Self-host burp
3.3.0Client-server backup and restore with delta differencing
- Stars
- 503
- Requires
- Librsync, OpenSSL, Uthash, Zlib
What is burp?
Burp (BackUp and Restore Program) is a network backup solution with a client-server architecture. The server runs on Unix-like systems while clients support Linux, Windows, and macOS. It uses librsync for delta differencing to minimize network traffic and storage, supports Windows VSS for consistent Windows backups, and provides SSL-encrypted communication with automatic certificate management. Key features include multiple retention periods, data deduplication, email notifications, a live ncurses status monitor, pre/post backup scripts, and automatic client upgrades. The server stores backups in a filesystem-based structure without requiring a separate database. Burp is licensed under AGPLv3 and developed by Graham Keeling.
Should you self-host burp?
burp scores 52/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #28 of 46 in Backup. It has 503 GitHub stars.
It shipped 2 stable releases in the past year. The latest, 3.3.0, came out on 30 May 2026. New versions land roughly every 5 months.
Setup is advanced: plan for several services and some ongoing maintenance. It is Other-licensed and written mostly in C.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Restic (82/100, 36 853 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See burp vs Restic side by side.
Features
- Automatic certificate management
- Automatic client upgrade
- Bare metal restore
- Client-side encryptionDisables delta differencing when enabled
- Compression
- Data deduplication
- Delta differencing
- Email notifications
- Flexible retention policies
- Live status monitor
- Network rate limiting
- Pre/post backup scripts
- Resume interrupted backups
- SSL encryption
- Windows VSS support
burp README
FAQ
What is the best file system to use on the server?
The author has done all testing on ext4 and recommends ensuring sufficient inodes are configured at filesystem creation time.
Do I need to install cygwin on Windows?
No, cygwin is not required on Windows.
What are the main dependencies?
The main dependencies are librsync, openssl, zlib (>=1.2.5 recommended), and uthash.
What operating systems do I need to be running?
The burp server needs to run on a Linux-style operating system. The burp client can run on Linux, Windows, or Mac.
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