Backup and Recovery for XCP-ng
XCP-ng is the fully open-source, Xen-based hypervisor — XenServer-compatible, without the platform's licensing restrictions. Storware protects it agentlessly through the XCP-ng API: two backup strategies (XVA-based and CBT), granular recovery, and — since 7.5 — a direct V2V migration path to OpenStack.
Key Highlights
Fully open-source
Every XenServer-compatible capability, without the platform's licensing restrictions — backed by the Vates-led community.
Two backup strategies
XVA-based (data straight from the API, nothing to install on the hosts) and CBT (block-level incrementals over NBD).
Agentless
No agents inside your guests. Storware works through the XCP-ng API for snapshots and data transfer.
One license, path to OpenStack
Protect XCP-ng alongside your estate under a single model; since 7.5, migrate XCP-ng VMs to OpenStack via V2V.
Powerful Data Protection Features for XCP-ng
XVA-based strategy
The VM is exported as a single XVA bundle directly through the XCP-ng API, with incremental supported and nothing to set up on the hosts — the simplest path to protection.
CBT strategy
Full backups via the API plus changed blocks read over the NBD service for incrementals; each disk is stored as a separate file with metadata, so you can exclude specific drives.
Broad version coverage
Full backups from XCP-ng 6.5 and later; CBT incrementals from XCP-ng 7.4 and later.
Application-consistent snapshots
Quiesced snapshots when guest tools are installed (with graceful fallback), plus pre/post command execution.
Granular and disk-level restore
Recover a full VM, individual disks, or single files, with automatic power-on after restore.
Policy assignment by tag and regex
Auto-group and protect VMs by name regex or tag, so new machines are covered from the first inventory sync.
V2V migration to OpenStack
Since 7.5, migrate XCP-ng VMs directly into OpenStack, no intermediary conversion tooling.
3-2-1 to any destination
Local storage, NFS/CIFS shares, object storage (S3-compatible, Azure Blob, OpenStack Swift, and more), or enterprise backup providers.
Immutable, air-gapped security
IsoLayer air-gap, immutable backup destinations, retention lock, RBAC and access management, and Keycloak MFA.
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 XCP-ng?
Yes. Storware protects XCP-ng VMs with no agents inside the guest operating system, working through the XCP-ng (XenServer-compatible) API.
What backup strategies does Storware offer for XCP-ng?
Two: XVA-based, where the VM is exported as a single XVA bundle through the API with nothing installed on the hosts, and CBT, where full backups run through the API and incrementals read changed blocks over the NBD service.
Which XCP-ng versions does Storware support?
Full backups are supported from XCP-ng 6.5 and later, and CBT incrementals from XCP-ng 7.4 and later. Confirm the exact supported versions against the current documentation at docs.storware.eu before deployment.
How does Storware perform incremental backups on XCP-ng?
The CBT strategy reads only changed blocks over the NBD service after the first full backup; the XVA-based strategy also supports incrementals directly through the API.
Does Storware support application-consistent backups on XCP-ng?
Yes. Storware takes quiesced (application-consistent) snapshots when guest tools are installed, with pre/post snapshot command execution.
What restore options are available for XCP-ng?
Full VM recovery, individual disk restore, disk exclusion, file-level restore, and automatic power-on of the VM after restore.
Can I migrate XCP-ng VMs to OpenStack?
Yes. Since version 7.5, Storware provides V2V migration from XCP-ng into OpenStack.
How does Storware protect XCP-ng backups against ransomware?
Through immutable backup destinations, IsoLayer air-gap, and retention lock, which keep recovery points from being altered or deleted.