StorageCraft ShadowProtect Virtual Server - License - 1 Virtual Machine

StorageCraft ShadowProtect Virtual Server delivers enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery designed for single-VM deployments on a Windows PC. This license covers one virtual machine, offering fast installation, reliable image-based backups, and rapid recovery to minimize downtime for critical workloads. Ideal for small- to mid-sized IT environments, ShadowProtect Virtual Server combines simplicity with powerful protection, helping you safeguard your virtual infrastructure with minimal administrative overhead.

• Effortless deployment and licensing for a single virtual machine: This package is purpose-built for straightforward setup on a Windows PC, enabling you to protect one virtual machine quickly. The license is scoped to a single VM, simplifying procurement and activation while delivering dependable protection without the complexity of multi-VM entitlements. The installer and licensing flow are designed for IT professionals who need a reliable, no-nonsense solution that gets protection up and running fast.
• Image-based backups for comprehensive protection: ShadowProtect Virtual Server uses image-based backups to capture complete VM states, including the operating system, applications, and data. This approach ensures consistency across guest environments and supports reliable restores even after system changes. You can configure scheduled backups with flexible retention policies, enabling you to balance storage utilization with recovery objectives while maintaining a clear rollback point for each protected VM.
• Bare-metal recovery and rapid VM restoration: In the event of a hardware failure or a disaster, ShadowProtect Virtual Server supports bare-metal recovery to reconstitute a system from protected images. Whether restoring to a virtual environment or to bare hardware, this capability minimizes downtime and preserves business continuity. In addition to full VM restores, you can perform granular recoveries of individual files and folders, speeding up access to critical data without requiring a full restore.
• Flexibility and compatibility across virtualization and storage options: The solution is designed to align with common virtualization practices, offering compatibility with typical virtualization workflows. It supports integration with standard storage destinations and retention schemes, giving you the flexibility to back up to local drives, network shares, or other approved storage targets. This adaptability helps you tailor protection to your existing infrastructure and disaster-recovery plans.
• Security, reliability, and streamlined management: ShadowProtect Virtual Server emphasizes data integrity and secure operations. Expect reliable restore verification, incrementally updated backups, and straightforward management through a centralized console. The product supports essential security considerations—such as protected credentials and auditability—so you can maintain compliance while ensuring that your backups remain available and trustworthy in testing, auditing, and real-world recovery scenarios.

Technical Details of StorageCraft ShadowProtect Virtual Server

• License Type: Virtual Machine license (1 VM) — covers protection for a single virtual machine
• Deployment: Local PC-based installation on a Windows workstation or server host
• Backup Method: Image-based backups with block-level incremental changes to optimize storage and performance
• Recovery Options: Full VM restore, bare-metal recovery, and granular file-level restoration from protected images
• Storage Destinations: Local storage, network shares, or approved external targets compatible with ShadowProtect workflows
• Platform Compatibility: Designed for Windows-based host environments; integrates with common virtualization platforms through standard backup practices

How to Install StorageCraft ShadowProtect Virtual Server

• Step 1 — Prepare your environment: Verify that your Windows PC meets the recommended system requirements, ensure you have a valid license for 1 virtual machine, and identify a suitable backup destination with sufficient storage capacity for the VM image and retention policy.
• Step 2 — Obtain and launch the installer: Run the ShadowProtect installer with administrator privileges on the host PC. Follow the guided prompts to begin the installation process and select the ShadowProtect Virtual Server component for installation on the host machine.
• Step 3 — Activate the license: During or after installation, enter the licensed key for the 1 VM entitlement and complete any activation steps required by your licensing model. Confirm that the software recognizes the license successfully before proceeding.
• Step 4 — Configure protection: Create your first backup plan by selecting the virtual machine you want to protect, choosing a storage destination, and setting backup frequency, retention windows, and any exclusion rules. Consider creating multiple recovery points and test restores to validate reliability.
• Step 5 — Run a test backup and restore: Initiate an initial backup to establish a baseline, then perform a test restore to verify data integrity and restore processes. Review the backup job status in the management console, and configure alerts or notifications to stay informed about success, warnings, or failures.

Frequently asked questions

• What is StorageCraft ShadowProtect Virtual Server? StorageCraft ShadowProtect Virtual Server is a backup and disaster recovery solution designed to protect a single virtual machine running on a Windows PC. It provides image-based backups, rapid restores, and flexible recovery options to minimize downtime and data loss for virtual workloads.
• What does license for 1 Virtual Machine mean? A license for 1 Virtual Machine means you can back up, protect, and restore one VM within your environment. If you need to protect additional VMs, you would require additional licenses or a different licensing tier that supports more VM instances.
• Which environments does it support? The product is designed for Windows-based host environments and integrates with standard virtualization practices. It enables protection for VMs created in common hypervisors through typical backup workflows while leveraging image-based protection to ensure consistent restores.
• Can I perform bare-metal recovery? Yes. ShadowProtect Virtual Server supports bare-metal recovery, allowing you to restore a system image directly to the same hardware or to a virtual environment, helping you recover quickly from hardware failures or disasters.
• How do I verify backups? Verification is performed through the ShadowProtect console, which provides backup status, reports, and logs. It’s recommended to schedule regular verification steps, review backup reports, and run periodic test restores to confirm data integrity and restoration readiness.
• Is installation easy? The installation is designed to be straightforward on a Windows PC, with guided setup, license activation, and wizard-based configuration to help you protect a VM quickly while maintaining control over backup timing and retention policies.