# Backups for Apache CloudStack VMs

You can perform backups automatically based on the configuration for a hypervisor or VM group, or manually for a VM group or a specific VM. The backup process identifies and transfers only the allocated blocks—sections of the disk that actively contain data—to the backup storage. This method improves efficiency of backups and reduces storage usage.

The first backup of a VM is always a full backup. By default, all subsequent backups are incremental, capturing any changes to VM data since the last backup.

You can recover VM data, even when the most recent backup was incremental.

Backups run based on the following options:

- Initial full backup: When you use Guided setup to set up the Virtualization solution, use the Back up now option to perform a backup for the default VM group.

- Scheduled incremental backups: The backup plan that is assigned to a VM group includes a schedule for ongoing incremental backups. Those backups are performed automatically based on the schedule, without requiring any user action.

- Manual backups: You can perform on-demand backups for a VM group or for a specific VM.

If backups cannot start immediately, the backup jobs are queued.

## What Gets Backed Up

- VMs (Windows and Linux, powered on or powered off)

## Considerations

- Streaming, file system and application consistent, and crash consistent backups of the VMs are supported.

- Apache CloudStack node (host) must have the Virtual Server Agent package installed. The server will act as an access node for Apache CloudStack VMs. For more information, see System Requirements for Apache CloudStack Access Nodes.

- The VM storage can be local to the access node or can be shared or clustered and accessible from all the Apache CloudStack nodes.

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