proxmox Backup Support
Bareos 25 is on the way. With this release, we’re introducing new features that make backup and recovery more flexible and easier to manage. This is the first in a series of posts where we’ll share what’s new in Bareos 25.
…Seda Systems: Open Source Expertise for Backup
Recently, we shared some thoughts with our co-founder Philipp about Linux and open source. Today, we’d like to introduce you to one of our partners in the United States: Seda Systems.
Seda Systems is an IT Consulting company founded by Mike Seda in 2009 and based in North Carolina. Company performs design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure solutions that primarily involve Linux and Open-source software.
Backup Compliance: What NIS2, HIPAA and GDPR Require
Compliance is now part of daily IT work. Rules such as NIS2, HIPAA and GDPR set requirements for data security, privacy and backup. Ignoring them doesn’t just risk fines, notices or legal trouble – it can also damage customer trust and, in the worst case, put your business at risk.
Backup Compliance: What NIS2, HIPAA and GDPR RequireRead More »
Backup Compliance: What NIS2, HIPAA and GDPR Require Read More »
Bareos 24.0.5 Maintenance Release
We are happy to announce Bareos 24.0.5, a maintenance release with updates to the VMware backup plugin and other fixes. We recommend upgrading to this latest version.
Bare Metal Recovery with Bareos: Fast, Reliable Disaster Recovery
Bare metal recovery is a way to restore a complete system onto new hardware after a failure or cyberattack. This is a key part of disaster recovery for IT environments.
What is Bare Metal Recovery?
Bare metal recovery (sometimes called bare metal restore or bare metal backup) means bringing a system back to its original state from scratch, even if the hardware has been replaced or wiped clean. You don’t need a working operating system or applications on the machine before you start. Everything – OS, settings, data – gets restored from your backup.
Bare Metal Recovery with Bareos: Fast, Reliable Disaster RecoveryRead More »
Bare Metal Recovery with Bareos: Fast, Reliable Disaster Recovery Read More »
Celebrating 34 Years of Linux with Bareos Co-Founder Philipp Storz
As Linux turns 34 this year, we’re celebrating not only the technology itself but also the people whose careers have been shaped by it. One of them is Philipp Storz, Co-Founder of Bareos, who has been working with Linux and open source software for nearly three decades.
Celebrating 34 Years of Linux with Bareos Co-Founder Philipp StorzRead More »
Celebrating 34 Years of Linux with Bareos Co-Founder Philipp Storz Read More »
The Guide to Data Backup Strategies for Businesses
Every business stores valuable data. But without a clear backup plan, that data is at risk. This guide explains simple, proven ways to protect your data – whether you’re running a small office or a large system.
You’ll learn what types of backups exist, how to use the 3-2-1 rule and why regular testing matters. We’ll also show how backup software and automation tools make the job easier.
The Guide to Data Backup Strategies for BusinessesRead More »
The Guide to Data Backup Strategies for Businesses Read More »
Proxmox Virtual Environment 9.0 Released
Proxmox has released Proxmox Virtual Environment 9.0, the latest version of their open-source virtualization platform. Now based on Debian 13 “Trixie” and Linux kernel 6.14.8-2, Proxmox 9.0 offers improved virtual machine management, new storage and networking features, including snapshots for thick-provisioned LVM shared storage, SDN Fabrics support, enhanced high-availability options and a redesigned mobile interface powered by the Rust-based Yew framework.
Meet Bareos at FrOSCon 2025 in Sankt Augustin, Germany!
Join us on August 16–17, 2025 at FrOSCon to meet the Bareos team, learn more about our open-source backup software, explore the latest features in Bareos 25 and get your questions answered by Andreas Rogge.
…Meet Bareos at FrOSCon 2025 in Sankt Augustin, Germany!Read More »
Meet Bareos at FrOSCon 2025 in Sankt Augustin, Germany! Read More »
Bareos is now an official Proxmox partner!
We’re excited to share some great news: Bareos is now an official Proxmox Partner!
Proxmox offers a suite of open source solutions for virtualization, backup and secure email.
With our many years of experience in IT, Bareos Consulting offers you all services from planning, implementation, monitoring and sizing of a Proxmox VE implementation. We support you with both new deployments and the replacement of existing virtualization solutions.
Proxmox Virtual Environment is a complete open source virtualization platform for servers. It combines KVM and container-based virtualization and manages virtual machines, containers, storage, virtual networks and high-availability clusters clearly via the central management interface. As an open source alternative to VMware, Proxmox VE is trusted worldwide.
Bareos and Ransomware Protection
What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts or locks your critical data, making it inaccessible until you pay a ransom, and even then, there is no guarantee your data will be restored. Modern ransomware may also exfiltrate sensitive information before encryption, creating additional risks beyond data loss – including regulatory and reputational damage. Attackers often gain entry to a company’s network, escalate privileges, and spread across systems: encrypting data, deleting backups, locking users out, and demanding payment. Ransomware is one of the most rapidly growing cyber threats businesses face today. Protecting your organization now requires a multi-layered, strategic approach.
Graphical Interface: Bareos WebUI ACLs
Bareos has a graphical tool for communicating with the Bareos Director. The WebUI is multilingual and provides detailed information about backup jobs, clients, FileSets, pools, volumes, and more. It’s also possible to start backup and restore jobs via the web interface. Our blog series gives an introduction to the Bareos WebUI. In this third episode: ACLs (Access Control Lists).
…🇫🇷 Bareos: Trusted by the French Government Since 2018
France has once again confirmed its trust in Bareos by keeping it on the official SILL list for 2025.
SILL – Socle Interministériel de Logiciels Libres – is a catalogue compiled by an interministerial working group in France. It highlights free and open-source software recommended for use in public institutions.
🇫🇷 Bareos: Trusted by the French Government Since 2018Read More »
🇫🇷 Bareos: Trusted by the French Government Since 2018 Read More »
Bareos Administration Kurs I and II in the Linuxhotel
We regularly receive questions from Bareos users and IT specialists about various aspects of managing backups – from simple installation and data management to more complex subjects like managing tape libraries, disaster recovery and encryption.
To help you master these essential skills, we’re offering the official Bareos Administration I & II training courses together with Linuxhotel from May 19 to 23, 2025 (Week 21). Over the course of five days, this training will enable your IT team to master Bareos configuration and successfully plan and implement a reliable backup strategy.
…Bareos Administration Kurs I and II in the LinuxhotelRead More »
Bareos Administration Kurs I and II in the Linuxhotel Read More »
Celebrate World Backup Day on March 31
March 31 is World Backup Day – just one day before April Fool’s Day, making it the perfect reminder to review your backup strategy before a prank or accident causes you to lose your data.
…Bareos at Chemnitzer Linux Tage 2025
We’re excited to be part of Chemnitzer Linux Tage 2025, one of Germany’s top open-source events! As a proud sponsor, Bareos looks forward to connecting with the community, discussing backup and recovery best practices and sharing insights on open-source data protection.
📅 March 22-23, 2025 | 📍 Chemnitz, Germany
Come meet Bareos team!
Bareos Applied as Mentoring Organization in Google Summer of Code 2025
Bareos & Google Summer of Code 2025 🚀
Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is back for its 21st year! This global online program connects new contributors with open-source organizations, offering hands-on experience in software development. GSoC contributors work on coding projects under the mentorship of experienced developers.
…Bareos Applied as Mentoring Organization in Google Summer of Code 2025Read More »
Bareos Applied as Mentoring Organization in Google Summer of Code 2025 Read More »
How to Back Up VMware Virtual Machines: Best Practices and Challenges
Virtualization is now a key part of IT infrastructure, making VMware VM backup strategies critical. While traditional backup methods work, virtualization provides unique advantages for backups, including encapsulation, easy import/export and snapshots.
In this article, we’ll explore how VM backups work, the role of snapshots and how to integrate them into a backup system.
…How to Back Up VMware Virtual Machines: Best Practices and ChallengesRead More »
How to Back Up VMware Virtual Machines: Best Practices and Challenges Read More »
Key Components of a Bareos System You Need to Know
A Bareos system consists of several interacting components that allow data to be backed up reliably. In line with the traditional Unix principle, each component performs a specific set of tasks in the backup process. These components communicate over the network.
Key Components of a Bareos System You Need to KnowRead More »
Key Components of a Bareos System You Need to Know Read More »
Backup Best Practices: How to Use Full, Incremental and Differential Backups Efficiently
Backup strategies are not just about choosing between full, incremental and differential backups. A well-planned backup strategy and restore strategy maximizes data protection and includes backup frequency, retention, automated backups, and resource management to ensure data availability.
This article first explains the differences between incremental and differential backups and then describes how to integrate them into a structured backup strategy.
…Backup Best Practices: How to Use Full, Incremental and Differential Backups EfficientlyRead More »
Backup Best Practices: How to Use Full, Incremental and Differential Backups Efficiently Read More »
Just-in-Time Device Reservation in Bareos 24
What is Just-In-Time device reservation?
In the backup process, devices such as tape drives are often reserved in advance, even before data is written. This results in periods when devices remain idle and are not actively utilized. The overall efficiency of this approach is low and the costs are correspondingly high.
Bareos 24 Is Now Available!
We’re excited to announce that Bareos 24 is here, bringing a range of new features and improvements to make backups smarter and more efficient. This release includes support for deduplication, Just-In-Time Reservation, a new storage backend and much more.
To help you explore the new features, we’ve also published evaluation guides. These guides provide step-by-step instructions to test features like the Dedupable Storage Backend, the dplcompat Storage Backend and improved Python plugin handling, including gRPC.
Here’s a closer look at what’s new and how you can get started.
How Dedupable Storage Saves Your Resources
Data is growing at an incredible pace. The costs of storing them are constantly increasing. We wanted to optimize these processes from a backup perspective and in Bareos 24 we developed Dedupable Storage Backend to support backup deduplication, helping reduce costs and optimize storage use.
Let’s take a look at how this feature works and why it’s so important for today’s IT infrastructures.
What Is Dedupable Storage?
Imagine this: you back up your systems daily and most of that data remains unchanged. Do you really need to save identical files over and over again? Of course not. Deduplication eliminates this redundancy by storing only one copy of each unique data block. It’s not just smart; it’s essential for efficient, scalable backup solutions.
Happy Anniversary: Bareos is 12 years old
On 12 December 2024, Bareos GmbH & Co. KG celebrates its 12th anniversary – a journey marked by innovation and growth. Since our founding in 2012, we have remained true to our commitment to open source excellence, providing reliable backup solutions to a wide range of customers, including Fortune 500 companies, SMBs and government agencies.
…Bareos 23.1.0 is now available
We are pleased to announce Bareos 23.1.0,
a release featuring essential bug fixes, system improvements, and exciting new technical preview features:
New Features (Technical Previews):
• Dedupable Storage Backend to save space: This allows smart storages to deduplicate Bareos volumes.
• WORM-Tape Support for better resistance: Write Once, Read Many (WORM) support ensures that once data is written, it cannot be modified.
• Just-In-Time Device Reservation for fewer idle tape drives: Optimizes storage device use by reserving them only when data is ready to be written.
Explained: How Cyber Insurance Works and Why Backups Are Crucial
Cybersecurity insurance is still a relatively new product for many companies, but that is rapidly changing. In the event of a cyber attack including ransomware and data breaches, the insurance assists organizations in recovering from the attack. The idea is simple: if a company is targeted by hackers, the insurance policy provides financial assistance to help the company with the expenses arising from such an event. And in order to be eligible for this protection, businesses must demonstrate their commitment to implementing robust security measures.
…Explained: How Cyber Insurance Works and Why Backups Are CrucialRead More »
Explained: How Cyber Insurance Works and Why Backups Are Crucial Read More »
Ensuring Compliance and Security with Supported Solutions
Let’s talk about open-source software, especially free (or community) versions like Bareos. Open-source software gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom – like they say, “Free as in free speech, not free beer.” But when you’re running a business, especially one dealing with sensitive data, just having freedom isn’t enough to protect you from data breaches, regulatory fines, or other compliance issues. Backup compliance is essential.
…Ensuring Compliance and Security with Supported SolutionsRead More »
Ensuring Compliance and Security with Supported Solutions Read More »
Bareos at SFScon 2024: Andreas Rogge on Why Free Backup Software Matters
Bareos is excited to announce our participation in SFScon 2024, taking place on November 8-9 in Bolzano, Italy. Join us for a session by Andreas Rogge on “Why Free Backup Software Matters”.
…Bareos at SFScon 2024: Andreas Rogge on Why Free Backup Software MattersRead More »
Bareos at SFScon 2024: Andreas Rogge on Why Free Backup Software Matters Read More »
Bareos Maintenance Releases 23.0.4, 22.1.6 & 21.1.11
Dear customers, partners and users!
We’ve just released Bareos 23.0.4 , Bareos 22.1.6 and Bareos 21.1.11 with security responses to a CVE published in parallel, and launched support for Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 40.
…Bareos Maintenance Releases 23.0.4, 22.1.6 & 21.1.11Read More »
Bareos Maintenance Releases 23.0.4, 22.1.6 & 21.1.11 Read More »
The Bareos 24 release plan has been finalized
Bareos 24 will be released in November 2024.
The following features are planned to be part of the release:
Dedupable Storage Backend
This new storage backend stores the backup data in a format optimized for deduplication. This allows Bareos volumes to be deduplicated by storages and filesystems with deduplication support (like ZFS, VDO, btrfs and others). The new command line tool bdedupestimate can estimate the deduplication potential of existing backup volumes, helping users optimize their storage use.
Bareos at FrOSCon 2024 on August 17-18: Presentation of Bareos 23 and Outlook on Bareos 24
Bareos is excited to announce our participation in FrOSCon 2024, taking place on August 17-18 at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Sankt Augustin. Join us as Andreas presents the innovative features of Bareos 23 and provides an exclusive preview of the Bareos 24 roadmap. Alongside Jörg, we invite you to visit our booth for a chance to connect, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with fellow open-source enthusiasts and explore the future of Bareos!
Modernizing the Bareos Integration in Relax-and-Recover (ReaR)
Overview of ReaR
Relax-and-Recover (ReaR) is an Open-Source disaster recovery and automated Linux bare metal restore solution that allows users to create a bootable rescue system and recovery media. It is highly adaptable and supports numerous backup solutions, ensuring that in the event of system failure, you can quickly and efficiently restore your data and system configurations.
Bareos: A Trusted Partner in ReaR
Bareos, an Open-Source backup solution, has been integrated into ReaR for many years. This partnership has proven its reliability, providing seamless backup and recovery operations. The continuous evolution of both ReaR and Bareos has made this integration indispensable for users who require robust disaster recovery strategies.
…Modernizing the Bareos Integration in Relax-and-Recover (ReaR)Read More »
Modernizing the Bareos Integration in Relax-and-Recover (ReaR) Read More »
Bareos: A Sustainable Backup Solution
When discussing backup solutions, environmental impact might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, with data centers playing a crucial role in our digital infrastructure, it’s essential to recognize their significant environmental footprint. Datacenters contribute substantially to global energy consumption and carbon emissions, making sustainable practices in data management more critical than ever.
…Bareos Maintenance Releases 23.0.3, 22.1.5 & 21.1.10
Dear customers, partners and users!
We’ve just released Bareos 23.0.3 with a security response to CVE-2023-4807 and others, a premiere of aarch64 Universal Linux Client, support for FreeBSD 14, improvements for VMware as well as several bugfixes.
…Bareos Maintenance Releases 23.0.3, 22.1.5 & 21.1.10Read More »
Bareos Maintenance Releases 23.0.3, 22.1.5 & 21.1.10 Read More »
Github Issues replaces Mantis
The Bareos project will use GitHub Issues (instead of Mantis).
As announced a few weeks ago, the Bareos project is changing its bug tracker and will use Github Issues in the future.
As of now, https://github.com/bareos/bareos/issues can be used.
Older bug entries can still be viewed on https://bugs.bareos.org/ until at least the end of 2024.
Github Issues replaces Mantis
The Bareos project will use GitHub Issues (instead of Mantis).
In 2012, the Bareos project was launched with a commitment to fostering close integration with the community and leveraging advanced automation services. However, a span of 10 years provides ample opportunity for evolution and innovation. Over the course of this decade, we have continuously adapted and modernized our infrastructure.
Among other changes, we have made significant advancements in the following areas:
Code:
Since the beginning, we have relied on git and GitHub as our code repository. Initially, we accepted contributions in the form of emails and patches. However, for some time now, we have exclusively transitioned to using Pull Requests, automated tests, and a structured review process.
Package Building:
Originally, our package building process relied heavily on the powerful https://openbuildservice.org/ for Linux packages. However, we had to resort to different approaches for other platforms. Therefore we have transitioned to using Jenkins, Build-Worker, and Docker containers for all platforms. This transition has been seamless for end-users, but it allows us to create packages for all our platforms within the same streamlined process. Additionally, this optimized process tailored for Bareos operates much faster.
Bugtracker:
Since our inception in 2012, we have utilized Mantis as our bug tracker, and for the most part, we were satisfied with its performance. However, due to a tighter integration with our other processes, we have decided to migrate to Github Issues in April 2024. We anticipate that this transition will result in a better integration of error reporting, development, and pull requests.
Support:
In addition to our internal processes, we utilize https://zammad.org as a ticketing system for customers with support contracts.
Mastering Data Backup for Complex Applications
Struggling with the challenge of backing up complex web applications? Our whitepaper, ‘Backing up Nextcloud: Consistent Backup and Restore of Complex Application Data‘ by Sebastian Lederer & Heike Jurzik, is your roadmap to mastering this critical task. 🌐
…Ransomware Protection: How to Safeguard Your Data with Advanced Backup Solutions
Discover essential strategies for ransomware protection. Learn how Bareos backup solutions fortify your defenses against digital threats, ensuring your data’s security and accessibility.
In an era dominated by digital threats, ransomware emerges as a formidable adversary. This malicious software encrypts your files, effectively holding them hostage until a ransom is fulfilled. The threat it poses to both individuals and organizations is profound. Yet, the battle is not lost. Armed with the right strategies and tools like Bareos, securing your valuable data against ransomware is within reach. Ransomware encrypts the victim’s files, rendering them inaccessible. The perpetrators then demand a ransom for data restoration. It commonly infiltrates systems through phishing emails, malicious websites, and software vulnerabilities.
Essential Ransomware Protection Strategies:
1. Cybersecurity Awareness: Empower your team with the knowledge to identify phishing attempts and malicious links. Regular cybersecurity training enhances your first line of defense.
2. Advanced Security Software: Deploy security solutions encompassing antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall protections to destroy ransomware attempts.
3. Reliable Backups: Keep updated backups of critical data. Bareos backup solutions provide automated, secure backups that are pivotal for business continuity post-ransomware.
4. Software Updates: Ransomware exploits outdated software. Consistently updating your systems and applications fortifies your defenses.
5. Access Control: Limit access to essential data, applying the principle of least privilege to reduce risk.
6. Disaster Recovery Planning: A disaster recovery plan is indispensable. It should detail response actions for ransomware incidents, including data isolation and restoration.
7. Network Segmentation: Dividing your network limits ransomware spread, safeguarding sensitive data across various segments.
8. Email Security: Implement email filtering to eliminate phishing threats, a primary ransomware conduit.
Among all strategies for combating ransomware, regular backup is paramount. It is the only method that guarantees data recovery after an attack. Other preventative measures aim to block attacks, but they do not guarantee data recovery in the event of a breach. Regular, secure backups, using solutions like Bareos, safeguard your data by preserving it in its pre-attack state and making it recoverable in all scenarios. This not only enhances your defense, but also effectively renders ransomware demands ineffective, demonstrating backups as the ultimate defense in your data protection strategy.
Bareos is Your Ally in Ransomware Protection
Bareos leads in data protection, offering an adept backup and recovery system designed to counter ransomware. It automates your data backups with features like data encryption and effortless recovery, positioning Bareos as an indispensable ally in ransomware protection.
Facing ransomware doesn’t mean conceding defeat. With proactive strategies and dependable tools like Bareos, you can shield your data from threats and ensure operational resilience. It’s more than a technical safeguard—it’s a strategic business imperative.
Implement these protective measures today and take control of your data security.
Are you interested in bolstering your defenses with Bareos? Reach out us now to explore how our backup and recovery solutions can secure your data against ransomware and other cyber threats.
Ransomware Protection: How to Safeguard Your Data with Advanced Backup Solutions Read More »
World Unplugging Day! 🌿
In our always-on digital life, it’s refreshing to hit the pause button. Bareos keeps your data safe, giving you the perfect reason to unplug without worries. Spend your day reconnecting with the joys outside the digital sphere – nature, loved ones, or a good book. Embrace the peace of mind, knowing everything digital is secure back home with us. See you offline! #WorldUnpluggingDay #DigitalDetox #Bareos #Enterprise #Backup #OpenSource
Bareos expert circle Q1/2024
Dear customers and partners,
With organizations around the world adopting open source strategies Bareos delivers highly scalable backup & archiving solutions for SMB and enterprises. While trying to have an excellent documentation of our product, we’d like to offer an interactive Q&A session for you with our experts: founders, consultants, and support specialists on a variety of topics.
Topics include:
deployment use cases / best practises
infrastructure options (flash arrays, tape libraries and cloud)
availability & resilience
design automation / tool integration / deployments / monitoring
This online event takes place on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 17:00 CET / 08:00 AM PT / 16:00 GMT.
To participate, please register with corporate email via link and provide specific topics you’re interested in, please include question(s) in our registration.
Chemnitz Linux Days 2024, 16./17. March 2024
Meet the Bareos team at the CLT2024 open-source conference in Chemnitz, Germany. Make sure to attend our introduction lecture about Bareos “Was ist eigentlich Bareos?” on Saturday, 16:00 – Room V2 (in German).
Bareos Applied as Mentoring Organization in Google Summer of Code 2024
Google Summer of Code (GSoC) and Mentor Organizations
GSoC, now in its 20th year, is a global, online program focused on bringing new contributors into open source software development. GSoC Contributors work with an open source organization on a 12+ week programming project under the guidance of mentors.
Bareos as a Mentoring Organization
In 2024, Bareos applied for the first time as mentoring organization for GSoC. Here’s why you should be excited:
Diverse Project Ideas: Bareos has curated a list of intriguing project ideas for GSoC 2024. From enhancing backup performance to improving user interfaces, there's something for everyone. Check out the project ideas list to explore the possibilities.- Welcoming Community: Bareos promotes a welcoming and inclusive community. The goal is to bring new contributors into the fold.
How to Get Involved
As Bareos steps into its role as a mentoring organization, we invite you to be part of this exciting journey. If you’re a student and an open-source enthusiast, GSoC 2024 is a great opportunity to develop various skills and get involved in an important open-source project.
The next step is to check our project ideas list at https://github.com/bareos/GSoC2024/. You can also propose your own project idea there.
Important Next Items on the GSoC 2024 Timeline
- February 21 – 18:00 UTC: List of accepted mentoring organizations will be published
- February 22 – March 18: Potential GSoC contributors discuss application ideas with mentoring organizations
- March 18 – April 2: GSoC contributor application period
For more information about GSoC, visit https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/
Bareos Applied as Mentoring Organization in Google Summer of Code 2024 Read More »
Enhance security by hardening the Bareos filedaemon
The Bareos filedaemon (client) runs per default with administrator/root privileges in order to be able to backup all files. The Filedaemon also is able to execute scripts before and after the backups and restores. In order to perform restores, the filedaemon has the ability to overwrite all files on the client machine. While all of this is required for normal backup and restore operation, certain environments might have higher security requirements.
Bareos offers the following options are available to enhance the security and limit the power of the filedaemon:
- Limit the directories from where the filedaemon executes scripts. This can be achieved with the configuration directive
Allowed Script Dir - Limit the Job Commands that the filedaemon accepts. The
Allowed Job Commanddirective determines which of the existing job commands (backup,restore,verify,estimateandrunscript) are allowed. By prohibiting therestorecommand, the filedaemon will not allow to do restores. Without therunscriptcommand, no runscripts will be executed. - run the filedaemon as non-root user with the capabilities
CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH. This uses the Linux capabilities mechanism to run as normal user but have the the right to read all files. Writing files will not be possible in this setup.
These security measures can prevent an attacker that gained control over the bareos director to alter the files of the machines being backed up.
However, when a restore is required, the filedaemon on the client needs to be reconfigured to allow restores and/or runscripts. Alternatively, a second bareos filedaemon can be started that has a configuration that allows restores.
Usually the amount of restores is much smaller than the backups, so these measures still can enhance the security with relatively little effort and inconvenience.
Enhance security by hardening the Bareos filedaemon Read More »
SILL List 2023: Bareos once again on French reference List
France has published an updated list of recommendations for Open Source software solutions. Bareos is again included (category sauvegarde, backup) and on the SILL list 2023.
The French Ministry of Education (“ministère de l’éducation nationale”) uses Bareos on thousands of servers (map). Those servers are samba3 and samba4 domain controllers and file servers in schools and administrations worldwide.
SILL List 2023: Bareos once again on French reference ListRead More »
SILL List 2023: Bareos once again on French reference List Read More »
Import and export tapes from your tape library with Bareos
Tape libraries usually offer an option to insert and remove tape cartridges. Therefore, the libraries have a number of dedicated slots (so called import/export slots or mail slots) that can be accessed from outside of the library without the danger of the operator to collide with the tape robot. Bareos supports this functionality with the bconsole commands import and export commands:
- To import tapes into the library, just fill the import/export slots with the tapes and type
import. - To export tapes from the library, use
export volume=<volumename> - Tapes used by a job can be automatically exported with use of a runscript
For more details, please check the bconsole documentation about import and export console commands.
Import and export tapes from your tape library with Bareos Read More »
Bareos joins Open Invention Network
Bareos GmbH & Co. KG strengthens Commitment to Open Source Collaboration by Joining the Open Invention Network.
Bareos GmbH & Co. KG, a leading provider of open-source data backup and recovery solutions, proudly announces its membership in the Open Invention Network (OIN), underscoring the company’s dedication to fostering collaboration and innovation within the open-source community. The Open Invention Network is a shared defensive patent pool committed to protecting the open-source ecosystem. By joining this network, Bareos GmbH & Co. KG demonstrates its commitment to providing a secure and collaborative environment for developers, users, and partners.
Bareos Backup Friday: new postgresql plugin
In this series of videos we will present fundamentals to deploy and operate Bareos environments to protect your data. Today Co-Founder Philipp will talk about the all new postgresql plugin, why we made it, how to migrate from the previous one and technical details how it works.
…FrOSCon 18 on 5. and 6. August 2023
Meet the Bareos team at the FrOSCon open-source conference in Sankt Augustin, Germany.
Workshops: Bareos Part 1 and 2 in September
Together with our certified training partner Stephan we offer two online workshops “Bareos Part 1 and Part 2” in English language. Part 1 takes place from September 4 to 8, Part 2 from September 11 to 14, 2023. Both courses are half-day workshops.
…Bareos Backup Friday: Bareos Installation
In this series of videos we will present fundamentals to deploy and operate Bareos environments to protect your data. Today Co-Founder Philipp will demonstrate how easy it is to install Bareos on a windows server OS.
…World Backup Day: free testing and discounts
March 31 is World Backup Day, a good enough reason to review your own backup strategy. Are you satisfied with your software? Or are you looking for a new solution? To find out more about Bareos, you can test the packages from our subscription repository free of charge in your own environment. The offer is valid until Easter!
…Bareos Mainenance Release 22.0.3 and 21.1.7
Three month after the release of Bareos 22 we have just published bugfix releases 22.0.3 and 21.1.7. to our subscription and to our GitHub repository. We recommend to update your installations accordingly.
…Bareos Backup Friday: Bareos Installation
In this series of videos we will present fundamentals to deploy and operate Bareos environments to protect your data. Today Co-Founder Philipp will demonstrate how easy it is to install Bareos on a current server OS.
…Bareos 22 released
We have just published a new major version of our Open Source backup solution. Among other things, the Bareos 22 release contains an enhanced VMware plugin, major performance improvements, and a technical preview of the new Checkpoints feature.
…Bareos updates the Release Policy for Community Binaries
Bareos was founded ten years ago to continue the Open Source nature of this enterprise grade project for backup, archiving and recovery. We are strongly committed to continuing our work in the very same spirit, and working jointly with our community. Starting with the new release (Bareos 22), we’re updating our release policy to enhance user experience, and streamline project efforts.
…Bareos updates the Release Policy for Community BinariesRead More »
Bareos updates the Release Policy for Community Binaries Read More »
Happy Anniversary: Bareos is 10 years old
10 years ago, on 12/12/12, we started Bareos GmbH & Co. KG with two full-time developers to offer professional services for the Bareos project: subscription, support, consulting, and co-funding of feature development. Since then, a lot has happened — so it’s time to look back and celebrate!
…Bareos 21.1.5 and 20.0.8: Maintenance Releases
In November 2022, we released Bareos 21.1.5 and 20.0.8. The two maintenance releases are available for download in the repositories for subscription customers. As always, the source code is available in our GitHub repository.
…Bareos and Kubernetes: New Technical Whitepaper
We have published a new technical whitepaper about Bareos and Kubernetes. It shows how to back up stateful Kubernetes (K8s) applications: Data Protection for Kubernetes: Application-aware Backups with Bareos.
…Bareos continues support for Univention Corporate Server
Even though there will be no Bareos update for UCS 5 in the Univention App Center, you can still install our backup solution on this distribution. We will also be happy to create an individual support offer for anyone who wants to switch.
…Bareos continues support for Univention Corporate ServerRead More »
Bareos continues support for Univention Corporate Server Read More »
Bareos 21.1.4, 20.0.7, and 19.2.13: Maintenance Releases
We’ve released Bareos 21.1.4, 20.0.7, and 19.2.13 on August, 5, 2022. All three maintenance releases are available for download in the repositories for subscription customers. As always, the source code is available in our GitHub repository.
…Bareos 21.1.4, 20.0.7, and 19.2.13: Maintenance ReleasesRead More »
Bareos 21.1.4, 20.0.7, and 19.2.13: Maintenance Releases Read More »
Workshops: Bareos Part 1 and 2 in September
Our training partner Dr. Stephan Rein offers two online workshops “Bareos Part 1 and Part 2” in English language. Part 1 takes place from September 5 to 9, Part 2 from September 13 to 15, 2022. Both courses are half-day workshops.
…Bareos at OpenExpo Europe 2022
The Bareos team will be at OpenExpo Europe 2022 in Madrid on June 30. We will be represented with a booth at the trade fair. Frank Kohler will also give a presentation: “Bareos—Digital Sovereignty built in Germany”.
…Bareos 21.1.0, 20.0.6, and 19.2.9: Maintenance Releases
We’ve released Bareos 21.1.0, 20.0.6, and 19.2.9. All three maintenance releases are available for download in the repositories for subscription customers. As always, the source code is available in our GitHub repository.
…Bareos 21.1.0, 20.0.6, and 19.2.9: Maintenance ReleasesRead More »
Bareos 21.1.0, 20.0.6, and 19.2.9: Maintenance Releases Read More »
World Backup Day: test Bareos for free
March 31 is World Backup Day, a good enough reason to review your own backup strategy. Are you satisfied with your software? Or are you looking for a new solution? To find out more about Bareos, you can test the packages from our subscription repository free of charge in your own environment. The offer is valid until end of March—this is no April Fool’s joke!
…Bareos Online Training: two Dates in March
Our training partner Dr. Stephan Rein once again offers the two online workshops “Bareos Level 1 and Level 2”. Dates for the Bareos online training: March 22 and 23 as well as March 29 and 30, 2022.
…End of Life: MySQL as Bareos catalog database
Starting with Bareos 21 (released on December 22, 2021), our Open Source backup solution no longer supports MySQL as Bareos catalog database. It has been marked as deprecated since Bareos 19.2, and in Bareos 20, it was only available when updating existing installations.
…Graphical Interface: Bareos WebUI Modules
Bareos has a graphical tool for communicating with the Bareos Director. The WebUI is multilingual and provides detailed information about backup jobs, clients, FileSets, pools, volumes, and more. It’s also possible to start backup and restore jobs via the web interface. Our new blog series gives an introduction to the Bareos WebUI. In this second episode, we focus on the modules and their functionality.
…Bareos 21 released: Happy Holidays!
With 2021 coming to an end, we are announcing one last major release for Bareos (Backup Archiving Recovery Open Sourced). Bareos 21 includes, among other things, a new Universal Linux Client, packages for the EL8 platform, and enhanced IPv6 support.
…Bareos WebUI: Graphical Interface – Installation and Configuration
Bareos has a graphical tool for communicating with the Bareos Director. The WebUI is multilingual and provides detailed information about backup jobs, clients, FileSets, pools, volumes, and more. It’s also possible to start backup and restore jobs via the web interface. Our new blog series gives an introduction to the Bareos WebUI. In this first episode: installation and configuration.
…Bareos WebUI: Graphical Interface – Installation and ConfigurationRead More »
Bareos WebUI: Graphical Interface – Installation and Configuration Read More »
Digital Sovereignity: More Open Source for the Public Sector
On November 24, 2021, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and The Greens announced that they had reached a deal to implement the traffic light coalition. The upcoming federal government relies on Open Source to push forward the digitization of the administration—something we at Bareos embrace, of course.
…Digital Sovereignity: More Open Source for the Public SectorRead More »
Digital Sovereignity: More Open Source for the Public Sector Read More »
Bareos 20.0.4: Maintenance Releases
We’re happy to announce Bareos 20.0.4. The release includes some new features as well as bug fixes. It’s available for download in the repositories for subscription customers. As usual, all sources are available in our GitHub repository.
…Bareos Repositories: Important Change
As previously announced, the latest link on the Bareos download servers will be removed soon. For several months now, it has been pointing to version 19.2 as a temporary solution, but will shortly be deleted. Read on to find out what’s changing for the Bareos repositories.
…Bareos 20.0.3, 19.2.11, and 18.2.12: three Maintenance Releases
We’ve released Bareos 20.0.3, 19.2.11, and 18.2.12. All three maintenance releases are available for download in the repositories for subscription customers. As always, the source code is available in our GitHub repository.
…Bareos 20.0.3, 19.2.11, and 18.2.12: three Maintenance ReleasesRead More »
Bareos 20.0.3, 19.2.11, and 18.2.12: three Maintenance Releases Read More »
bareos-fuse: Virtual File System for Bareos
bareos-fuse (bareosfs) connects to the Bareos Director and presents backup information in a virtual file system. As a result, users can access information about clients, backup jobs, volumes and pools on the command line or via the graphical file manager.
…Work at Bareos: We’re hiring!
We’re hiring – Bareos is looking for software developers and technical support specialists. Are you a software developer with C++/Linux skills? Are you a technical support hero who enjoys solving tricky problems from time to time? Then please get in touch if you want to work at Bareos!
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