Background and challenges
Nuabee has been operating a cloud-native Windows backup solution (to S3 storage) for a decade. However, this solution has critical limitations:
Issues identified #
- Poor performance on file servers containing a large number of files (several million)
- Critical threshold: beyond 3-4 TB of data per disk to be backed up, malfunctions occur.
- Insufficient restore speeds, particularly problematic in DRP contexts where large filers of several dozen TB must be restored within 4 hours.
Strategic evolution #
Building on the success of our tests on very large Linux file servers (over 20 TB) using Restic on Linux environments, Nuabee launched the development of a Windows agent in 2024 based on this proven engine.
The Restic engine: disruptive technology #
Restic, an open source project launched in 2014, is revolutionizing the traditional approach to backup thanks to several major technical innovations.
Déduplication intelligente #
- Segmentation based on content-defined chunking mechanisms
- Granular elimination of redundancies at the source
- Sharing data between servers to optimize storage space (repository)
- Significant reduction in the volume of data transferred
Advanced Snapshot System #
- Complete state capture at a given moment in time
- Fast and accurate restoration by a specific date
- Lifecycle management via retention policies (Linear or via GFS)
- Intuitive navigation through backup history
Portability and flexibility #
- Multi-target support: S3, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, NAS, SAN
- Uniform data format ensuring portability
- Simplified migration between environments
- Independence from storage providers
Optimized performance #
- Development in GO language for maximum efficiency
- ZSTD compression to reduce network footprint
- Exceptional restore speeds: several TB/h in a cloud environment
- Native parallelization of operations
CERN, a global leader in critical infrastructure, relies on Restic for:
~ 2.5 billion files backed up
~ 18 petabytes of data managed
Operational reliability proven over several years
The Nuabee Windows Image Agent #
Technical architecture #
The agent leverages the Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), automatically creating transparent snapshots for each volume to be backed up. This approach ensures data consistency even on production systems.
Extended compatibility #
Full support for current Windows Server versions:
- Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2025 (beta)
Native VSS integration #
- Transparent snapshots without service interruption
- Application consistency guaranteed
- Automatic management of file locks
- Compatibility with critical databases and applications
Catering services #
Performance objectives #
Final testing in a Windows environment targets performance greater than 1 TB/h, in line with existing Linux results.
Benchmark results (Linux) #
The environments demonstrate restoration capabilities of 1 to 2 TB/h under optimal conditions:
Recommended configuration:
- 8 vCPU minimum
- 16 Go RAM minimum
- Dedicated high-speed network
- SSD storage for temporary caches
Optimization factors #
- Parallelization of restoration flows
- Smart cache for frequently accessed data
- Adaptive compression based on content type
- Network optimization to minimize latency
Competitive advantages of this solution #
For critical environments #
- Scalability: Native management of multi-terabyte environments
- Reliability: Proven architecture in demanding environments
- Performance: Recovery speeds adapted to DRP requirements
For operation #
- Flexibilité : Support multi-cloud natif
- Savings: Drastic reduction in stored volumes
- Serenity: A sustainable and scalable open-source solution
This new generation of Windows agents marks a decisive step forward in Nuabee’s backup strategy, combining technical robustness with operational excellence.