Feature Request: Linux FLR Restore via VMware Guest Operations / Open VM Tools (Including Enterprise Manager Self-Servic

[Free Bird]

Hi Veeam Product Management,

I would like to submit a feature request for Linux Guest File Recovery (FLR) restores in Veeam Backup & Replication.

We are a service provider and have recently migrated a number of customers from NetBackup to Veeam. Overall, the migration has been very successful, however one area that is regularly questioned by customers is Linux file-level recovery.

Currently, Veeam allows us to browse Linux file systems using the Helper Appliance, Linux mount server or helper host. However, restoring files back to a Linux guest typically requires connectivity to the guest OS along with the appropriate Linux credentials and privilege escalation mechanisms.

Many of our customers operate highly secured and segmented environments where:

• Veeam infrastructure has access to vCenter and ESXi hosts.
• VMware Tools/Open VM Tools is installed and functioning correctly.
• Direct SSH connectivity from backup infrastructure to Linux production workloads is restricted or prohibited.
• Firewall exceptions require significant change control and security approvals.
• Backup administrators have VMware administrative rights but do not have direct OS-level access to production servers.

In these environments, Veeam can successfully mount backups and browse files, but restoring files back into the Linux guest can become difficult because communication with the guest OS is still required.

We would like to see support for Linux FLR restores using VMware Guest Operations (formerly VIX) through VMware Tools/Open VM Tools.

The proposed workflow would be:

Veeam Backup Server → vCenter/ESXi → VMware Guest Operations → Open VM Tools → Linux Guest OS

This would allow Veeam to copy recovered files directly into the guest without requiring SSH connectivity from the backup infrastructure to the target Linux server.

The reason we are raising this request is that customers who have migrated from NetBackup are often surprised that this capability is not currently available in Veeam. One of the most common questions we receive during migration projects is:

"Why could NetBackup restore files to Linux VMs through VMware Tools and vCenter access, but Veeam still requires guest network connectivity?"

From a customer perspective, if the backup platform already has:

• Access to the backup data.
• Access to vCenter/ESXi.
• A functioning VMware Tools/Open VM Tools channel.
• Valid guest credentials.

Then they expect file-level restores to be possible without requiring additional network access to the guest OS.

In addition, this capability would be extremely valuable for self-service restores through Veeam Enterprise Manager.

Many service providers and enterprise customers delegate day-to-day file restores to application teams, server teams and customer administrators through Enterprise Manager. In heavily segmented environments, users can successfully browse Linux backups and identify the files they need, only to discover that the restore cannot be completed because the backup infrastructure lacks network access to the Linux guest. A VMware Guest Operations based restore mechanism would make Enterprise Manager self-service restores significantly more practical and would reduce the need to escalate requests to backup administrators. This would improve the overall self-service experience and help customers realise more value from Enterprise Manager.

Key benefits would include:

• Reduced dependency on SSH connectivity for Linux FLR restores.
• Improved support for zero-trust and highly segmented environments.
• Reduced operational overhead and firewall change requests.
• Better alignment between Linux and Windows file-level recovery capabilities.
• Easier adoption for customers migrating from NetBackup and other enterprise backup platforms.
• Improved recovery options during network outages or security incidents.
• More effective self-service restores through Enterprise Manager.
• Reduced dependency on backup administrators for routine file restores.

As a service provider supporting multiple enterprise customers, we believe this enhancement would provide significant value and would help address a common objection raised during migrations from NetBackup to Veeam.

Thank you for considering this feature request.