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Disk Imaging Software

Mondo Rescue: Free Disaster Recovery Software

mondorescue.org · checked 11 Oct 2026

GPL-licensed disaster-recovery and system-cloning software for Linux machines you operate yourself.

#13 · Disk Imaging Software#70 · Backup software
Visit mondorescue.org ↗ Alternatives Mondo Rescue vs Relax-and-Recover

How it plugs in

—Public API
NoOpen source
YesFree tier

Signal on Disk Imaging Software6.2#13 of 30

Mondo Rescue builds backup images and bootable recovery media for bringing systems back or setting up machines with comparable configurations. Recovery media can include CDs, DVDs, tape, network paths, ISO images, NFS mounts, and USB devices. It costs nothing and is primarily intended for seasoned system administrators.

Review

In a line

Mondo Rescue is free, open-source disaster recovery software. It helps restore systems or deploy systems with similar configurations.

What it does

The software creates backup images for computers and servers. Recovery can be fully automated, interactive, comparison-based, or performed while a system is online.

Mindi creates a bootable emergency environment so you can access Mondo recovery images when starting a machine. The interface can use the command line or a semi-graphical newt interface.

How it connects

Mondo Rescue can save backups on optical discs, tape, network destinations, or ISO images. Its restore documentation covers an NFS network mount and a generic USB device as restore media.

The project paper lists ext2/3, ReiserFS, XFS, JFS, and LVM, along with software and hardware RAID. Developers describe an open format that can be operated manually, and the code uses the GNU General Public License.

Good fit

Mondo Rescue is suited to experienced system administrators who rehearse disaster recovery before putting it into production. It covers both computer and server backup.

Documentation calls MondoRescue distribution-neutral and lists Mandriva, Fedora, openSUSE, RHEL, CentOS, SLES, Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, and Slackware.

Watch for

This is a self-hosted tool listed for Linux, with FreeBSD also named among its operating systems. Check your distribution, filesystem, RAID setup, and chosen recovery media before adopting it.

The project’s stated audience is experienced administrators who test recovery procedures before production. There is no free trial because the software itself is free.

Pricing

Mondo Rescue is free. It is offered as GPL open-source disaster-recovery and cloning software, without a separate trial period.

Verdict

Choose Mondo Rescue if you manage Linux systems and want an open-format recovery process with several media choices and multiple restore modes. It is also a fit when you need to recreate systems with similar configurations.

Look elsewhere if you need a hosted service or a guided product for occasional users. Teams should first confirm that their operating system, storage layout, and recovery media are covered, then run their own recovery checks before production.

Our take

Mondo Rescue is a practical choice for administrators who want no-cost disaster recovery software they can run themselves and inspect through an open format. Its range of backup media, boot recovery through Mindi, and support for common Linux filesystems and RAID layouts give it broad technical scope. The trade-off is operational responsibility: you must provide the host environment, select and manage recovery media, and validate procedures before relying on them. It is not aimed at casual users or teams seeking a hosted backup service.

  • Free GPL software with an open format
  • Creates bootable recovery media through Mindi
  • Can use optical discs, tape, network destinations, and ISO images for backups
  • Offers automated, interactive, compare, and online restores
  • Handles LVM plus software or hardware RAID
  • Self-hosted operation requires your own environment
  • Linux is the listed supported platform
  • Intended for experienced system administrators
  • No separate free trial
  • Pick it ifExperienced administrators planning disaster recovery; Linux computer and server backups; Setting up systems with comparable configurations
  • Skip it ifYou need a hosted backup service; You want a guided tool for occasional users; Your storage layout or recovery media is unsupported

Pricing

Mondo Rescue costs nothing under the GNU General Public License, and no separate free trial is offered.

  • Mondo RescueOpen-source disaster recovery and cloning software · GPLFree

As mondorescue.org lists them, checked 11 Oct 2026.

Questions

What is Mondo Rescue?

Mondo Rescue is free, open-source disaster recovery software for bringing systems back and setting up machines with comparable configurations.

What backup media does it support?

Project documentation covers CD, DVD, tape, network destinations, and ISO images for backups. Restore documentation also covers NFS and generic USB media.

Which systems and filesystems are supported?

Linux is the listed supported platform, and FreeBSD is also named among the operating systems. The documented filesystems include ext2/3, ReiserFS, XFS, JFS, and LVM, with software and hardware RAID support.

How does boot recovery work?

Mindi builds a bootable emergency recovery environment that lets Mondo Rescue reach recovery images when a machine starts.

Does Mondo Rescue have different restore modes?

Yes. Documentation lists fully automated, interactive, comparison, and online restore options.

Who is Mondo Rescue for?

The project positions it for experienced system administrators who test disaster recovery before using it in production.

How much does Mondo Rescue cost?

Mondo Rescue is free GPL software, and it does not have a separate free trial.

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