Bare-metal restore is a technique where the backed up data is available in a form which allows one to restore a computer system without any requirements as to previously installed software or operating system. Typically, the backed up data includes the necessary operating system, applications, and data components to rebuild or restore the backed up system to an entirely separate piece of hardware.

In some configurations, the hardware receiving the restore needs to have an identical configuration to the hardware that was the source of the backup, although virtualization techniques and careful planning can enable a bare-metal restore to a hardware configuration different from the original.

Bare-metal restore differs from local disk image restore where a copy of the disk image, and the restoration software, are stored on the computer that is backed up. It also differs from simple data backups where application data, but neither the applications nor the operating system are backed up or restored as a unit.

Tech Enterprises offers an optional “bare metal” restoration for rebuilding a computer or server from scratch, using a separate storage device, creating a mirror image of the client’s complete system. The device is then shipped to the data center and stored. In case of a system crash, the system can be restored to its original configuration.