Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Relax-and-Recover

relax-and-recover.org

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
Visit relax-and-recover.org
Spec score 8.1 #13 of 30 in Disk Imaging Software

What it is

Relax-and-Recover (ReaR) is a free, GPL-licensed Linux disaster-recovery framework from Relax-and-Recover, founded in 2006. It creates bootable recovery images for restoring systems to replacement physical or virtual hardware. The workflow rebuilds storage layouts, restores data through a backup program, and installs a boot loader. Recovery can be guided or fully unattended, including physical-to-virtual, virtual-to-physical, physical-to-physical, and virtual-to-virtual moves. Boot media includes ISO, USB, eSATA, bootable tape, and PXE. Built-in backup methods include tar and rsync, with integrations such as Bacula, Borg, Commvault, NetBackup, and Veeam. Supported storage technologies include RAID, LVM, multipathing, DRBD, iSCSI, and LUKS. ReaR is written in Bash with a modular design for extensions, and Disaster Recovery Linux Manager can centrally manage deployments. It must run as root, exposes no network services or ports, and version 2.9 was released in January 2025.

Spec sheet

Purpose
ReaR creates bootable disaster recovery images for bare-metal recovery with data restore on physical or virtual replacement hardware.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Intended users
The project describes ReaR as a system administrator tool and framework, used in particular on enterprise Linux distributions such as RHEL and SLES.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Supported platforms
LinuxRead 23 Sep 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Free plan
YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Security
ReaR exposes no network services or ports and must run as root; its rescue media omits secrets by default, though secrets can be configured into it.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Support
Community support is offered through GitHub issues; the site also lists contributors offering professional services and says 24x7 contracts can be arranged through IT3 Consultants.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
License
The security page states ReaR is licensed under GNU General Public License version 3 or later.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Founded
2006Read 28 Sep 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Automation
The maker says fully unattended recovery is possible for large deployments, with guided menus available when needed.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Backup integrations
Supported backup methods include tar, rsync, Bacula, Bareos, Borg, Commvault, Veeam, IBM Storage Protect, and other listed tools.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Backup scope
ReaR complements backup and restore with bare metal recovery, and the maker says it is not backup management software.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Central management
ReaR integrates with Disaster Recovery Linux Manager, which can centrally manage ReaR deployments.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Computer backup
YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Current release
The download page states that ReaR v2.9 was released in January 2025 and provides packages through GitHub Releases and Linux distribution repositories.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Disk layouts
Supported disk layout technologies include hardware and software RAID, LVM, multipathing, DRBD, iSCSI, and LUKS encrypted partitions and filesystems.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Extensibility
ReaR is written in Bash and has a modular design that the maker says can be extended with custom functionality.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Hardware recovery
The maker lists physical-to-virtual, virtual-to-physical, physical-to-physical, and virtual-to-virtual recovery, including KVM, Xen, and VMware.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Licensing
The project says ReaR is GPL licensed and welcomes feedback and contributions.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Media and transport
Supported boot media include ISO, USB, eSATA, bootable tape, and PXE; listed transport methods include HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, NFS, and CIFS/SMB.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Monitoring and scheduling
The project describes monitoring examples for Nagios/Opsview and scheduling image recreation and transfer with cron.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Recovery media
Supported boot media include ISO, USB, eSATA, bootable tape, and PXE.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Recovery modes
It supports guided or fully unattended recovery and physical-to-virtual, virtual-to-physical, physical-to-physical, and virtual-to-virtual recovery.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Recovery workflow
Recovery recreates the storage layout, restores system files from a backup program, and installs a boot loader.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Release
The download page says ReaR v2.9 was released in January 2025 and packages are available through GitHub Releases.Read 9 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Restore modes
mixedRead 23 Sep 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Security responsibility
The security documentation assigns users responsibility for protecting their data, systems, configuration files, and rescue media.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Server backup
YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
Storage support
Listed disk layout support includes HWRAID, SWRAID, LVM, multipathing, DRBD, iSCSI, and LUKS encrypted partitions and filesystems.Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org

Plans and prices

Relax-and-Recover Free GPL licensed · Linux disaster recovery framework Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org

Every Relax-and-Recover plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free GPL-licensed Linux disaster recovery framework
  • Supports physical and virtual recovery combinations
  • Offers ISO, USB, PXE, and tape media
  • Integrates with multiple backup programs
  • Can run fully unattended for deployments

Limits

  • Runs only on Linux
  • Requires root privileges
  • Users must protect configuration files and rescue media
  • No built-in network services or ports

Who it suits

ReaR is aimed at system administrators, especially those managing enterprise Linux distributions such as RHEL and SLES. It fits environments requiring guided or unattended recovery across physical and virtual infrastructure.

Verdict

ReaR provides a broad Linux recovery workflow with flexible media, storage support, and backup integrations. Its root requirement and user-managed protection of configuration and rescue media are important operational considerations.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Relax-and-RecoverAll alternatives →