Getting started

This walkthrough runs your first backup and restore. It assumes you’ve completed Installation and the services are running.

Open the console

/opt/backup/bin/backup-console

You’ll get the * prompt. Type help any time, or status director to check things are healthy.

1. Run a backup

The default configuration ships a sample job that backs up a small set of files. Run it interactively:

* run

Choose the backup job, confirm, and the Director will dispatch it: the File Daemon reads the files and streams them to the Storage Daemon, which writes (and deduplicates) them to a volume. Watch progress with:

* status director
* messages

2. See what was backed up

* list jobs
* list files jobid=1

3. Restore

* restore

Pick (5) Select the most recent backup, choose the client, then browse the file tree:

cd /etc
mark passwd
done

Confirm the restore job. By default files are restored to /tmp/bacula-restores so you never overwrite originals by accident — change the destination in the restore dialog when you’re ready.

4. Verify

* messages

You should see Restore OK. That’s a full backup-and-restore cycle.

What’s next

Configure — define your own Clients, FileSets, Schedules and Pools (the complete directive reference).
Restore — granular file restore, Instant Recovery, and cross-hypervisor V2V.
Plugins — protect databases, hypervisors and Microsoft 365.