UrBackup: Image and File Backups That Just Quietly Work
Backups don’t need to be complicated. They need to happen — regularly, silently, and in a way that makes recovery feel boring instead of terrifying. That’s where UrBackup comes in.
It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s just a backup system that actually backs things up. Files, full disk images, Windows and Linux machines, over the LAN or the internet — all from a central interface. No cloud lock-in, no mystery daemons.
What sets it apart? Honestly, how little it asks for. One agent per client. One server. Basic config. And suddenly, you’ve got snapshots, deduplication, progress bars, and full recovery options — all without touching commercial software or cobbling together five tools.
Key Features (Real-Life Terms)
| Feature | Explanation |
| Cross-platform Agents | Works with Windows (including image backup), Linux clients, and headless boxes |
| File + Image Backup | Supports both individual file backup and full disk image snapshots |
| Web Interface | Central dashboard for backup control, restore tasks, and monitoring |
| Deduplication | Built-in block-level deduplication to save space |
| Incremental Backups | Only backs up what changed — efficient and fast |
| Scheduling Options | Per-client schedules with file types and exclusions |
| LAN & Internet Support | Handles backups over local networks or encrypted WAN connections |
| Restore Flexibility | File-by-file restore or full system image recovery via bootable ISO |
| Retention Policy | Configurable per backup type and client |
| Open Source | Fully open — no hidden “pro” version or vendor lock |
Where It Makes Sense
UrBackup fits well in environments that aren’t massive but still serious about backup hygiene — schools, SMEs, internal networks, homelabs, branch offices. It’s especially handy when:
– You need bare-metal recovery on Windows workstations
– You want automatic file-level snapshots for Linux servers
– You’re dealing with machines behind NAT — internet mode handles it
– You prefer a local backup strategy without renting cloud space
– You want something reliable that doesn’t take a whole weekend to configure
It’s not aiming for enterprise-scale dedupe clusters. It’s about keeping small and medium environments safe from data loss — without fancy gear.
Installing It (Basic Setup)
Server (Ubuntu/Debian):
“`bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install urbackup-server -y
“`
Web UI will be available at:
http://:55414
Client (Windows or Linux):
Download the agent from the official site:
→ https://www.urbackup.org/download.html
Once installed, the agent connects automatically to the server (on LAN) or can be manually configured with a token (for WAN setups).
Things to Keep in Mind
– Image backups only work on Windows (VSS-based) — Linux supports file backups only
– The default port (55414) must be open between server and client
– Deduplication is per file chunk, not per-whole-system — still saves tons of space
– Recovery ISO is downloadable from the server UI — burn it, boot it, restore
– You’ll want to tune retention policies once you see how big the images can get
For teams that want backups to “just happen” and restore to “just work,” UrBackup has that grounded, no-fuss energy that a lot of modern tools have lost. It’s not perfect — but it is consistent. And that matters more when things go wrong.
