> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.storware.eu/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.storware.eu/backup-and-recovery-71/overview/storware-backup-and-recovery-concepts/architecture.md).

# Architecture

<figure><img src="/files/TzN3solp1ocgkP0LTuFu" alt=""><figcaption><p>System architecture</p></figcaption></figure>

### Components deployment

Storware Backup and Recovery components (server, node, and endpoints server) can be installed on the same host.

* The server can be installed on a physical machine or as a virtual machine - externally deployed nodes require network connectivity to the server and backup destinations.
* Nodes may be deployed as physical or virtual systems unless the selected backup strategy requires the node to be installed as a virtual machine on a Hypervisor Cluster (especially with the "disk attachment" export mode).

### Typical workflows

There are several typical workflows in Storware Backup & Recovery and they result in a set of tasks.

<figure><img src="/files/pzvG4w8iprOJk8xDkcFK" alt=""><figcaption><p>Typical workflow</p></figcaption></figure>

#### **Backup**

* **Export** - a task that creates a backup or snapshot and exports data to the staging space
* **Store** - a task that moves data to the backup destination

#### **Restore to filesystem**

* **Restore** - a task that gets data from a backup provider and puts data in the staging space

#### **Restore to a virtualization platform**

* **Restore** - a task that gets data from a backup provider and puts data in the staging space (if it is a full backup that is being restored residing on the file system backup provider - this task just informs where files are waiting for import task)
* **Import** - a task that imports data to the virtualization platform and recreates VM

#### **Mount (file-level restore)**

* **Restore** - a task that gets data from a backup provider and puts data in the staging space (if it is a full backup that is being restored residing on the file system backup provider - this task just informs where files are waiting for the mounting task)
* **Mount** - mounts backup on the Storware Backup & Recovery Node and either allows user to browse files or exposes backup over iSCSI, so that remote iSCSI initiator can access it)

**Snapshot**

A task creates a local persisted snapshot of a virtual machine in the hypervisor environment according to a policy that was assigned to the machine. Snapshot retention is managed by the policy settings.