Backup and Recovery for Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer)
Storware protects Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer) VMs agentlessly — through the XenServer API, with no software inside your guests. Full XVA image backups and NBD-based CBT incrementals, granular recovery, and — since 7.5 — a direct V2V migration path from Citrix Hypervisor to OpenStack.
Key Highlights
Agentless
No agents inside your guest operating systems. Storware works through the XenServer API for snapshot management and data transfer.
CBT incrementals over NBD
After the first full backup, Storware reads only changed blocks via the XenServer NBD service, so backups stay as small as the data that changed.
Migration path to OpenStack
Since 7.5, Storware provides V2V migration from Citrix Hypervisor (and XCP-ng) to OpenStack.
One license across your stack
Protect Citrix Hypervisor alongside VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, and more under a single model.
Powerful Data Protection Features for Citrix Hypervisor
Two backup strategies
Single image (XVA) and CBT (preferred). Both export the VM through the XenServer API; CBT adds block-level incrementals.
CBT incrementals over NBD
Changed blocks are read via the NBD service on the XenServer hosts, and the last snapshot is retained for the next incremental. CBT is a licensed Citrix feature (XenServer 7.3+); without it, the same strategy still runs full backups.
Application-consistent snapshots
Quiesced snapshots when guest tools are installed (with graceful fallback to a regular snapshot), plus pre/post command execution.
Granular and disk-level restore
Each disk is stored as a separate file with metadata, enabling disk exclusion and individual-disk or file-level recovery.
Reliable VM restore
Storware recreates the VM from XVA and applies the merged incremental chain through the APIs, with safe handling of UUID collisions (restored as a new VM with new MACs, or with the original configuration).
V2V migration to OpenStack
Since 7.5, migrate Citrix Hypervisor VMs into OpenStack without intermediary conversion tooling.
Flexible destinations
Local storage, NFS/CIFS network shares, and object storage (S3-compatible, Azure Blob, Google Cloud Storage).
Immutable, air-gapped security
IsoLayer air-gap, immutable backup destinations, retention lock, RBAC and access management, and Keycloak MFA.
Tested XCP-ng support
The same strategy protects XCP-ng, the open-source, XenServer-compatible hypervisor, under a technology alliance with the XCP-ng project.
Resources
Technology partners
See Citrix Hypervisor protection with Storware in action
Adding a XenServer pool takes minutes — from there, Storware runs full XVA backups and CBT incrementals over NBD, takes application-consistent snapshots, and recovers VMs granularly or restores individual disks and files. Watch the walkthrough for setup, a live backup, and a restore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Storware agentless for Citrix Hypervisor?
Yes. Storware protects Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer) VMs with no agents inside the guest operating system, working through the XenServer API for snapshots and data transfer.
Which Citrix Hypervisor / XenServer versions does Storware support?
CBT-based incremental backups require Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer) 7.3 or later. Confirm the exact supported versions against the current documentation at docs.storware.eu before deployment.
How does Storware perform incremental backups on Citrix Hypervisor?
With the CBT strategy: the VM is exported through the XenServer API for full backups, and changed blocks are read over the NBD service for incrementals, with the last snapshot retained for the next cycle.
Do I need a Citrix license for CBT backups?
CBT is a licensed feature in Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer) 7.3 and later. Without a CBT-enabled edition, the same strategy still runs full backups.
What restore options are available for Citrix Hypervisor?
Full VM recovery from XVA with the incremental chain applied, individual-disk restore, disk exclusion, and file-level restore, with safe handling of UUID collisions.
Can I migrate Citrix Hypervisor VMs to OpenStack?
Yes. Since version 7.5, Storware provides V2V migration from Citrix Hypervisor and XCP-ng into OpenStack.
Does Storware support XCP-ng?
Yes. The same backup strategy protects XCP-ng, the open-source, XenServer-compatible hypervisor, under a technology alliance with the XCP-ng project.
How does Storware protect Citrix Hypervisor backups against ransomware?
Through immutable backup destinations, IsoLayer air-gap, and retention lock, which keep recovery points from being altered or deleted.