# Deployment

1. **Verify** hardware and network **requirements** and **supported features** in the section of a specific platform:
   * [Virtual Environments](https://docs.storware.eu/protecting-virtual-machines) (especially here, where a node sometimes needs to be installed within the protected environment)
   * [Applications](https://docs.storware.eu/protecting-applications/applications)
   * [Storage Providers](https://docs.storware.eu/protecting-storage-providers/storage-providers)
   * [Filesystems with OS Agent](https://docs.storware.eu/os-agents)
2. **Verify** [Component Requirements](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/component-requirements) and for more complex deployments - [Sizing Guide](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/sizing)
3. **Install** using one of the following options:

   * [ISO-based installation](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/installation/iso-based-installation) (recommended)
   * [All-in-one quick installation](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/installation/quick-install-all-in-one) (recommended)
   * [Installation using an Ansible playbook](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/installation/installation-using-ansible-playbook)
   * [Installation with RPMs](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/installation/installation-with-rpms)
   * [Virtual Appliance](https://docs.storware.eu/broken-reference) (recommended)

   Regardless of the installation option you choose:

   * The node requires **staging space** - assume the number of concurrent export and store tasks, and multiply it by the biggest VM size (**for example:** 6 export tasks + 4 store tasks \* 100 GB should require around 1 TB)
     * the [Staging space configuration](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/common-tasks/staging-space-configuration) will guide you to prepare storage on the spare drive
   * Storware Backup & Recovery is installed in the `/opt/vprotect` folder and staging space is assumed to be in `/vprotect_data` - these are the defaults and should not be changed.
4. Run the **configuration wizard** ([Initial configuration](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/initial-configuration)), where you can (or do the following steps manually):
   * upload the [license](https://docs.storware.eu/administration/settings/settings#license)
   * configure connection to the source you would like to protect
   * configure backup destination - we recommend to use [Synthetic File System](https://docs.storware.eu/deployment/backup-destinations/filesystem/synthetic-file-system)
   * configure backup SLA (policies and schedules)
   * configure backup of your internal DB (for DR purposes)
5. Once you have configured source, backup destination and backup SLA - **initiate backup and restore** operations - examples:
   * [Virtual Environments](https://docs.storware.eu/protecting-virtual-machines/backup-and-restore)
   * [Applications](https://docs.storware.eu/protecting-applications/backup-and-restore)
   * [Storage Providers](https://docs.storware.eu/protecting-storage-providers/backup-and-restore)