Most Cost-Effective KVM Backup Solution

KVM Backup Software with Built-in Cyber Resilience

Protect KVM VMs with BDRShield — Reliable Backup, Immutable Storage & Instant Recovery.

Agentless KVM VM Backup & Replication

Supports QEMU 4.2.0+, Libvirt 6.0.0+

Self-hosted Centralized Management Console

Hybrid Backup — Store data Locally or on Your Public Cloud

Full-Feature Access
30-Day Free Trial

Cloud-Management Console for KVM Backup Coming Soon…

Proven Results. Trusted Worldwide.

70%Lower TCO

99%Customer Retention Rate

< 15 MINRapid Recovery (RTO & RPO)

24/7Expert Technical Support

3XHigher Partner Margins

What is KVM backup?

KVM backup is the process of safeguarding virtual machines hosted on the KVM hypervisor. This involves creating copies of VM images and associated data, ensuring rapid recovery in the event of hardware failures or ransomware attacks.

BDRShield — The Best KVM Backup Solution for Complete Data Protection

KVM Backup

Comprehensive agentless KVM VM backup & replication
Incremental backup using Changed Block Tracking
Store on your cloud or BDRShield Cloud or On-prem

KVM Recovery

Instant Boot VM
Full VM Recovery
Download disks in different virtual formats
File Level Recovery

KVM Protection

Immutable KVM Backups
Offsite and Air-gapped Backup
Pre-Backup & Restore Malware Scanning
End-to-End Encryption, MFA
Compliance-Ready Retention Policies

Supported Platforms for KVM Backup

Supported Versions

QEMU 4.2.0 & above

Libvirt 6.0.0 & above

Supported Host OS

Debian
AlmaLinux

Ubuntu

CentOS

RHEL

Key Features of KVM Backup Solution in BDRShield

Agentless VM Backup

Protect your KVM virtual machines without the need for in-guest agents, simplifying backup and reducing resource consumption.

Seamless KVM Integration

BDRShield seamlessly integrates with the KVM hypervisor, leveraging its native capabilities for efficient backup and restore operations.

Supported Host OS

Compatible with major Linux distributions including Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, and AlmaLinux for comprehensive coverage.

Your Cloud Storage

Store your KVM VM data flexibly on your own cloud storage like S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud, MinIO, Wasabi.

Local Storage

Store your KVM data on NAS/SAN, tape, or deduplication devices with flexible scaling options.

CBT-Based Incremental Backup

BDRShield uses Changed Block Tracking (CBT) to backup only modified data, reducing backup time and storage usage.

Automated Backups

Schedule automated backups with BDRShield’s flexible options, including every 15 mins, hourly, daily, weekly, & more.

Ransomware-Resilient

Ransomware-resilient backups with immutability, air-gapped copies, encryption, MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and malware scanning.

Instant Boot VM

Boot KVM VMs directly from backup repository in minutes on KVM, Hyper-V, or VMware with persistent change tracking.

Full VM Recovery

Restore entire KVM VMs to the same or different hosts with network and IP mapping for seamless recovery.

File Level Recovery

Instantly recover specific files or folders from KVM VM backups without restoring the entire virtual machine.

Download Disks

Download in multiple formats: VHD, VHDX, VMDK, Flat-VMDK, and RAW.

Backup Data Encryption

End-to-end AES-256 encryption in transit and at rest. Choose system-generated or your own custom encryption key for extra control.

Backup Data Retention

Meet compliance needs with customizable retention policies. Define version counts or time-based retention for efficient storage use.

Backup Verification

Automated backup verification by booting VMs from backup repository and sending screenshots via email to ensure recoverability.

Offsite Copy / DR

Securely replicate your KVM VM backups to a remote data center for added protection against on-site failures, ransomware, or disasters.

Cloud DR

Easily store a secondary copy of your KVM VM backups in the public cloud of your choice—or use our cost-effective BDRShield Cloud.

Reporting & Email Notification

Get real-time visibility with job-level reports and automated email alerts on successes, failures, or missed tasks.

Cloud-First Backup for KVM — Coming Soon

Centralized cloud management for KVM VM backups with cyber-resilient, automated backups and flexible storage options.

How BDRShield KVM Backup Works

Get Started with KVM backup in Minutes. No complex setup, no steep learning curve

Quick Setup

Download and install BDRShield Backup Server to get your centralized management console ready in minutes.

Configure Protection

Add KVM hosts as data sources, define backup policies, schedules, and retention rules.

Secure Backup

Keep data safe with immutable storage while storing backups across multiple local or cloud locations.

Instant Recovery

Restore individual files or spin up VMs in minutes, and run automated test recoveries to ensure data is always accessible.

How KVM Recovery Works

Choose Restore Point

Choose the required VM backup version from the BDRShield console for quick restoration.

Select the Restore Type

Opt for Instant Boot VM, Full VM Recovery, Disk Mount, or File-Level Recovery based on your needs.

Initiate Recovery

Start the restore process to the same KVM host or a different one, with AES-256 encrypted data transfer.

Verify & Restore

Access the recovered VM or files immediately and validate functionality with automated test recovery.

Customer Stories

Trusted by Businesses, MSPs & Partners Worldwide

Discover how organizations are strengthening data protection, ensuring compliance, and achieving faster recoveries with BDRShield.

★★★★★

“I don’t think any platform can beat BDRSuite’s pricing. The cost is much lower than paying thousands per month for Datto, Kaseya, or Veeam”

Tony AshvanianBoom Logic

★★★★★

“I tried Veeam and Microsoft’s built-in BU. It was OK, but price, performance, and features caused BDRSuite to win out!”

Kenneth LombardoMicro Systems and Support

★★★★★

“It’s very cheap and it’s absolutely competitive. It’s very cheap compared to what I can charge my customers for the service.”

Neils JensenDataMate

FAQ

What are the best practices for KVM Backup?

Configure agentless KVM hypervisor backup: Create a complete copy of the virtual machine, including its operating system, applications, and data without installing additional agents inside each VM.

Utilize Incremental Backups: To optimize storage space and reduce backup times, leverage incremental backups. Incremental backups capture only the changes made since the last backup.

What is KVM Backup Software?

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a powerful open-source technology that lets you run multiple VMs on a single physical server. It’s kind of like having several computers sharing the same resources, but each VM operates independently.

KVM backup software helps create regular snapshots of your VMs, capturing all their essential data and settings. If anything goes wrong, you can easily restore your VMs from these backups, getting your operations back up and running in no time.

There are many KVM backup solutions available, both free and paid. Consider factors like features (incremental backups, encryption), ease of use, and scalability when making your choice.

By implementing a KVM backup solution for your organization, you’re safeguarding your virtual environment and ensuring business continuity. Don’t let your VMs become vulnerable – explore BDRShield, your comprehensive and cost-effective KVM backup software today!

Why should I choose KVM backup solution from BDRShield?

BDRShield offers a reliable and efficient way to backup and protect your KVM virtual machines and their data. It ensures that your VMs are backed up regularly, allows for flexible recovery options, and helps you meet your business’s recovery objectives (RTO & RPO).

What is KVM Disaster Recovery

KVM Disaster Recovery is a process of ensuring business continuity in the event of a disruption or outage by performing a recovery of virtual machines (VMs) hosted on KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) with minimal downtime. This involves backing up, replicating, and restoring VM data and state in a fast and reliable manner.

Here are some key aspects of KVM Disaster Recovery:

Reduced Downtime (RTO) and Data Loss (RPO): KVM Disaster Recovery solutions, like BDRShield, aim to minimize RTO and RPO by ensuring that VMs are restored quickly with minimal data loss in case of failure.

Cross-Cloud and Multi-Platform Support: With an option to replicate VMs across different cloud platforms and hypervisors, KVM disaster recovery should provide flexibility and redundancy in disaster recovery planning.

How to setup disaster recovery for KVM

Step 1: Triple Up: Forge Three Copies of Your VMs:
Think of it as a safety net woven with backups. Don’t settle for just one copy – aim for three. This includes the original VMs and two separate backups. BDRShield lets you store these backups in diverse locations:

Locally: Keep one backup on your KVM host’s internal storage for quick access.

Remotely: Secure another copy on a separate physical server or network storage within your datacenter.

Off-site: Send the final copy to the cloud, creating an air-gapped haven against local disasters.

Step 2: Double Down on Diversity: Utilize Two Media Types:

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Spread your backups across two different media types. This minimizes the risk of a single media failure jeopardizing your entire backup strategy. BDRShield offers flexibility:

Disk/Block Storage: Utilize local disks, network attached storage (NAS), or storage area networks (SANs) for readily accessible local and remote backups.

Cloud Object Storage: Leverage the scalability and resilience of cloud storage platforms like AWS S3 or S3 compatible storage like MiniIO, Wasabi, Azure blob, Google Cloud Storage for your off-site copy.

Step 3: Embrace Off-site Replication:

Disaster knows no boundaries. Ensure at least one copy resides outside your physical location.

BDRShield’s disaster recovery (DR) replication feature comes to the rescue:

Replicate to Another BDRShield Server: Set up a secondary DR server in a geographically distant location and replicate your backups automatically. This helps you perform a seamless recovery, if any disaster strikes your primary site.

Cloud DR as a Backup: Utilize cloud-based DR solution offered by BDRShield to replicate your backups directly to the cloud, providing an ultimate off-site refuge.

By following these 3-2-1 principles and leveraging BDRShield’s capabilities, you’ll build a robust KVM backup strategy that can withstand any storm. Remember, prevention is better than recovery, so invest in your disaster recovery plan today!

What are the benefits of using KVM VM Backup solutions?

KVM VM Backup solutions provide comprehensive data protection by securely backing up critical information to prevent data loss or corruption. They support disaster recovery, enabling rapid restoration after hardware failures or disasters to minimize downtime and maintain business continuity. These solutions offer flexibility through customizable backup strategies—whether full VM backups or selective file and folder backups—and ensure resource optimization with efficient, incremental backup processes that reduce storage and bandwidth consumption.

How to Backup VM on the Native KVM

Natively, you can choose to take VM backups on KVM using the below techniques:

Option 1: File-level Backup:

Identify VM files:

Disk images (e.g., qcow2)
Configuration files (e.g., xml)

Copy files to a backup location:

Use commands like cp, rsync, or file managers.

Store backups securely:

Use external drives, network storage, or cloud storage.

Option 2: KVM virsh Commands:
1. Export VM configuration:

virsh dumpxml vm_name > /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

2. Copy virtual hard disk:

virsh domblklist vm_name # Check disk location
cp /path/to/original/disk.qcow2 /path/to/backup/disk.qcow2

3. Modify configuration file:

vim /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

Change vm_name to vm_name_backup
Modify UUID to make it unique
Update virtual disk label to new path
Change VNC port to a unique one

Option 3: Built-in Guest Tools:
Steps:

Access guest OS:

Use SSH or a virtual console.

Utilize guest OS backup tools:

Commands like dd for disk imaging
Backup utilities within the guest OS

Option 4: Backup Software:
Steps:

Install backup software:

Choose a compatible software (e.g., BDRShield for KVM).

Configure backup settings:

Specify VMs, backup frequency, retention policies.

Initiate backups:

Create a backup job and run backups as per your requirements

How to take a snapshot in KVM as a short-term backup?

Option 1: Using the command line (virsh):

Open a terminal window.
Type the following command, replacing virtual_machine_name with the actual name of your virtual machine:

virsh snapshot-create virtual_machine_name

To view a list of snapshots for a virtual machine, use:

virsh snapshot-list virtual_machine_name

Option 2: Using the Cockpit web interface:

Access the Cockpit web interface.
Go to Virtual Machines.
Select the virtual machine you want to snapshot.
Pause the virtual machine (optional, but recommended).
Scroll down to the Snapshots section.
Click Create snapshot.
Enter a name and description for the snapshot (optional).
Click Create.
Resume the virtual machine (if you paused it).

How to make KVM backup with command line?

KVM backup can be done using virsh commands in 3 simple steps:

1. Export VM configuration:
virsh dumpxml vm_name > /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

2. Copy virtual hard disk:
virsh domblklist vm_name # Check disk location
cp /path/to/original/disk.qcow2 /path/to/backup/disk.qcow2

3. Modify configuration file:
vim /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

Change vm_name to vm_name_backup
Modify UUID to make it unique
Update virtual disk label to new path
Change VNC port to a unique one

How to clone KVM VM with command line?

1. Verify the VM is powered off:
virsh list –all

2. Automatic clone:
virt-clone –original old_vm1 –auto-clone

3. Manual clone:
virt-clone –connect qemu:///system –original old_vm1 –name new_vm1 –file /var/lib/libvirt/images/new_vm1.img –file /var/lib/libvirt/images/new_vm1_data.img
(Adjust disk image paths as needed.)

4. Start the cloned VM:
virsh start new_vm1

How to backup and restore VMs on KVM-based platforms?

While native KVM backup tools can be effective at times, they are slow and cumbersome. A comprehensive backup solution like BDRShield offers a simpler, more efficient solution for protecting your virtual machines on KVM platform. BDRShield streamlines the backup and recovery process with:

Agentless backup: No need to install additional software on your VMs, simplifying deployment and minimizing overhead.
Fast, incremental backups: Capture only changed data, significantly reducing backup times and storage requirements.
Flexible scheduling: Automate backups to run at times that best suit your needs, minimizing service disruption.
Wide range of storage options: Store backups on local storage, NAS, SAN, or even cloud platforms for secure and reliable disaster recovery.
Instant recoveries: Get your VMs backup and running quickly in case of disaster with BDRShield’s efficient restore capabilities.

Don’t settle for slow, inconvenient backup solutions. Upgrade your KVM protection with BDRShield and experience the power of simple, reliable VM backup and recovery.

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BDRShield

Supported Workloads

Use Cases

Supported Environments

Business Type

KVM Backup Software with Built-in Cyber Resilience

Proven Results. Trusted Worldwide.

What is KVM backup?

BDRShield — The Best KVM Backup Solution for Complete Data Protection

KVM Backup

KVM Recovery

KVM Protection

Supported Platforms for KVM Backup

Supported Versions

Supported Host OS

Key Features of KVM Backup Solution in BDRShield

Agentless VM Backup

Seamless KVM Integration

Supported Host OS

Your Cloud Storage

Local Storage

CBT-Based Incremental Backup

Automated Backups

Ransomware-Resilient

Instant Boot VM

Full VM Recovery

File Level Recovery

Download Disks

Backup Data Encryption

Backup Data Retention

Backup Verification

Offsite Copy / DR

Cloud DR

Reporting & Email Notification

Cloud-First Backup for KVM — Coming Soon

How BDRShield KVM Backup Works

Quick Setup

Configure Protection

Secure Backup

Instant Recovery

How KVM Recovery Works

Choose Restore Point

Select the Restore Type

Initiate Recovery

Verify & Restore

Trusted by Businesses, MSPs & Partners Worldwide

FAQ

Ready to See It in Action?