Label volume

Label volume#

Bacula volumes are media used to store backup data written by Bacula storage devices.

Each backup job requires a volume to which data is written by the Storage Daemon device.

Volumes can be of different types. The two most common volume types are File and Tape.

Volume labeling#

Volume labeling means creating a Bacula volume with a label so it can be used to store backup data.

Volume labeling can be performed in two ways:

  • Manually, using a manual label volume action

  • Automatically, using automatic volume creation

What is required?#

  • Any version of the Bacularis web interface

How to do it?#

In Bacularis, volumes can be labeled in several places, depending on the storage type:

  • Volumes page

  • Manage autochanger tab on the Storage page

  • Running job status where the Label button is available when a new volume is required and cannot be labeled automatically

Volumes page#

The most common place to label volumes is the Volumes page, available from the main web interface menu. On this page, the Label volume(s) button opens a new window with labeling options.

[Main menu] => [Page: Volumes] => [Button: Label volume(s)]

Manage autochanger tab#

If autochanger management is configured in Bacularis and your tape changer has an integrated barcode reader, you can use the Manage autochanger subpage to select and label individual volumes.

[Main menu] => [Page: Storage] => [Table: Storage list] => [Button: 'Details' for selected Storage] => [Tab: Manage autochanger]

From the list of slots, select the desired slots containing tapes. Then, at the top of the page, choose Label using barcodes from the action dropdown list.

Running job status#

Volumes can also be labeled while a backup job is already running. If the job reports that a new volume is required, a warning message with a Label button will appear on the Running job status page.

[Main menu] => [Page: Job] => [Tab: Job history] => [Table: Job history] => [Button: 'Details' for selected Job]

Note

The warning with the Label button is displayed only when a new volume is required.

Once the new volume is labeled, the job will continue using the newly created volume.

Automatic volume labeling#

Automatic volume labeling allows new volumes to be created automatically whenever a Bacula job requires them.

To enable automatic volume labeling, two conditions must be met:

  • The Label Media directive must be enabled in the Device resource (Storage Daemon configuration)

  • The Label Format directive must be defined in the Pool resource (Director configuration)

Label Media#

The Label Media directive is located in the Storage Daemon Device configuration and must be enabled to allow the device to label volumes.

[Main menu] => [Page: Storage] => [Table: Storage list] => [Button: 'Details' for selected Storage] => [Tab: Configure storage daemon] => [SubTab: Device] => [Table: Device list] => [Button: 'Edit' for selected Device]

After enabling this directive, the Storage Daemon must be restarted for the change to take effect.

Label Format#

The Label Format directive defines the prefix used for each newly automatically labeled volume. This directive is configured in the Pool settings.

[Main menu] => [Page: Pools] => [Table: Pool list] => [Button: 'Edit' for selected Pool]

For example, if Label Format = "VolXYZ-" then newly created volumes will have names as below:

VolXYZ-0001
VolXYZ-0002
VolXYZ-0003
VolXYZ-0004
VolXYZ-0005
...etc.

Use automatic labeling#

When a job uses a Storage with Label Media enabled and a Pool with Label Format defined, new volumes will be created automatically whenever they are needed.

Important notes#

In addition to automatic volume creation, it is recommended to configure the following options:

  • Maximum volumes in Pool – to prevent unlimited volume creation

  • Volume retention – to define data retention policies

  • Automatic volume recycling – to reuse volumes when they are eligible

This helps ensure controlled and efficient volume management.

More details about volume management and recycling can be found on the following pages:

Video guide#

A video tutorial demonstrating how to label volumes using Bacularis is available below.


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