Files and directories
Protect selected paths in Ubuntu and recover the files you need without rebuilding the server.
Ubuntu backup
Ubuntu backup for physical servers and VMs
Ubuntu backup with Catalogic DPX protects physical servers and virtual machines. Use the DPX Client for file and block backup, or hypervisor-based backup for compatible VMs.
Plan how to recover data and retain backup copies, with vStor storage and Bare Metal Recovery for supported configurations.
Ubuntu backup based on the data you need to protect
The backup method determines what is captured and how it can be recovered.
Volumes and systems
Use block backup with LVM for Instant Access and volume restore. BMR recovers the system in supported configurations.
Virtual machines
Protect VMs through compatible VMware, Hyper-V or Proxmox VE environments without a DPX agent in every guest.
Backup with DPX Client inside Ubuntu
Install the DPX Client on the physical server or inside the Ubuntu guest, then register it with the DPX Master Server. This model protects data directly, including files used by applications and services running on the system.
- File-level backup and restore for supported Ubuntu systems
- Block-level backup for supported Ubuntu LVM configurations
- Centralized job scheduling, monitoring, reporting, and policy management
- Use DPX Client protection for Ubuntu systems hosting applications, middleware, or custom services. Coordinate application consistency through scripts, maintenance windows, or workload-specific procedures where required.
Recover Ubuntu files, volumes and systems
Choose a recovery path based on the available backup and the incident. Recover missing files, access block backup data or rebuild a supported system with Bare Metal Recovery.
- Restore files and directories from compatible backups.
- Use Instant Access to access block backup data without waiting for a full volume restore.
- Recover selected data or complete volumes from block backups.
- Use Bare Metal Recovery on a compatible physical machine or VMware VM, testing dissimilar hardware in advance.
BMR requires a target physical disk smaller than 2 TB. Multipath, software RAID and fake RAID are excluded. Recovery from vStor requires Linux kernel 3.10 or later.
Ubuntu VM backup through the hypervisor
Each hypervisor uses components outside the guest. Check the platform version and VM configuration before choosing agentless backup.
Ubuntu VMs on VMware
Use DPX agentless VMware backup where VM-level protection is the goal. This reduces guest-agent management and supports VMware-based recovery workflows.
Ubuntu VMs on Microsoft Hyper-V
In supported Hyper-V environments, DPX provides agentless VM backup. Deploy the DPX Client in the guest when block-level guest protection is required.
Ubuntu VMs on Proxmox VE
Use DPX agentless Proxmox VE backup where VM-level protection is the goal. This covers Ubuntu running as a QEMU virtual machine on a supported Proxmox VE 8.4+ cluster, with no agent inside the guest.
Cyber-resilient recovery
Scan backups before recovery
Ransomware and destructive attacks can corrupt production data before a backup job runs. Ubuntu is not a supported operating system for the GuardMode agent, so GuardMode coverage for Ubuntu data runs on vStor.
vStor scans mounted file systems and backup snapshots with GuardMode, flagging high-entropy files, file signatures that do not match the file type, and blocklist pattern matches. vStor also adds immutability controls at the snapshot and volume levels. With DPX, vStor, and GuardMode, Ubuntu teams can scan snapshots for suspicious files before a restore and recover from a clean restore point.
Protect backup copies and plan long-term retention
vStor immutability controls
Snapshot locks require MFA. Fixed protection remains active until retention expires; Flexible protection can be changed or removed with MFA.
Volume deletion locks and file immutability are separate controls. Configure them according to retention and recovery requirements.
Tape or cloud archive
DPX Archive supports block and agentless VMware backups. File, Hyper-V and Proxmox backups are excluded from this workflow.
Cloud archiving requires vStor as the source repository. Choose archive destinations and retention periods alongside the backup method.
Supported Ubuntu versions and features
DPX 4.16 lists Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, 22.04 and 24.04 LTS. Features require the configurations and file systems documented in the compatibility matrix.
| Coverage | DPX support | Requirements or limits |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, 22.04 and 24.04 LTS | DPX Client supported | Also check operating system lifecycle and security maintenance |
| File-level backup | Supported | Extended attributes on EXT4/3/2 and XFS; XFS partitions above 1 TB excluded |
| Block-level backup | Supported | EXT and XFS; LVM required |
| Instant Access and volume restore | Supported | Available for block backups |
| Bare Metal Recovery | Supported | Target physical disk below 2 TB; multipath, software RAID and fake RAID excluded |
| Device/SAN Device Server and NDMP Proxy | Supported | Available where required by the deployment architecture |
| Ubuntu clusters and client Instant Virtualization | Not supported | Review alternative protection and recovery paths with Catalogic |
Check the Ubuntu compatibility matrix for other releases and technical notes.
Client and storage requirements
Block backup requires LVM on the client. The limitation on mounting LVM snapshots on vStor concerns automatic verification and the subsequent scan.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| x64 hardware | At least 1 core and 2 GB RAM; 4 GB recommended for enterprise applications |
| Installation | At least 4 GB free space on the system drive |
| Linux packages | libnss3; iSCSI packages for Instant Access |
| Network | TCP and UDP ports documented for DPX Client |
| LVM for block backup | Installation volume in the volume group, with at least 10% free physical extents |
| XFS BLI | The matrix requires V7.2 or later; 64-bit inodes excluded |
| Agentless protection | Confirm hypervisor compatibility and components outside the guest before installation |
| Other hypervisors | Evaluate DPX Client inside the guest and confirm the configuration with Catalogic |
Review Linux client requirements and backup verification restrictions before installation.
Ubuntu backup FAQ
Does Catalogic DPX support Ubuntu backup?
Yes. The current DPX compatibility data lists Canonical Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04 LTS for DPX Client protection, including file-level backup, block-level backup, bare metal recovery, Device or SAN Device Server support, and NDMP Proxy support.
Does DPX support Ubuntu 24.04 LTS?
Yes. The DPX 4.16 compatibility matrix lists Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with file-level backup, block-level backup, and bare metal recovery. Newer Ubuntu releases should be validated against the current DPX Compatibility Matrix or with Catalogic Product and Support.
Can DPX back up Ubuntu VMs without installing an agent?
Yes, when Ubuntu VMs run in supported VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Proxmox VE environments and are protected through DPX agentless backup. For physical servers and other virtualized Ubuntu workloads, use the DPX Client inside the Ubuntu system unless a separate integration is validated.
What Ubuntu file systems does DPX support?
For file-level backup, DPX supports most operating-system-supported file systems. Extended filesystem attributes are supported with EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, and XFS. For block backup, the listed file systems are EXT and XFS, with documented XFS limitations.
Does DPX support bare metal recovery for Ubuntu?
Yes, bare metal recovery is listed for supported Ubuntu versions. Two implementation limits apply. The physical disk size on the target machine must be less than 2 TB, and devices using multipath are not compatible.
Does DPX support Ubuntu clusters?
No. Cluster support is not listed for Canonical Ubuntu in the current DPX compatibility data. Ubuntu cluster backup requirements should be reviewed with Catalogic before planning deployment.
How does DPX help protect Ubuntu backups from ransomware?
DPX can be paired with vStor immutable backup storage and vStor GuardMode scans. Ubuntu is not a supported operating system for the GuardMode agent (see the GuardMode system requirements), so GuardMode checks Ubuntu backup data on vStor, scanning mounted file systems and snapshots for signs of ransomware or malicious encryption. vStor immutability helps protect backup snapshots and volumes against deletion or modification.
Need to validate your Ubuntu environment?
Ask Catalogic to review your Ubuntu version, hypervisor, filesystem, LVM layout, backup target, recovery requirements, and ransomware resilience goals.
Ubuntu backup planning resources
Technical documentation and product pages for comparing backup and recovery paths.
Plan Ubuntu backup and recovery with DPX
Share your Ubuntu version, backup method and recovery requirements. Catalogic can review the configuration for physical servers and VMs, including vStor storage and scans of compatible backups.
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