Amanda Enterprise FAQs

About Amanda Enterprise

Amanda is the most popular open source software for backup and recovery of networked computers. Our software protects more than half a million servers, workstations and desktops running various versions of Linux, UNIX, BSD, Mac OS-X and Microsoft Windows operating systems worldwide. Amanda is available in two editions — Amanda Community and Amanda Enterprise.

Amanda Enterprise is the enhanced and supported version of Amanda with improvements in usability, security and applications support. Specifically, Amanda Enterprise provides the following:

  • Zmanda Management Console that simplifies & automates all day-to-day activities of backup administrators such as configuring backup policies and schedules, adding new clients, click-and-restore files from backup media and generating standard or custom reports

  • Flexible media options enabling backup to disk, tape, optical devices and backup over the Internet to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

  • Wide platform, database and application support

  • Backup of System State for Windows clients to ensure system and registry database referential integrity in case of disaster recovery

  • Hot backup of MS Exchange, MS SQL Server and Oracle databases

  • New functionality and security updates, product alerts, knowledgebase access, and 24x7 support from Zmanda worldwide

  • Amanda Enterprise is an open source product, while the others are closed-source
  • Amanda Enterprise uses standard data formats such as tar and zip instead of proprietary ones
  • Amanda is the only open source data protection software certified by the US Department of Homeland Security
  • Amanda Enterprise provides intelligent scheduling that calculates optimal full and incremental backup levels for all of your clients so your backup windows is consistent every day, your resource usage optimized without having to purchase additional storage and network capacity to accommodate peak backup data volumes
  • Amanda Enterprise supports Open Source and user configurable encryption and data compression, while other solutions force you to use their encryption and compression routines
  • Zmanda Management Console (ZMC) that simplifies & automates all day-to-day activities of backup administrators such as configuring backup policies and schedules, adding new clients, click-and-restore files from backup archives and generating standard or custom reports
  • Automated data retention and disposition policy and processes
  • Flexible backup media options including disk, tape, optical devices and online storage option such as Amazon S3
  • Wide platform, database and application support
  • Easy and dependable cross-platform recovery
  • Functionality and security software updates
  • 3 levels of technical support with complete knowledge base access, email and phone support, and case management with guaranteed response time

For in-depth overview of how Amanda compares to competition please register free of charge at Zmanda Network and download “Advantages of Amanda over Proprietary Backup Software” white paper.

Please register at Zmanda Network which contains additional information on Amanda Enterprise including whitepapers and on-demand webinars.

Amanda Enterprise

Zmanda is one of the most popular open-source backup and recovery software for hybrid cloud environments. It protects more than one million servers, workstations, and desktops running various versions of Linux, UNIX, BSD, Mac OS-X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems in 45+ nations. Zmanda provides the following:

  • Zmanda Management Console that simplifies & automates day-to-day activities of backup administrators, such as configuring backup policies and schedules, adding new clients, clicking and restoring files from backup media, and generating standard or custom reports

  • Flexible media options give you choices like the backup to disk, tape, optical devices, and backup over the Internet to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Wasabi, GCP, and Azure.

  • Wide platform, database, and application support

  • Backup of System State for Windows clients to ensure system and registry database referential integrity in case of disaster recovery

  • Hot backup of MS SQL Server and Oracle databases

  • New functionality and security updates, product alerts, knowledgebase access, and 24x7 support from Zmanda team worldwide

You can sign up for the free trial, request a demo, or contact sales to get started with Zmanda. If you are looking for help with the installation process, the documentation can help you get started.

There are various points that make Zmanda different from other backup software.

  • Zmanda is the only open source data protection software certified by the US Department of Homeland Security

  • Provides intelligent scheduling that calculates optimal full and incremental backup levels for all of your clients so that your backup windows are consistent every day and your resource usage is optimized without having to purchase additional storage and network capacity to accommodate peak backup data volumes

  • Supports Open Source along with user-configurable encryption and data compression

  • Simplifies & automates all day-to-day activities of backup administrators, such as configuring backup policies and schedules, adding new clients, clicking-and-restoring files from backup archives, and generating standard or custom reports

  • Flexible media options give you choices like the backup to disk, tape, optical devices, and backup over the Internet to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Wasabi, GCP, and Azure.

  • Wide platform, database, and application support

  • Easy and dependable cross-platform recovery

  • Functionality and security software updates

  • Support for virtualization environments such as VMware and Hyper-V

  • Quarterly release cycles with major customer-driven features and enhancements

  • Free community backup edition with Amanda and ZRM community

  • Three levels of technical support with complete knowledge base access, email, and phone support, along with case management with guaranteed response time

At Zmanda, you decide the storage destination of your backup data. It can be tapes, disks, and cloud storage.

Amanda Enterprise provides many layers of security to ensure that backed-up data, communications, and access to the backup process are all secured. Amanda Enterprise provides the following when it comes to security:

  • Secure authentication

  • Role-based access control for administrators and operators

  • Choice of encryption either on a client to secure data in transit or on the server to secure data at rest

  • Option to lock the backed up data using immutable backup option

  • Isolated copies of backup using Vault feature

Every module in Zmanda is independently tested and scrutinized by our QA team to meet its breaking point. This helps in delivering a product that works flawlessly in any backup environment.

You can use local storage like tapes and disks at locations where bandwidth is a challenge. Zmanda provides flexible media options for target storage needs; you can choose tapes, disks, and cloud storage based on your enterprise requirements.

You can install Zmanda Backup Server in any of the following ways:

  • Booting a VM from a .ova file

  • Docker image

  • AWS cloud marketplace

  • Linux install

For more information on the installation process, please refer to our documentation.

Yes, Zmanda does support the backup of sparse files.

Yes, Zmanda does support the backup of hard links.

Yes, Zmanda supports incremental backups with levels 0 (full) to 9.

For Backup Server, we support Linux operating system. For Backup Clients, we support Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows operating systems. For specific versions and distributions, please check the Amanda Enterprise Software Compatibility Matrix

Zmanda can back up Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, and Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, and 2008. For specific versions and distributions, please check the Amanda Enterprise Software Compatibility Matrix.

Yes, the 64-bit Zmanda Linux client is available for 64-bit RHEL, CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, OEL, and Fedora.

Yes, we provide hot backup of Oracle on Windows, Solaris, and Linux via Microsoft´s VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) and VSS-awareness of Oracle. When a Zmanda client starts a backup, it coordinates communication between the Zmanda Client Requestor, the Oracle Writer, and Windows Providers that create the snapshots (shadow copies) of Oracle.

Yes, we provide a hot backup of MS SQL via VSS. When a Zmanda client starts a backup for MS SQL, it coordinates communication between Zmanda Client Requestor, the MS SQL Writer, and Windows VSS Providers that create the snapshots (shadow copies) of MS SQL.

Amanda Enterprise fully supports a VM environment. In fact, we utilize virtualization extensively in developing, testing, and QA of our software.

Trial Period

Free trials are issued automatically as soon as you sign up for a free trial form. You can get started with the Zmanda setup immediately using the provided documentation. Meanwhile, one of our customer specialists will reach out to you to understand your requirements. 

At the start of the trial period, we will provide you with a trial license, that includes each of the features of the product. You can implement your backup architecture as per your requirements. For help during implementation, one of our specialists will get in touch with you for a free 30 minutes call.

Zmanda’s free trial includes access to all of the features and entire software. Each feature will have a count of one unit (one backup server, one backup agent for each of the supported endpoints). The leads can work with the sales team to change the license quantities if required. You can explore all the features of Zmanda for 14 days to test its flexibility in your environment.

Yes, you will receive 24*7 Premium Support during your trial. We provide support over the phone, by email, and through tickets. You can email your query to us at support@zmanda.com or call us at 888-496-2632 (US) and 408-732-3208 (INTL). The support team is also reachable via this form

Yes, it is possible to modify the trial period and feature count if required. You can reach our sales team at sales@zmanda.com and let them know the required modification.

The backed-up data will remain available just as it was backed up, even after the trial period ends. Data protected by Zmanda is always recoverable without active licenses.

Yes, all you have to do is replace the trial license in Zmanda with the paid license.

Security and Compliance

Zmanda protects data at rest using encryption and data at motion using Transport Layer Security TLS 1.2.

Yes, Zmanda does comply with GDPR. It is configured and implemented as a part of a fully GDPR-compliant solution, making it the most secure and seamless backup and recovery solution.

Zmanda meets the public sector’s unique security and compliance requirements with its features. The air-gapped configurations, tape storage for archival and backup, and open source background of Zmanda make it a robust solution for critical backup & recovery requirements of Government organizations. For more information, please visit here.

Zmanda’s full and incremental data backups, 3-2-1 backup rule-related features and immutable backups can provide you security against data loss.

Licensing and Pricing

We have two types of licensing for Zmanda, one is the open-source license which is for Amanda Community, and another one is for Zmanda (Amanda Enterprise).

Yes, Zmanda licensing model is flexible, allowing you to change your server or client license midway if there is any change in your backup environment. All you need to do is pay the difference caused by the change in licenses.

Amanda Enterprise is sold as an annual or multi-year subscription per protected system and per protected application. For example, if you have 12 Linux clients, 1 Exchange, 1 Oracle on Solaris, and 25 Windows desktops, you need the following subscriptions:

  • 1 backup server

  • 12 Linux clients

  • 1 Solaris client and 1 Oracle agent

  • 1 Windows client and 1 Exchange agent

  • 3 Windows desktop/laptop packs (each pack provides support for 10 desktops)

Yes, we do provide a discount for non-profits and educational institutions. For more details, please get in touch with Zmanda Sales.

Each Zmanda client subscription allows up to 5 virtual machines (VMs). All VMs must have the same operating system as the client subscription purchased. For example, if you have 2 physical machines running 3 Linux and 3 Windows VMs on the first machine and 5 Linux VMs on the second machine, you need to purchase a subscription to 1 Zmanda Client for Linux, 1 Zmanda Client for Windows for the first machine and 1 Zmanda Client for Linux for the second machine.

First, buy subscriptions for the backup server and all clients you want to protect. If you want to back up to Amazon S3, you simply buy a separate Backup to Amazon S3 option. You would buy your S3 certificate directly from Amazon and pay Amazon monthly for actual usage of storage and bandwidth.

The pricing model for Hypervisors is based on the number of Tier1 Hypervisors backed up and not on the number of VMs each Hypervisor runs. This allows you to use one Hypervisor or VMWare License, even when 100+ VMs are running on top of that one Hypervisor.

We don't bill you based on the data being backed up. You can have terabytes and petabytes of data for backup without worrying about any additional charges. The billing for Zmanda is based on the number of endpoints to protect. This can help you save money in the long run.

You can get in touch with Zmanda Sales Team to make any changes to your license

Zmanda team will contact you via email before the license expiration date. You can also get in touch with Zmanda Sales Team for any help with license renewal.

Data protected by Zmanda is always recoverable without active licenses.

Amanda Community Edition

Amanda Community Edition is a free, open-source network backup solution that can help you back up several servers and workstations to tapes, drives, and other optical media.

You can find all the details along with the most recent version of Amanda on 

You can mix Amanda Enterprise and Amanda Community Edition only through Professional Services engagement.

Amanda Community Edition is a free and stable version of the world's most popular open-source Data recovery Software Zmanda. To download Amanda Community Edition, please visit our Amanda Community downloads. The Zmanda Wiki page will provide you with all the required details to install and run Amanda in your backup environment.

To read the documentation and get more details on Amanda Community, please visit our Zmanda Wiki page or Amanda.org.

Still can’t find what you need?

Refer to technical documentation for more details here

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Amanda Enterprise Functionality

Amanda Enterprise provides many layers of security to ensure that backup data, communications, and access to the backup process itself are all secured. Specifically, Amanda Enterprise provides:

  • Secure authentication
  • Role based access control for administrators and operators
  • Choice of encryption on either a client to secure data in transit or on a server to secure data at rest

The Zmanda Management Console (ZMC) is a browser based GUI for configuration, management and monitoring. It provides management and visualization tools for defining all backup and recovery activities in Amanda environment:

  • What to backup, e.g. which hosts, file systems and databases
  • How to backup, e.g. to use encryption & compression
  • Where to store the backup images
  • When to perform backups
  • Point-and-click recovery
  • The Management Console provides extensive monitoring and reporting

The Amanda Enterprise Backup Server comes with the Zmanda Management Console and it centrally manages all backup operations and keeps track of backup data. Backup Server also manages storage devices used for backup. The Amanda Enterprise Backup Server runs on Solaris or Linux.

The Amanda Enterprise Backup Client is software that is installed on every system that needs backup protection including servers, workstations, desktops and laptops. The Backup Client software interfaces seamlessly with the Backup Server to facilitate integrated backups and recovery. Backup Clients are available on Linux, Solaris, Windows and Mac OS X. For a complete list, please refer to the Software Compatibility Matrix.

Amanda Enterprise has very scalable architecture. Some of our customers backup just a single host with large amounts of data and some of our customers backup hundreds of clients with a single server.

Amanda Enterprise uses only open data formats. For backup of Windows clients and databases we use zip format and for backup of Linux, Solaris and Mac OS X we use gnutar format.

Yes, we support backup of sparse files.

Yes, we support backup of hard links

No, we don´t change a time stamp.

Yes, we support incremental backups with levels 0 (full) to 9. In fact, that is where Amanda Enterprise shines. It is the only backup software with intelligent scheduling of backup levels for all your clients. Amanda Enterprise scheduling equalizes computing resources over time and backup window is consistent every day. For details about Amanda Enterprise scheduling please register free of charge at Zmanda Network and download “Intelligent backup scheduling with Amanda” white paper.

Yes, on any OS you can exclude certain files, e.g. all mp3 files from a backup.

Amanda Enterprise supports backup to:

  • Any type of disk (local hard drive, RAID, SAN, NAS)
  • All tape libraries, and auto-changers that are supported on Linux if your backup server is on Linux or Solaris if your backup server is on Solaris
  • Virtual Tape Libraries (VTL) such as EMC CDL or Data Domain appliances
  • Optical devices
  • Amazon S3 Service

Amanda Enterprise works with many tape libraries and changers that support reading barcodes.

  • The ZMC displays barcodes and Amanda labels together
  • There is a mapping of Amanda labels to tape barcode values on the “Media Management page”
  • The amreport command-line utility can be used to create printable labels for many tape types (there are also community scripts that support doing more than the default.)

Amazon limitation of 5GB is for size of the object that gets stored in a cloud. Amanda Enterprise splits large files, e.g.40 GB database, into multiple chunks (objects). Each chunk is within Amazon size limits and for recovery we assemble the chunks back.

Operating Systems and Application support

For Backup Server we support Linux and Solaris. For Backup Clients we support Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X and Windows. For specific versions and distributions please review the Amanda Enterprise Software Compatibility Matrix

We backup Windows Vista, XP, XP Pro, and Windows 2000, 2003 and 2008 Servers. For Windows 2000 is backed up via CIFS.

These OS can be backed up over NFS.

Our professional services will provide you a specially built client for FreeBSD.

Yes, 64-bit Zmanda Linux client is available for 64-bit RHEL, CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, OEL and Fedora.

Yes, Zmanda Clients for Windows XP, Vista and 2003 provide backup of Windows System State which contains important system files, Windows registry and other important operating system components needed for disaster recovery. By protecting this information, you can perform bare metal and disaster recovery of your Windows systems and files by simply reinstalling Windows and then restore from the backup of C: and System State.

Yes, we backup MS Exchange via VSS. Zmanda client for MS Exchange takes advantage of VSS-awareness of the Exchange. When a client starts a backup, it coordinates communication between Zmanda Client Requestor, the Exchange Writer, and Windows Providers that create the snapshots (shadow copies) of Exchange.

Yes, we provide hot backup of Oracle on Windows, Solaris and Linux.

To provide hot backup on Windows, Zmanda client takes advantage of Microsoft´s VSS and VSS-awareness of Oracle. When a client starts a backup, it coordinates communication between Zmanda Client Requestor, the Oracle Writer, and Windows Providers that create the snapshots (shadow copies) of Oracle.

RMAN is the Oracle-preferred method for efficiently backing up and recovering your Oracle database on Linux and Solaris. RMAN is designed to work intimately with the server, providing block-level corruption detection during backup and restore. RMAN optimizes performance and space consumption during backup with file multiplexing and backup set compression.

Yes, we backup MS SQL via VSS. When a Zmanda client for MS SQL starts a backup, it coordinates communication between Zmanda Client Requestor, the MS SQL Writer, and Windows VSS Providers that create the snapshots (shadow copies) of MS SQL.

Amanda Enterprise is fully supported in a VM environment. In fact, we utilize virtualization extensively in the development, test, and QA of our software.

The Time Machine is a great solution for a single Mac OS X desktop or a laptop. However, it does not provide a centralized backup catalog for multiple computers and it can save backups to a local disk only. With Amanda Enterprise you can:

  • Save Time Machine backups for long term archiving
  • Have a unified backup catalog for all of your Mac OS X computers
  • Write backups to tape, disk, optical devices or Amazon S3
  • Recover your data, e.g. graphical images on a Linux or Solaris machine if Mac OS X system is not available
Licensing

We have open source license for core Amanda. We provide Zmanda Management Console and Zmanda Clients and Agent under a commercial license.

Amanda Enterprise is sold as an annual or multi-year subscription per protected system and per protected application. For example, if you have 12 Linux clients , 1 Exchange, 1 Oracle on Solaris and 25 Windows desktops you need the following subscriptions:

  • 1 backup server
  • 12 Linux clients
  • 1 Solaris client and 1 Oracle agent
  • 1 Windows client and 1 Exchange agent
  • 3 Windows desktop/laptop packs (each pack provides support of 10 desktops)

Yes, we provide a discount. For more details, please contact: Zmanda Sales

Each Zmanda Client subscription allows up to 5 virtual machines (VMs). All VMs must have the same operating system as the client subscription purchased. For example, if you have 2 physical machines running 3 Linux and 3 Windows VMs on the first machine and 5 Linux VMs on the second machine, you need to purchase subscription to 1 Zmanda Client for Linux, 1 Zmanda Client for Windows for the first machine and 1 Zmanda Client for Linux for the second machine.

First you buy subscriptions for backup server and all clients that you want to protect. If you want to backup to Amazon S3, you simply buy a separate Backup to Amazon S3 option. You would buy your S3 certificate directly from Amazon, and pay Amazon on a monthly basis for actual usage of storage and bandwidth.

We support mixing Amanda and Amanda Enterprise only through Professional Services engagement.