Backup and Recovery for oVirt
oVirt is the upstream, open-source, KVM-based virtualization platform that Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager and Red Hat Virtualization are built on. Storware — the oVirt Community's recognized backup solution — protects it agentlessly through the oVirt API, with full and CBT-based incremental backups, instant restore, and granular recovery.
Key Highlights
Recognized oVirt Community backup
Storware is the oVirt Community's backup and recovery solution — built for open-source, KVM-based virtualization.
Agentless, multiple strategies
No agents in your guests. Pick the strategy that fits your topology: disk attachment, disk image transfer, SSH transfer, or CBT.
CBT incrementals (4.4+)
Back up only changed blocks and skip zeroed sectors, using the dedicated CBT API — without leaving temporary snapshots behind.
Instant restore + live migration
Boot a VM straight from backup as a new storage domain, then migrate its disks to production in the background.
Powerful Data Protection Features for oVirt
Multiple backup strategies
Disk attachment (a Proxy VM reads disks like local drives — the highest-throughput option), disk image transfer (a single external Node via the manager APIs — no Proxy VM per cluster), SSH transfer, and CBT. Export storage domain remains for legacy API v3.
CBT incrementals
Since oVirt 4.4 (Libvirt 6+, qemu-kvm 4.2+, vdsm 4.40+), Storware uses the dedicated CBT API to read only changed blocks; QCOW2 is used for incremental-enabled disks, and no temporary snapshots are created.
Full and incremental coverage
Full backups from oVirt 3.5.1+, incremental from 4.2+, and CBT from 4.4.
Application-consistent snapshots
Live snapshots are taken with quiescing (guest file-system freeze); if no compatible guest agent is present, Storware falls back to a regular snapshot. Pre/post command execution is supported.
Instant restore with live migration
The restore mounts an NFS share from the Storware Node as a new storage domain and boots the VM immediately; optional live migration moves the disks to your chosen storage after power-on. Requires a synthetic-type destination.
Granular restore and disk exclusion
Recover full VMs (recreated with volumes reattached), restore individual files from mountable backups, share a disk over iSCSI, and exclude drives you don't need.
oVirt UI integration plugin
Assign VMs to policies and run backup or restore straight from the oVirt management console, with tag- and regex-based auto-grouping.
Open REST API, CLI, and application backup
Automate through the REST API and CLI, and extend protection to databases and configuration files with custom command execution.
Immutable, air-gapped security
IsoLayer air-gap, immutable backup destinations, retention lock, RBAC and access management, Keycloak MFA, and tape.
Technology partners
See oVirt protection with Storware in action
Add your oVirt manager, pick a backup strategy, and let Storware handle the rest — watch a live, application-consistent backup and a granular restore, plus instant restore that boots a VM straight from backup storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Storware agentless for oVirt?
Yes. Storware protects oVirt with no agents inside guests, working through the oVirt API. The disk-attachment strategy uses a Proxy VM with the Storware Node installed in the cluster.
What backup strategies does Storware offer for oVirt?
Disk attachment (via a Proxy VM), disk image transfer (a single external Node using the manager APIs), SSH transfer, and Changed Block Tracking. The legacy export storage domain strategy remains available over API v3.
Does Storware support CBT and incremental backups on oVirt?
Yes. Full backups are supported from oVirt 3.5.1+, incremental from 4.2+, and CBT from 4.4 — CBT reads only changed blocks, skips zeroed sectors, and avoids temporary snapshots.
Does Storware offer instant restore for oVirt?
Yes. Instant restore mounts an NFS share from the Storware Node as a new storage domain and boots the VM immediately, with optional live migration of its disks to production. A synthetic-type backup destination is required.
Does Storware integrate with the oVirt management console?
Yes. A UI integration plugin lets you assign VMs to backup policies and run backups or restores on demand from the oVirt console, with tag- and regex-based auto-grouping.
What recovery options are available for oVirt?
Full VM recovery with volumes reattached, disk exclusion, file-level restore from mountable backups, and iSCSI access to a backed-up disk.
Does Storware also protect OLVM and Red Hat Virtualization?
Yes. Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager and Red Hat Virtualization are both oVirt-based and are covered on their own dedicated pages.
How does Storware protect oVirt backups against ransomware?
Through immutable backup destinations, IsoLayer air-gap, retention lock, and tape, which keep recovery points from being altered or deleted.