Veeam File-Level Recovery – Powerful Open VM Backup and Restore Solution
introduction
After a virtual machine backup, there are typically many recovery methods available, each suited for different recovery scenarios. One widely used method is file-level recovery. This isn't some new technology—this need existed back when virtualization backups first emerged, and it was implemented early on by major backup software vendors. At first glance, this technology seems straightforward, but when it comes time to actually recover, Veeam can be a huge help.
Accidental file deletion or corruption can bring business workflows to a halt. Instead of restoring an entire VM, Veeam’s file-level recovery (FLR) allows administrators to quickly recover individual files from backups.
This makes it one of the most powerful features of Veeam Backup & Replication, ensuring businesses save time and reduce downtime during recovery operations.
Let's look at this situation: I've opened the file-level restore browser, which is usually an interface provided by the backup software vendor:
📌 According to Veeam’s official documentation, FLR is available in both the free and paid editions.
Check the content of the Files before recovering them
There's a bunch of PDF files here, but I have no idea what they are. Just looking at the filenames, I can't tell what they contain. Before restoring, can I open them to take a look? What if I restore the wrong files—wouldn't that make the recovery pointless?
This is a magical button. When we click it, we can see the file contents. Then I discovered that these PDFs I couldn't open before—I can now preview them locally before deciding to restore them. Isn't that great!
Recover the file in ZIP
Here's another scenario: with ZIP files, I might only want to restore specific files inside the archive. How do we handle that? The same incredibly versatile button can handle this, too.
This magical button opens up endless possibilities for recovery. For various objects that only special applications can recognize, as long as the application is pre-installed and can recognize the data format, this amazing button can help us extract objects and restore content. Data content is the core of our information systems—any recovery that doesn't care about the content is downright deceptive. So please, use this button before restoring!
Key Benefits of Veeam FLR
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Fast recovery: No need to restore entire VMs.
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Cross-platform support: Works for Windows, Linux, and other OS.
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Granular restore: Recover single files, folders, or application data.
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Secure process: Files are restored directly from backups without altering the source VM.
👉 Related reading: Free Tool: Veeam Backup & Replication Community Edition
Conclusion
The Veeam file-level recovery feature is a must-have for IT admins who need fast, reliable, and granular recovery options. Instead of restoring full VMs, businesses can quickly bring back only the required data, reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency.
By integrating this tool into your Open VM backup strategy, you gain a secure and efficient way to recover files on demand.
