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Relax-and-Recover
Relax-and-Recover · founded 2006
What it is
Relax-and-Recover (ReaR) is a free Linux disaster recovery framework that creates bootable images for restoring systems to replacement physical or virtual hardware. Its recovery process rebuilds the storage layout, restores system data from a backup program, and installs a boot loader. It is intended for system administrators, particularly those working with enterprise Linux distributions such as RHEL and SLES. Recovery can use guided menus or run unattended, including across large deployments. Supported boot media include ISO, USB, eSATA, bootable tape, and PXE. Backup methods include tar and rsync, with integrations such as Bacula, Borg, Commvault, NetBackup, and Veeam. ReaR supports storage configurations including RAID, LVM, multipathing, DRBD, iSCSI, and LUKS-encrypted partitions and filesystems. Written in Bash, it has a modular design that can be extended with custom functionality. It exposes no network services or ports, but must run as root. Users are responsible for protecting configuration files and rescue media. ReaR is GPL licensed and runs on Linux.
For and against
For
- Free and GPL licensed.
- Supports guided and unattended recovery.
- Boot media includes ISO, USB, and PXE.
- Integrates with multiple backup programs.
Against
- Linux only.
- Must run as root.
- Users must protect configuration files and rescue media.
The verdict
ReaR offers broad recovery options for administrators who can manage a Linux-based, root-run tool. Its configuration and rescue media require protection by the user.
Who it suits
ReaR suits Linux system administrators who need recovery images for physical or virtual replacement systems. Its guided and unattended modes address both individual recovery workflows and larger deployments.
Plans and prices
Relax-and-Recover
GPL licensed · Linux disaster recovery framework
Read 10 Oct 2026 · relax-and-recover.org
On the record
- Automation
- The maker says fully unattended recovery is possible for large deployments, with guided menus available when needed.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Backup integrations
- Supported backup methods include tar, rsync, Bacula, Bareos, Borg, Commvault, Veeam, IBM Storage Protect, and other listed tools.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Backup scope
- ReaR complements backup and restore with bare metal recovery, and the maker says it is not backup management software.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Central management
- ReaR integrates with Disaster Recovery Linux Manager, which can centrally manage ReaR deployments.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Computer backup
- Yesrelax-and-recover.org · read 23 Sep 2026
- 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.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Disk layouts
- Supported disk layout technologies include hardware and software RAID, LVM, multipathing, DRBD, iSCSI, and LUKS encrypted partitions and filesystems.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- ReaR is written in Bash and has a modular design that the maker says can be extended with custom functionality.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Hardware recovery
- The maker lists physical-to-virtual, virtual-to-physical, physical-to-physical, and virtual-to-virtual recovery, including KVM, Xen, and VMware.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- 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.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- License
- The security page states ReaR is licensed under GNU General Public License version 3 or later.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The project says ReaR is GPL licensed and welcomes feedback and contributions.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- 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.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Monitoring and scheduling
- The project describes monitoring examples for Nagios/Opsview and scheduling image recreation and transfer with cron.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- ReaR creates bootable disaster recovery images for bare-metal recovery with data restore on physical or virtual replacement hardware.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Recovery media
- Supported boot media include ISO, USB, eSATA, bootable tape, and PXE.relax-and-recover.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Recovery modes
- It supports guided or fully unattended recovery and physical-to-virtual, virtual-to-physical, physical-to-physical, and virtual-to-virtual recovery.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
- Recovery workflow
- Recovery recreates the storage layout, restores system files from a backup program, and installs a boot loader.relax-and-recover.org · read 10 Oct 2026
