Method and apparatus for file-level restore from raw partition backups. A backup mechanism may be provided that is configured to perform raw partition backups to a media server and to support file-level restores from the raw partition backups through, for example, Fibre Channel (FC) or iSCSI Logical Unit (LUN) export of the raw partition backup images to client systems. Once a LUN is exported and mounted on the client system, direct file manipulation using standard file system commands may be performed. Embodiments achieve both fast backup and individual file retrieval without the necessity of understanding native file system formats and without requiring a file system mapping of the source (client) partition. Thus, embodiments may be used in heterogeneous environments.