Bacula Director: a service that controls all backup, restore, verify, and archive operations.

Bacula Console: an application allowing communication with the Director. There are three versions of the Console:

Bacula File: also known as the Bacula Client program. This application is installed on machines to be backed up, and is responsible for the data requested by the Director.

Bacula Storage: the programs that perform the storage and recovery of data to the physical media.

Bacula Catalog: is responsible for maintaining the file indexes and volume databases for all files backed up, enabling quick location and restoration of archived files. The Catalog supports three different databases MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.

Bacula Monitor: allows the monitoring of the Director, File daemons, and Storage daemons. Currently the Monitor is only available as a GTK+ GUI application.

First, the Storage device needs to be configured. Edit /etc/bacula/bacula-sd.conf add:

Device {
  Name = "Tape Drive"
  Device Type = tape
  Media Type = DDS-4
  Archive Device = /dev/st0
  Hardware end of medium = No;
  AutomaticMount = yes;               # when device opened, read it
  AlwaysOpen = Yes;
  RemovableMedia = yes;
  RandomAccess = no;
  Alert Command = "sh -c 'tapeinfo -f %c | grep TapeAlert'"
}

The example is for a DDS-4 tape drive. Adjust the Media Type and Archive Device to match your hardware.

You could also uncomment one of the other examples in the file.

After editing /etc/bacula/bacula-sd.conf the Storage daemon will need to be restarted:

sudo /etc/init.d/bacula-sd restart

Now add a Storage resource in /etc/bacula/bacula-dir.conf to use the new Device:

# Definition of "Tape Drive" storage device
Storage {
  Name = TapeDrive
  # Do not use "localhost" here    
  Address = backupserver               # N.B. Use a fully qualified name here
  SDPort = 9103
  Password = "Cv70F6pf1t6pBopT4vQOnigDrR0v3LT3Cgkiyj"
  Device = "Tape Drive"
  Media Type = tape
}

The Address directive needs to be the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the server. Change backupserver to the actual host name.

Also, make sure the Password directive matches the password string in /etc/bacula/bacula-sd.conf.

Create a new FileSet, which will determine what directories to backup, by adding:

# LocalhostBacup FileSet.
FileSet {
  Name = "LocalhostFiles"
  Include {
    Options {
      signature = MD5
      compression=GZIP
    }
    File = /etc
    File = /home
  }
}

This FileSet will backup the /etc and /home directories. The Options resource directives configure the FileSet to create a MD5 signature for each file backed up, and to compress the files using GZIP.

Next, create a new Schedule for the backup job:

# LocalhostBackup Schedule -- Daily.
Schedule {
  Name = "LocalhostDaily"
  Run = Full daily at 00:01
}

The job will run every day at 00:01 or 12:01 am. There are many other scheduling options available.

Finally create the Job:

# Localhost backup.
Job {
  Name = "LocalhostBackup"
  JobDefs = "DefaultJob"
  Enabled = yes
  Level = Full
  FileSet = "LocalhostFiles"
  Schedule = "LocalhostDaily"
  Storage = TapeDrive
  Write Bootstrap = "/var/lib/bacula/LocalhostBackup.bsr"
}  

The job will do a Full backup every day to the tape drive.

Each tape used will need to have a Label. If the current tape does not have a label Bacula will send an email letting you know. To label a tape using the Console enter the following from a terminal:

bconsole

At the Bacula Console prompt enter:

label

You will then be prompted for the Storage resource:

Automatically selected Catalog: MyCatalog
Using Catalog "MyCatalog"
The defined Storage resources are:
     1: File
     2: TapeDrive
Select Storage resource (1-2):2

Enter the new Volume name:

Enter new Volume name: Sunday
Defined Pools:
     1: Default
     2: Scratch

Replace Sunday with the desired label.

Now, select the Pool:

Select the Pool (1-2): 1
Connecting to Storage daemon TapeDrive at backupserver:9103 ...
Sending label command for Volume "Sunday" Slot 0 ...

For more Bacula configuration options refer to the Bacula User's Manual

The Bacula Home Page contains the latest Bacula news and developments.