DPX Product Overview
Enterprise backup and recovery for Linux, Windows, VMware, Hyper-V, databases, NAS, and application workloads.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Backup
SUSE Linux Enterprise Backup and Recovery with Catalogic DPX
Protect SUSE Linux Enterprise Server workloads with Catalogic DPX. Agent-based SLES backup, file-level and block-level protection, Instant Access mapping, immutable backup storage, GuardMode ransomware detection, and flexible recovery.
Protect critical SUSE workloads with workload-aware backup
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server often supports enterprise databases, business applications, file services, middleware, and infrastructure services. These systems need backup that protects more than the VM container. Recovery teams need control at the file system, volume, and application-data level. Catalogic DPX protects SLES workloads through the DPX Client for Linux. This agent-based model gives administrators direct control over file-level backup, block-level backup, recovery point selection, and restore operations for supported SUSE Linux systems.
- Protect SLES physical servers and virtual instances
- Use file-level backup for granular file and directory recovery
- Use block-level backup for efficient volume-level protection
- Map block backup instances for fast access to protected data with Instant Access
- Restore selected files, directories, or volumes
- Store backup data on resilient DPX storage targets including vStor, disk, tape, and cloud
- Add ransomware detection and immutable backup controls with GuardMode and vStor
How DPX protects SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
DPX protects SUSE Linux Enterprise Server workloads through the DPX Client for Linux, giving administrators multiple types of protection and recovery for supported SLES versions. File-level and block-level backup capture data the right way for each workload, while Instant Access mapping, selective restore, volume restore, and Bare Metal Recovery provide flexible paths back to production.
File-level backup
Protect selected files and directories for granular recovery on supported SLES systems. Supported across SLES 15 SP1–SP7 and SLES 12, with extended attributes preserved on EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, and XFS.
Block-level backup
Protect data efficiently at the block level, capturing changed blocks rather than every file. Supported for SLES 15 and 12 versions on EXT and XFS file systems, including large XFS volumes above 1 TB.
Instant Access (IA) mapping
Map supported block backup instances to access protected data quickly during recovery, without waiting for a full volume restore. Supported across all listed SLES 15 and SLES 12 versions.
Selective restore
Recover specific files or data from supported block backup instances when targeted recovery is needed rather than a full volume. Available for supported SLES 15 and 12 versions.
Volume restore
Restore full protected volumes to a known good state when larger-scale recovery is required. Supported for supported SLES 15 and 12 versions.
Bare Metal Recovery (BMR)
Rebuild an entire system from backup. Supported only for SLES 12 SP2 to SP3, with documented restrictions — physical disk below 2 TB and no multipath devices. Not available for SLES 15 or other SLES 12 versions.
File-level backup for granular SUSE Linux recovery
DPX file-level backup protects selected files and directories on SUSE Linux systems. This is the right fit when administrators need granular restore, simple policy scoping, and recovery of user data, configuration files, scripts, application directories, or selected file system paths. For SLES, DPX file-level backup is supported with most operating system-supported file systems. Extended file system attributes are supported with EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, and XFS.
- Back up selected files and directories on supported SLES systems
- Restore individual files without recovering an entire volume
- Protect configuration files, scripts, application directories, and user data
- Preserve extended attributes on supported EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, and XFS file systems
- Use file-level backup where granular recovery is the primary requirement
Block-level backup for efficient SLES protection
For supported SLES versions, DPX block-level backup protects data at the block level rather than backing up every file as a separate logical object. This approach is designed for efficiency, especially when workloads have large volumes, high change rates, or recovery objectives that require volume-level restore. DPX block backup for SLES supports Instant Access mapping, selective restore, and volume restore. Supported file systems for block backup are EXT and XFS.
- Protect SLES systems at the block level for volume efficiency
- Back up updated blocks rather than repeatedly processing full data sets
- Reduce backup time and transmission load compared with repeated full backups
- Use Instant Access mapping to access protected data quickly during recovery
- Restore selected data or full volumes from supported block backup instances
- Protect EXT and XFS file systems including large XFS volumes above 1 TB
Recovery options for SUSE Linux workloads
DPX gives administrators multiple recovery paths for SUSE Linux systems depending on the backup type, file system, and recovery target. Teams can restore individual files, selected directories, mapped backup instances, or full volumes.
File and directory restore
Recover selected files and directories from file-level backups. Restore individual items without recovering an entire system or volume.
Selective restore
Recover selected data from supported block backup instances. Use selective restore when targeted recovery is needed from a block-level protection source.
Volume restore
Restore full protected volumes when larger-scale recovery is required. Suited for cases where a full volume needs to be returned to a known good state.
Instant Access mapping
Map supported block backup instances to access protected data quickly during recovery workflows. Supported for SLES file-level and block-level backup scenarios.
Archive and tiered recovery
Restore from disk, tape, or cloud archive depending on retention age and the most efficient available copy. vStor can pull data from the right source automatically.
Bare Metal Recovery for eligible SLES
Use BMR only for SLES 12 SP2 to SP3 where documented requirements are met: physical disk below 2 TB, no multipath devices. Not available for SLES 15 or other SLES 12 versions.
Cyber Resilience
Ransomware-resilient recovery for SUSE Linux
SUSE Linux workloads can host critical application data, identity services, databases, and shared infrastructure. DPX strengthens recovery readiness with immutable backup storage, GuardMode ransomware detection, and recovery workflows that help administrators identify cleaner restore points before returning data to production. With vStor, backup data can be protected using snapshot and volume immutability controls. GuardMode can scan mounted file systems and snapshots for signs of ransomware or malicious encryption. If suspicious files are detected, administrators can review scan results, move to earlier snapshots, and restore from a cleaner recovery point.
- Detect suspicious encryption and ransomware-like file activity with GuardMode.
- Scan mounted file systems and backup snapshots before restore decisions are made.
- Review suspicious-file scan reports to guide recovery point selection.
- Use immutable snapshots and deletion locks to protect SLES recovery points.
- Restore from earlier snapshots when a later point appears compromised.
- Combine recent disk-based copies with tape, cloud, or replicated air-gapped retention.
Immutable backup storage for SUSE Linux workloads
DPX vStor provides software-defined backup storage for DPX environments. For SUSE Linux workloads, vStor can be used as a resilient backup target for block-level protection and recovery workflows. vStor supports volume-level and snapshot-level deletion lock controls, file immutability, automatic snapshot policies, replication relationships, and automatic GuardMode scan settings.
vStor backup repository
Use vStor as the DPX backup repository for SLES workloads. Supports scalable capacity, retention controls, and efficient operations.
Snapshot deletion lock
Apply snapshot deletion lock policies to prevent backup snapshots from being deleted or modified during the protected retention window.
Volume deletion lock
Protect volumes with deletion lock in fixed or flexible immutability modes to prevent modification or deletion of backup data.
GuardMode integration
Enable automatic GuardMode scanning on vStor to detect suspicious encryption activity across backup snapshots without manual intervention.
Replication between vStor systems
Replicate SLES backup data between vStor systems to support disaster recovery, remote office consolidation, and secondary copy protection.
AutoSnapshot policies
Use AutoSnapshot for additional recovery points alongside DPX backup jobs, giving more granular recovery options within vStor.
Flexible retention across disk, tape, cloud, and replication
DPX supports enterprise retention strategies for SUSE Linux workloads across fast local recovery storage, replicated repositories, tape, and cloud archive. This allows backup teams to align storage design with recovery objectives, compliance needs, cost, and cyber-resilience requirements.
Disk-based recovery
Keep recent backups on disk for faster operational recovery of SLES systems, files, and volumes.
vStor replication
Replicate backup data to secondary vStor systems for disaster recovery and offsite copy protection.
Tape archive
Archive older SLES backup data to tape for offline retention, regulatory compliance, and air-gapped recovery strategies.
Cloud object storage
Use cloud archive for long-term retention and offsite copies where appropriate for cost and recovery objectives.
Immutable air-gapped copies
Combine immutable storage with tape or cloud archive to create resilient air-gapped backup copies for worst-case recovery scenarios.
Local and remote recovery
Support both local recovery for operational speed and remote recovery for disaster or site-loss scenarios from the same DPX environment.
Common SUSE Linux backup and recovery use cases
Protect enterprise Linux servers
Use DPX Client for Linux to protect SLES systems running enterprise services, middleware, infrastructure tools, and business applications on physical or virtual infrastructure.
Recover individual files
Restore selected files, directories, scripts, configuration files, and application data from file-level or block-level backups without recovering an entire system.
Protect large XFS volumes
Use block-level backup for XFS partitions larger than 1 TB, since file-level backup is not supported for XFS partitions above that size.
Recover volumes
Use DPX block-level recovery workflows when a full protected volume needs to be restored to a known good state.
Add ransomware detection
Use GuardMode to scan snapshots and mounted file systems for suspicious encryption or ransomware indicators before restoring data.
Strengthen backup immutability
Use vStor deletion locks, snapshot immutability, and retention policies to protect SLES recovery points from deletion or modification.
Support long-term retention
Use tape, cloud archive, and replicated copies to retain SLES backups according to operational, legal, and compliance requirements.
Protect mixed infrastructure
Protect SLES workloads alongside VMware VMs, Windows servers, databases, and other enterprise systems within the same DPX environment.
Instant Access recovery
Use Instant Access mapping for supported block backup scenarios to access protected SLES data quickly during recovery without waiting for a full volume restore.
DPX compatibility notes for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
The following notes define the accurate 2026 DPX positioning for SLES. Use these to set correct expectations and avoid unsupported claims.
| Topic | Correct positioning |
|---|---|
| Instant Virtualization for SLES | Not supported. Use Instant Access mapping language instead. |
| Bare Metal Recovery | Supported only for SLES 12 SP2 to SP3 with documented restrictions (disk below 2 TB, no multipath). |
| XFS file-level backup | Supported, but file-level backup for XFS partitions above 1 TB is not supported. |
| XFS block backup | Supported. Use block-level backup for XFS partitions larger than 1 TB. |
| XFS BLI | Requires DPX V7.2 or later. 64-bit XFS inodes are not supported. |
| Cluster support | Not listed as supported. Do not claim cluster backup support for SLES. |
| Block backup file systems | EXT and XFS. Do not claim other file systems for block backup without confirming compatibility. |
| SLES 15 BMR | Not supported for any SLES 15 version including SP1 through SP7. |
| SLES as Device Server or NDMP Proxy | Supported. SLES can be used in Device or SAN Device Server roles and as NDMP Proxy. |
Always validate the exact SLES version, service pack, file system, volume layout, and DPX version against the current DPX Compatibility Guide before deployment or making product claims.
SUSE Linux backup resources
Documentation and product resources for teams planning or operating DPX protection for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server workloads.
DPX Compatibility Guide
Supported Linux distributions, SLES versions, service packs, file systems, and block backup requirements.
vStor Immutable Backup Storage
Software-defined backup storage with replication, deletion lock, immutability controls, and cloud offload.
GuardMode Ransomware Protection
Suspicious file detection and scan workflows for backup verification and safe restore selection.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Backup
DPX backup and recovery for RHEL, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and Oracle Linux workloads.
SUSE Linux backup FAQ
Does DPX support SUSE Linux Enterprise Server?
Yes. DPX supports SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for file-level backup and block-level backup on supported SLES versions, including SLES 15 SP1 through SP7 and SLES 12 SP1 through SP5.
Which SLES versions does DPX support?
DPX supports SLES 15 including SP1 through SP7, SLES 12 SP4 to SP5, SLES 12 SP2 to SP3, and SLES 12 and SLES 12 SP1. Feature availability varies by version — refer to the compatibility table for details.
Does DPX support block-level backup for SUSE Linux?
Yes. DPX supports block-level backup for supported SLES versions. Supported block backup file systems are EXT and XFS. Block-level backup supports Instant Access mapping, selective restore, and volume restore.
Does DPX support file-level backup for SUSE Linux?
Yes. DPX supports file-level backup for supported SLES versions. File-level backup is supported with most operating system-supported file systems. Extended file system attributes are supported with EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, and XFS.
Is XFS supported for SUSE Linux backup?
Yes, with limitations. XFS is supported for block backup and extended file system attributes are supported with XFS. File-level backup for XFS partitions above 1 TB is not supported — use block-level backup for XFS partitions larger than 1 TB. XFS BLI support requires DPX V7.2 or later, and 64-bit XFS inodes are not supported.
Does DPX support Instant Virtualization for SLES?
No. Instant Virtualization is not supported for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. DPX supports Instant Access mapping for supported SLES block backup scenarios, which is a different capability.
Does DPX support Bare Metal Recovery for SUSE Linux?
Only for SLES 12 SP2 to SP3, and only with documented restrictions. BMR for SLES 12 SP2 to SP3 requires the target machine physical disk size to be below 2 TB and is not compatible with devices using multipath. BMR is not supported for SLES 15, SLES 15 SP1 through SP7, SLES 12 SP4 to SP5, SLES 12, or SLES 12 SP1.
Can DPX protect SUSE Linux backups from ransomware?
Yes. DPX uses vStor immutability controls and GuardMode ransomware detection to help protect recovery points, scan backup snapshots for suspicious encryption activity, identify affected files, and support recovery from cleaner restore points.
Can DPX store SUSE Linux backups on immutable storage?
Yes. DPX vStor supports immutability controls including volume deletion lock, snapshot deletion lock, file immutability, fixed and flexible immutability modes, and automatic deletion lock policies.
Can DPX support long-term retention for SLES backups?
Yes. DPX can support long-term retention strategies for SLES workloads using disk-based repositories, vStor replication, tape, and cloud archive workflows.
Need to design your SUSE Linux backup architecture?
Talk to Catalogic about protecting SUSE Linux Enterprise Server workloads with DPX agent-based backup, file-level and block-level protection, Instant Access mapping, immutable vStor storage, and GuardMode ransomware detection.
Protect SUSE Linux Enterprise Server with Catalogic DPX
Catalogic DPX helps organizations protect SUSE Linux Enterprise Server workloads with agent-based backup, file-level recovery, block-level protection, immutable backup storage, GuardMode ransomware detection, and flexible recovery across disk, tape, cloud, and replicated storage.
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