DPX Product Overview
Enterprise backup and recovery capabilities for Linux, VMware, Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and more.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Backup
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Backup and Recovery
Protect Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers with Catalogic DPX. Agent-based file and block backup, bare metal recovery, ransomware-aware backup verification, vStor immutable storage, and agentless VM backup for VMware and Hyper-V environments.
Protect RHEL servers without rebuilding your backup stack
Red Hat Enterprise Linux often runs the workloads that other systems depend on: application services, databases, middleware, file services, monitoring tools, identity components, and infrastructure services. DPX protects these Linux systems with backup and recovery options that match the workload instead of forcing a single protection model. Use file-level backup when you need straightforward recovery of files and directories. Use block-level backup when you need efficient changed-block protection, faster backup windows, Instant Access mapping, selective restore, and Bare Metal Recovery. When RHEL runs as a VM on VMware or Hyper-V, DPX can also protect it at the hypervisor level without installing an agent inside every guest.
- Protect RHEL physical servers and virtual machines
- Use file-level backup for directory and file recovery
- Use block-level backup for efficient incremental protection and system-level recovery
- Restore files from file or block backups
- Recover full Linux systems with Bare Metal Recovery
- Store backups on vStor, disk directory, tape, cloud/object storage, or supported storage systems
RHEL backup capabilities in DPX
DPX gives backup teams multiple protection and recovery paths for Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.
File-level backup
Back up RHEL data logically at the file and directory level. Use this for conventional Linux file recovery, user data, configuration files, scripts, logs, and other filesystem-level assets.
Block-level backup
Protect supported RHEL systems at the block level to reduce backup time, network load, CPU impact, and storage consumption. DPX block backup supports efficient incremental protection and unlocks advanced recovery workflows.
Bare Metal Recovery
Recover a complete Linux system environment, including the operating system and point-in-time protected data, onto a bare machine or supported recovery target.
File restore from backup
Restore individual files or directories without rolling back the full server. DPX supports file restore from file backups and can also restore selected data from block backup workflows.
Agentless VM protection
When RHEL runs on VMware or Hyper-V, DPX can protect the VM through the hypervisor layer without installing the DPX Client inside every guest VM.
Cyber-resilient backup storage
Use DPX with vStor for immutable, software-defined backup storage, replication, offload, retention control, backup verification, and ransomware-aware recovery workflows.
Choose the right protection model for each RHEL workload
DPX does not require every RHEL workload to be protected the same way. Backup teams can select a protection method based on server role, recovery objective, platform, and operational overhead.
- Agent-based file backup for standard RHEL file and directory protection
- Agent-based block backup for efficient changed-block protection of supported RHEL systems
- Bare Metal Recovery backup for full Linux system recovery planning
- Agentless VMware backup for RHEL VMs protected through vCenter and DPX proxy servers
- Agentless Hyper-V backup for RHEL VMs protected through supported Hyper-V hosts
- Backup verification for supported block and VMware backups stored on vStor
- GuardMode scanning to identify suspicious files before restore workflows
- Disk, tape, cloud, object storage, and vStor targets for mixed retention strategies
Red Hat Enterprise Linux support snapshot
The table below summarizes DPX support for common RHEL version families. Consult the current DPX Compatibility Guide for the authoritative support matrix before designing production backup policies.
| RHEL version family | DPX support summary |
|---|---|
| RHEL 8.1–10.1 | Device/SAN Device Server, file-level backup, block-level backup, BMR, NDMP Proxy, EXT and XFS support for block backup |
| RHEL 8.0 | Device/SAN Device Server, file-level backup, NDMP Proxy; block-level backup and BMR are not listed as supported |
| RHEL 7.7–7.9 | Device/SAN Device Server, file-level backup, block-level backup, BMR, NDMP Proxy, EXT and XFS support for block backup |
| RHEL 7.0–7.6 | Device/SAN Device Server, file-level backup, block-level backup, BMR, NDMP Proxy, EXT and XFS support for block backup |
For supported RHEL block backup, DPX supports block backup, Instant Access mapping, selective restore, and volume restore. Instant Virtualization is not supported for RHEL block workloads.
BMR requires the target physical disk to be less than 2 TB. Environments using multipath require careful validation against the current compatibility guide.
For XFS partitions larger than 1 TB, use block-level backup rather than file-level backup. XFS BLI support requires XFS V7.2 or later; 64-bit inodes are not supported.
GuardMode public product documentation lists RHEL 7, RHEL 8, and RHEL 9 support. Do not assume GuardMode support for RHEL 10 until the GuardMode compatibility documentation is updated.
Always consult the current DPX Compatibility Guide for authoritative RHEL version, filesystem, and feature support details.
Disaster Recovery
Restore complete RHEL systems after failure or ransomware
RHEL recovery is not always a single-file problem. Hardware failure, storage corruption, failed patching, accidental deletion, or ransomware can require a full system restore. Catalogic DPX Bare Metal Recovery for Linux restores an entire Linux system environment from a point-in-time backup, including the operating system and protected data. With DPX, teams can boot a bare machine using the Linux BMR ISO, connect to the storage system containing the BMR backups, select the required backup instance, and restore the system environment. This gives infrastructure teams a practical recovery path for RHEL servers that cannot be repaired in place.
- Recover a complete Linux server environment from a known backup instance.
- Support physical and VMware virtual machine recovery scenarios.
- Use BMR for disaster recovery planning and system rebuild workflows.
- Target physical disk must be less than 2 TB; validate multipath environments before production use.
RHEL backup with cyber-resilient recovery workflows
For ransomware readiness, backup completion is not enough. DPX helps teams verify that backups can be accessed, scan supported backups for suspicious files, and restore from clean recovery points.
Backup verification
For supported block and VMware backups stored on vStor, DPX can mount backup snapshots after backup completion to verify that backup data can be accessed.
GuardMode scan
After a successful verification mount, DPX can run a GuardMode scan to identify suspicious files and report scan results.
Immutable backup storage
Use vStor deletion lock policies, replication, and offload workflows to reduce exposure to backup deletion or tampering.
Clean restore selection
Use verification and scan results to choose a safer recovery point before restoring affected RHEL workloads.
Physical and agent-based RHEL protection
Install the DPX Client for Linux on RHEL systems that need direct file-level or block-level backup. This model is appropriate for physical servers, application hosts, database-adjacent systems, and virtual machines that require guest-level protection or BMR planning.
- DPX Client for Linux is installed on systems that need direct backup and restore jobs
- RHEL block backup requires supported system configuration and LVM prerequisites
- Requires packages such as libnss3 and iSCSI initiator utilities for Instant Access mapping
- Firewall rules must allow the required DPX TCP and UDP ports
Agentless RHEL VM protection
When RHEL runs as a VM on VMware or Hyper-V, DPX can protect the VM at the hypervisor layer. This reduces agent management overhead and fits environments where backup policies are managed by virtualization teams.
- VMware agentless backup uses vCenter and DPX virtualization proxy servers
- Hyper-V agentless backup uses supported Hyper-V hosts or clusters
- Agentless backup supports file-level restore for VMware and Hyper-V workloads
- Use guest-level block backup when workload-specific protection or BMR is required
Common RHEL backup use cases
Enterprise Linux server protection
Protect RHEL infrastructure servers, application hosts, and shared services with policy-based backup and restore.
RHEL application recovery
Recover application data, configuration files, logs, scripts, and service directories without rebuilding the full server.
Full server disaster recovery
Use block backup and Bare Metal Recovery planning for RHEL servers that require full system rebuild capability.
Virtualized RHEL estate protection
Protect RHEL VMs in VMware and Hyper-V environments with agentless backup, file restore, and VM recovery workflows.
Ransomware response
Use immutable backup storage, backup verification, GuardMode scan results, and recovery-point selection to reduce reinfection risk.
Long-term retention
Retain RHEL backup data across disk, tape, cloud, object storage, and vStor-based architectures.
Planning requirements for DPX Client on RHEL
Use this as a concise planning reference. Consult the current DPX Compatibility Guide for authoritative requirements before deploying in production.
| Requirement area | Planning guidance |
|---|---|
| Minimum memory | 2 GB minimum; 4 GB recommended for enterprise applications |
| Processor | 1 core minimum |
| Architecture | x64 |
| Installation disk space | 4 GB minimum free space on the system drive |
| Required packages | libnss3 and iSCSI initiator utilities for Instant Access mapping |
| Block backup prerequisite | DPX Client volume must be part of an LVM group |
| LVM free space | At least 10% free physical extents in the LVM volume group |
| Network ports | Allow required DPX TCP and UDP ports per documentation |
| Compatibility | Validate the exact RHEL release, filesystem, and feature combination against the current DPX Compatibility Guide |
For virtual machines protected through DPX Agentless Backup for VMware or Hyper-V, do not install the DPX Client inside the VM unless a guest-level protection model is required.
RHEL backup and recovery resources
Documentation and product resources for infrastructure teams planning or operating DPX protection for Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.
Bare Metal Recovery
Full Linux system recovery from backup, including OS and point-in-time data.
GuardMode Ransomware Protection
Suspicious file detection and scan workflows for backup verification and safe restore selection.
DPX Compatibility Guide
Supported RHEL versions, filesystems, backup methods, and restore options.
vStor Immutable Backup Storage
Software-defined backup storage with deletion lock, replication, and offload for cyber-resilient RHEL backup.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux backup FAQ
Does DPX support Red Hat Enterprise Linux backup?
Yes. DPX supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux backup using DPX Client for Linux for agent-based file-level and block-level backup on supported RHEL versions. RHEL VMs can also be protected through DPX agentless backup when they run on supported VMware or Hyper-V environments.
Can DPX perform block-level backup for RHEL?
Yes, for supported RHEL versions and configurations. DPX block backup supports efficient changed-block protection and recovery workflows such as Instant Access mapping, selective restore, and volume restore. RHEL 8.0 is an exception in the current compatibility guide, where block-level backup is not listed as supported. Always validate your specific RHEL version and filesystem combination against the current DPX Compatibility Guide.
Does DPX support Bare Metal Recovery for RHEL?
Yes, BMR is supported for many RHEL versions listed in the current compatibility guide. BMR restores a full Linux system environment from backup, including the operating system and protected data. BMR planning should account for documented limitations such as the target disk size limit (under 2 TB), hardware differences, and multipath considerations.
Can DPX protect RHEL VMs without an agent?
Yes, when those RHEL VMs run on supported VMware or Hyper-V environments. DPX agentless backup protects VMs through the hypervisor layer. For physical RHEL systems or guest-level protection — including BMR planning — use the DPX Client for Linux.
Does DPX support file restore for RHEL?
Yes. DPX supports restoring files and directories from file backups. DPX also supports file-level recovery workflows from other supported backup types, depending on the protection model used.
Does DPX protect RHEL against ransomware?
DPX contributes to ransomware resilience by combining backup, recovery, vStor immutable storage, backup verification for supported block and VMware backups, and GuardMode scanning. GuardMode is not a replacement for endpoint security, but it gives backup teams additional visibility into suspicious file activity and helps select safer restore points. GuardMode currently lists RHEL 7, 8, and 9 support — verify the current GuardMode compatibility documentation before using it with RHEL 10.
Should I use agent-based or agentless backup for RHEL?
Use agent-based DPX Client protection when you need direct RHEL file-level or block-level backup, guest-aware control, or Bare Metal Recovery planning. Use agentless backup when RHEL runs as a VM on VMware or Hyper-V and the operational priority is centralized VM protection without maintaining agents inside each guest.
Need to design your RHEL backup architecture?
Talk to Catalogic about the right RHEL backup architecture for your environment, including physical servers, VMware and Hyper-V VMs, vStor storage, ransomware recovery, and Bare Metal Recovery planning.
Protect your Red Hat Enterprise Linux workloads with DPX
Talk to Catalogic about the right RHEL backup architecture for your environment, including physical servers, VMware and Hyper-V VMs, vStor storage, ransomware recovery, and Bare Metal Recovery planning.
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