Before You Begin

Requirements

• You can restore VM guest OS files from a backup or replica that has at least one successfully created restore point.
• [For restore to the original location] The mount server must have access to the VM guest OS (if file-level restore is performed over the network) or vCenter Server (if file-level restore is performed over VIX).
• [For restore to the original location] VMware Tools must be installed on the target VM.

ReFS

If you plan to restore files from a VM running Microsoft Windows ReFS, consider the following for the Veeam Backup & Replication components involved in the restore process:

• [For VM file system browsing and restore to a new location] The Veeam Backup & Replication console must be installed on a machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or later.
• [For restore to the original location] The Veeam Backup & Replication console and the mount server associated with the backup repository must be installed on a machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or later.
• [ReFS 3.x] If you plan to restore files from a VM running Microsoft Windows ReFS 3.x, the Veeam Backup & Replication console and mount server must be installed on machines running Microsoft Windows Server 2016 or later and the ReFS version must be supported on them.
• The version of Microsoft Windows Server on the mount server and Veeam Backup & Replication console must be the same or newer than the version of the VM guest OS.

Data Deduplication

If you plan to restore files from a VM running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or later and Data Deduplication is enabled for some VM volumes, consider the following for the  Veeam Backup & Replication components involved in the restore process:

• [For restore to the original location] The Veeam Backup & Replication console and mount server associated with the backup repository must be installed on a machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or later. Data Deduplication must be enabled on the mount server.
• [For restore to a new location] The Veeam Backup & Replication console must be installed on a machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or later. Data Deduplication must be enabled on this machine.
• The version of Microsoft Windows Server on the mount server and Veeam Backup & Replication console must be the same or newer than the version of the VM guest OS.

Limitations

• Processing of reparse points is supported only for NTFS.
• You cannot restore files from a backup created in the reverse incremental mode if the backup job is being performed. If the backup is created in the incremental backup mode and the backup job is being performed, you can restore files from any available restore point.
• You cannot restore VM guest OS files from a running replica or if the replication job with the necessary VM is being performed.