What does a bare-metal backup refer to?

A bare-metal backup is defined as a complete image-based backup of a system that allows for a full restoration of the operating system, applications, and all data on the machine. This type of backup is particularly useful because it captures everything needed to restore a system to its exact previous state, including the operating system, installed applications, settings, and user data.

While options that refer to backups of individual files or system settings highlight more selective methods of backup, they do not encompass the comprehensive nature of a bare-metal backup. A bare-metal backup is typically utilized in disaster recovery scenarios, where restoring a machine to a working state requires all components to be reinstated.

Additionally, although a backup performed while the system is powered off is related to the process of creating such backups, it does not define what a bare-metal backup is. Bare-metal backups can also occur while the system is running, depending on the software used. Thus, the essence of a bare-metal backup lies in its capability to capture the entire system image, ensuring a complete recovery solution.