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{{Distinguish|Bakula (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Bakula (disambiguation)}}
{{about|computer backup software|the penile bone found in some mammals|baculum|the genus of sea snail|Bacula (gastropod)}}
{{about|computer backup software|the penile bone found in some mammals|baculum|the genus of sea snail|Bacula (gastropod)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=May 2012}}
{{primary sources|date=May 2012}}
{{primary sources|date=May 2012}}
}}


{{Infobox Software
{{Infobox Software
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| caption =
| caption =
| collapsible =
| collapsible =
| developer = Kern Sibbald, and team
| developer = Kern Sibbald and team
| released = {{Start date and age|2000|01}}
| released = {{Start date and age|2000|01}}
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|reference|P348}}
| latest_release_version = 9.2.2
| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P577}}}}
| latest_release_date = {{start date and age|2018|11|7}}<ref name="bacula-9-2-2">{{cite web|url=https://blog.bacula.org/bacula-release-9-2-2/|title=Bacula Release 9.2.2|first=Kern|last=Sibbald|date=7 November 2018|accessdate=14 November 2018}}</ref>
| operating_system = [[Cross-platform]]
| operating_system = [[Cross-platform]]
| programming_language = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]]
| programming_language = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]]
Line 21: Line 18:
| license = [[GNU Affero General Public License]] v3.0
| license = [[GNU Affero General Public License]] v3.0
}}
}}
'''Bacula''' is an [[Open-source software|open-source]], enterprise-level computer backup system for heterogeneous networks. It is designed to automate backup tasks that had often required intervention from a systems administrator or computer operator.
'''Bacula''', designed to automate backup tasks that had often required intervention from a [[systems administrator]] or computer operator, is an open-source, enterprise-level computer [[backup]] system for [[heterogeneous network]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=The best open source, enterprise level computer backup system for heterogeneous networks: Bacula Systems |url=https://thesiliconreview.com/magazines/the-best-open-source-enterprise-level-computer-backup-system-for-heterogeneous-networks-bacula-systems/ |website=The Silicon Review |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>


"Bacula supports [[Linux]], [[UNIX]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], and [[macOS]] backup clients, and a range of professional backup devices including [[tape libraries]]. Administrators and operators can configure the system via a [[command line]] [[System console|console]], [[GUI]] or [[web interface]]; its back-end is a catalog of information stored by [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]], or [[SQLite]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=Bacula Server |url=https://linuxsolutions.org.in/bacula-as-a-backup-server.php |website=Linux Solutions |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>
Bacula supports [[Linux]], [[UNIX]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], and [[macOS]] backup clients, and a range of professional backup devices including tape libraries. Administrators and operators can configure the system via a command line, GUI or web interface; its back-end is a catalog of information stored by [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]], or [[SQLite]].


==Overview==
==Overview==


Bacula is a set of computer programs for managing backup, recovery, and verification of computer data across networks, providing backup solutions for mixed operating system environments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bacula Server |url=https://linuxsolutions.org.in/bacula-as-a-backup-server.php |website=Linux Solution |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref>
Bacula is a set of computer programs for managing backup, recovery, and verification of computer data across a network—providing a backup solution for mixed operating system environments.


Bacula is [[open-source software|open-source]] and released under the [[GNU Affero General Public License|AGPL version 3]] license with exceptions to permit linking with OpenSSL and distributing Windows binaries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bacula Copyright, Trademark, and Licenses |url=https://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Bacula_Copyright_Trademark_.html |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>
Bacula is open-source and released under the [[GNU Affero General Public License|AGPL version 3]] license with exceptions to permit linking with OpenSSL and distributing Windows binaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Bacula_Copyright_Trademark_.html |title=Bacula Copyright, Trademark, and Licenses |publisher=Bacula.org }}</ref>


Bacula is available under a "dual license" (see: [[Multi-licensing]]) AGPLv3 or Proprietary license. In 2015, Bacula Systems was named 'Top 20 Most Promising Data Center Solution Providers' by CIO Review.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://datacenter.cioreview.com/vendors/2015/20special1 | title=June 2015 Data Center special edition | publisher=CIO Review | accessdate=10 June 2015 | author=10 June 2015}}</ref>
Bacula is available under a "dual license" (see [[Multi-licensing]]) AGPLv3 or Proprietary license. Several entities offer commercial support for the AGPL "Bacula community version" while Bacula Systems<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baculasystems.com |title=Bacula Systems S.A.}}</ref> sells various levels of annual support contracts for "Bacula Enterprise Edition", which contains various non-GPL components developed in-house.


In common with other dual-license software, components developed for the Bacula Enterprise Edition are released into Bacula Community edition after some period of exclusivity to the proprietary version.
⚫
Since April 2002, Bacula has over 2 million downloads, which makes it the most downloaded open source backup program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bacula |url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/bacula/ |website=Source Forge |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>


⚫
Since April 2002, Bacula has over 2 million downloads, which makes it the most downloaded open-source backup program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/bacula/|title=Bacula}}</ref>
In common with other dual license software, components developed for the Bacula Enterprise Edition are released into Bacula Community edition after some period of exclusivity to the proprietary version.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Timothy |title=Bacula Enterprise Edition – Flexible backup for heterogenous IT infrastructures |url=https://4sysops.com/archives/bacula-enterprise-edition-flexible-backup-for-heterogenous-it-infrastructures/ |website=4sysops - The online community for SysAdmins and DevOps |accessdate=4 January 2019 |date=26 June 2018}}</ref>Several entities offer commercial support for the AGPL "Bacula community version" while Bacula Systems sells various levels of annual support contracts for "Bacula Enterprise Edition", which contains various non-GPL components developed in-house.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baculasystems.com |title=Bacula Systems S.A.}}</ref>

===Bacula Enterprise Edition===

Bacula Enterprise Edition is a set of enterprise data backup options available on a subscription basis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corporate Data Backup Software Solutions |url=https://www.baculasystems.com/corporate-data-backup-software-solutions/bacula-enterprise-data-backup-software |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref> Bacula offers two ways to access their services, either through a web interface, "Bacula for the Cloud"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harvey |first1=Cynthia |title=75 Open Source Cloud Computing Apps |url=https://www.datamation.com/cloud-computing/75-open-source-cloud-computing-apps-1.html |website=Datamation |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref> or by using [[SSH]] into Bacula Enterprise Server<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blum |first1=Erik |title=Bacula Enterprise Backup: Review |url=https://www.itsmdaily.com/bacula-enterprise-backup-review/ |website=ITSM Daily |accessdate=4 January 2019 |date=11 June 2018}}</ref> Many notable organizations utilize Bacula Enterprise Edition, such as NASA, the Bank of Austria, Swisscom, Sky PLC, and Texas University.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corporate Data Backup Software Solutions |url=https://www.baculasystems.com/corporate-data-backup-software-solutions/bacula-enterprise-data-backup-software |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Blum |first1=Erik |title=Bacula Enterprise Backup: Review |url=https://www.itsmdaily.com/bacula-enterprise-backup-review/ |website=ITSM Daily |accessdate=4 January 2019 |date=11 June 2018}}</ref> and is more suited to large organizations which need more complex backup support.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Koblentz |first1=Evan |title=How to get started with open source backup software |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-get-started-with-open-source-backup-software/ |website=Tech Republic |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref> Features include, "BCloud Service, for MSPs to enable their own customers to, among other things, create and manage their own backup jobs, restore files, and do LDAP authentication; deliver expanded REST API for MSPs to allow high levels of customization with maximum Pool Bytes tool to set parameters for BCloud Service users. It also offers integration of Xen into Bacula’s VM Backup Performance Suite; and integration of Proxmox into Bacula’s VM Backup Performance Suite."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ribeiro |first1=Anna |title=Bacula Enterprise Edition 10 caters to the needs of cloud service providers with business-oriented backup and recovery |url=https://wwpi.com/2018/04/30/bacula-enterprise-edition-10-caters-to-the-needs-of-cloud-service-providers-with-business-oriented-backup-and-recovery/ |website=Computer Technology Review |accessdate=4 January 2019 |date=30 April 2018}}</ref>


==Features==
==Features==
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===Network options===
===Network options===


*[[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]]/[[Internet Protocol|IP]] - [[client–server]] communication uses standard ports and services instead of [[Remote procedure call|RPC]] for [[Network File System (protocol)|NFS]], [[Server Message Block|SMB]], etc.; this eases firewall administration and network security
*[[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]]/[[Internet Protocol|IP]] – [[client–server]] communication uses standard ports and services instead of [[Remote procedure call|RPC]] for [[Network File System (protocol)|NFS]], [[Server Message Block|SMB]], etc.; this eases firewall administration and network security
*[[CRAM-MD5]] - configurable client–server authentication
*[[CRAM-MD5]] – configurable client–server authentication
*[[gzip|GZIP]]/[[lzo|LZO]] - client-side [[Data compression|compression]] to reduce [[network bandwidth]] consumption; this runs separate from hardware compression done by the backup device
*[[gzip|GZIP]]/[[lzo|LZO]] – client-side [[Data compression|compression]] to reduce [[network bandwidth]] consumption; this runs separate from hardware compression done by the backup device
*[[Transport Layer Security|TLS]] - network communication encryption
*[[Transport Layer Security|TLS]] – network communication encryption<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bacula.org/9.4.x-manuals/en/main/Bacula_TLS_Communications_E.html|title = Bacula TLS – Communications Encryption}}</ref>
*[[MD5]]/[[SHA-1|SHA]] - verify file integrity
*[[MD5]]/[[SHA-1|SHA]] – verify file integrity
*[[Cyclic redundancy check|CRC]] - verify data block integrity
*[[Cyclic redundancy check|CRC]] – verify data block integrity
*[[Public key infrastructure|PKI]] - backup data encryption
*[[Public key infrastructure|PKI]] – backup data encryption
*[[NDMP]] - enterprise version plugin<ref>{{cite web |title=Enterprise Data Backup Tools in Bacula Enterprise |url=https://www.baculasystems.com/corporate-data-backup-software-solutions/bacula-enterprise-data-backup-tools |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>
*[[NDMP]] – enterprise version plugin<ref>[http://www.baculasystems.com/products/bacula-enterprise-plugins Bacula Enterprise Plugins]</ref>
*[[cloud backup]] with some [[Amazon S3|S3]] file storage services


===Client-options===
===Client OS===


⚫
The client software, executed by a "file daemon" running on a Bacula client, supports multiple operating systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Supported_Operating_Systems.html |title=Supported Operating Systems |publisher=Bacula.org }}</ref>
*Support for the withdrawn [[POSIX]] [[access control list|draft ACL proposal]] - for Linux and Unix machines
*Windows ACLs - on local NTFS mounts are automatically saved/restored by using the BackupRead API
*Windows ACLs - are not saved/restored via a network NFS/SMB mount
*[[Unicode]]/[[UTF-8]] - cross-platform filenames
*[[Shadow Copy|VSS]] - calls Microsoft's snapshot service
*[[Logical Volume Manager (Linux)|LVM]] - pre-script setup for Linux/UNIX snapshot
*[[Large file support|LFS]] - backup files larger than 2 GiB
*Raw - backup devices without a filesystem<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nemeth |first1=Evi |title=UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook |date=2011 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn=9780131480056 |edition=4th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0SIdBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA319&lpg=PA319&dq=%22bacula%22+backup+files+larger+than+2+GiB&source=bl&ots=xmHVgB3i8g&sig=WjQUzKhtb_yKOh4Cw0nA0y-JSgk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwikvNXHxtXfAhUJPa0KHT07BHYQ6AEwBXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22bacula%22%20backup%20files%20larger%20than%202%20GiB&f=false |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref>

===Backup devices===
*Pooling - allocates backup volumes according to job needs and retention configuration
*Spooling - writes backup data to spool until target backup medium is allocated so jobs can continue uninterrupted
*Media-spanning - such as spanning tapes
*Multi-streaming - write multiple, simultaneous data streams to the same medium
*[[ANSI]] & [[EBCDIC]] - IBM compatibility
*Barcodes - reading tape barcodes in libraries
*Autoloaders - virtually every tape autoloader available (called autochangers in Bacula)
*Most tape drives, including DDS, DLT, SDLT, LTO-1-6
*Locations - tapes can be "out" of a library, allowing off-site storage<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nemeth |first1=Evi |title=UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook |date=2011 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn=9780131480056 |edition=4th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0SIdBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA319&lpg=PA319&dq=%22bacula%22+backup+files+larger+than+2+GiB&source=bl&ots=xmHVgB3i8g&sig=WjQUzKhtb_yKOh4Cw0nA0y-JSgk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwikvNXHxtXfAhUJPa0KHT07BHYQ6AEwBXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22bacula%22%20backup%20files%20larger%20than%202%20GiB&f=false |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref>

===Client OS===


⚫
The client software, executed by a "file daemon" running on a Bacula client, supports multiple operating systems.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supported Operating Systems |url=https://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Installing_Bacula.html#SECTION001160000000000000000 |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>
==Considerations==
==Considerations==


⚫
By default, Bacula's differential and incremental backups are based on system time stamps. Consequently, if you move files into an existing directory or move a whole directory into the backup FileSet after a full backup, those files may not be backed up by an incremental save because they may have old dates. You must explicitly update the date/time stamp on all moved files. Bacula versions starting with 3.0 or later support Accurate backup, which is an option that addresses this issue without requiring modification of the files timestamps. This feature should always be used if an accurate state of the filesystem is important. Which criteria should be applied is configurable, i.e. inode comparisons, modification times or md5/sha1 signatures.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Released_Version_3_0_3_3_0_.html#SECTION00520000000000000000 |title=New Features in 3.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
Bacula stores backup data in an open and documented yet unique volume format; there are Bacula standalone tools to read/write the backup data (bls, bcopy, bscan, bextract), these tools are not compatible with other Unix backup utilities such as [[tar (file format)|tar]] or [[dump (program)|dump]]. Since the Bacula format is open and has a clear separation of data and metadata, even cross-OS restores from Windows to Unix and vice versa have been possible - as long as extended filesystem ACL data can be ignored on backup.

⚫
By default, Bacula's differential and incremental backups are based on system time stamps. Consequently, if files are moved into an existing directory or move a whole directory is moved into the backup FileSet after a full backup, those files may not be backed up by an incremental save because they may have old dates. Explicitly updates to the date/time stamp are needed on all moved files. Bacula versions starting with 3.0 or later support Accurate backup, which is an option that addresses this issue without requiring modification of the files timestamps. This feature should always be used if an accurate state of the filesystem is important. Which criteria should be applied is configurable, i.e. inode comparisons, modification times or md5/sha1 signatures.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Features in 3.0.0 |url=https://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Released_Version_3_0_3_3_0_.html#SECTION00520000000000000000 |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>

Compression in Bacula can be turned on at the client or within a tape drive (the latter is a hardware feature). Compression algorithms at the client can be selected, i.e. as gzip or lzo.

In order to allow multiple users to access a single Bacula server, Bacula implements console ACLs to allow/disallow access to catalog data on a console by console basis (i.e., for user restores). If multiple consoles are permitted without ACLs, users may be able to access data that does not belong to them.

It is also possible to start any Client (File daemon) in backup only mode so that the Bacula Client cannot modify the filesystem.


== History ==
== History ==
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|-
|-
! align="left" | Date
! align="left" | Date
! align="left" | Event
! align="left" | Event<ref>{{cite web |title=Contents |url=https://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/Contents.html |website=Bacula.org |accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
|-
| January 2000
| January 2000
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|-
|-
| April 2009
| April 2009
| Release 3.0.0 with new features
| Release 3.0.0 with new features<ref name=":0" />
|-
|-
| January 2010
| January 2010
| Release 5.0.0 with new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_5_2_13.html#SECTION00450000000000000000 |title=New Features in 5.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
| Release 5.0.0 with new features
|-
|-
| September 2010
| September 2010
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|-
|-
| January 2012
| January 2012
| Release 5.2.4 with new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_5_2_13.html#SECTION00410000000000000000 | title=New Features in 5.2.0| publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
| Release 5.2.4 with new features
|-
|-
| February 2012
| February 2012
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|-
|-
| July 2014
| July 2014
| Release 7.0.5 with many new features
| Release 7.0.5 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/7.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_7_0_0.html |title=New Features in 7.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|-
|-
| August 2015
| August 2015
| Release 7.2.0 with many new features
| Release 7.2.0 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/7.2.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_7_2_0.html |title=New Features in 7.2.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|-
|-
| July 2017
| July 2017
| Release 9.0.0 with many new features
| Release 9.0.0 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/9.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_9_0_0.html |title=New Features in 9.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|-
| December 2018
| Release 9.2.0 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bacula.org/9.2.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_9_2_0.html |title=New Features in 9.2.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|-
| January 2020
| Release 9.4.0 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/9.4.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_9_4_0.html |title=New Features in 9.4.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|-
| March 2021
| Release 11.0.0 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/11.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_11_0_0.html |title=New Features in 11.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cloud7.news/software/bacula-11-0-1-released/|title=New Features in 11.0.1|date=6 February 2021|publisher=Cloud7 News}}</ref>
|-
| August 2022
| Release 13.0.1 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/13.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_13_0_0.html|title=New Features in 13.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bacula.org/bacula-release-13-0-1/|title=New Features in 13.0.1|date=5 August 2022|publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|-
| March 2024
| Release 15.0.2 with many new features<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bacula.org/15.0.x-manuals/en/main/New_Features_in_15_0_0.html|title=New Features in 15.0.0 |publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gitlab.bacula.org/bacula-community-edition/bacula-community/-/releases/Release-15.0.2|title=New Features in 15.0.2|date=22 March 2024|publisher=Bacula.org}}</ref>
|}
|}


== Forks of Bacula ==
== Forks of Bacula ==
In 2011, Graham Keeling, a former Bacula community developer, released a friendly fork of Bacula.<ref>{{cite web|title=Burp - Backup and restore program |url=http://burp.grke.org/index.html |website=burp.grke.org |accessdate=2 January 2019}}}}</ref> This fork takes quite a different approach to backup than Bacula. Graham is on good terms with the developers and the Bacula project. In 2013, Graham authorized Bacula and Bacula Systems to use some of his code.
In 2011, Graham Keeling, a "former" Bacula community developer, released a friendly fork of Bacula.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://burp.grke.org/index.html|title=Burp}}</ref>

⚫
In February 2013 a former Bacula community developer (with several other Free Software users) released [[Bareos]] as a fork of Bacula.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bareos.org|title=Bareos}}</ref>


==See also==
⚫
In February 2013 a former Bacula community developer (with several other Free Software users) released Bareos as a fork of Bacula.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bareos - Backup Archiving REcovery Open Sourced |url=https://www.bareos.org/en/ |website=Bareos.org |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref>
* [[Amanda (software)|Amanda]]
* [[Proxmox Backup Server]]
* [[Bareos]]
* [[List of backup software]]
* [[Comparison of backup software]]


==References==
==References==
Line 160: Line 147:
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* {{official website}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://www.baculasystems.com/ Bacula Systems' home page]


[[Category:Free software programmed in C]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C]]

Latest revision as of 08:51, 12 July 2024

Not to be confused with Bakula (disambiguation).
This article is about computer backup software. For the penile bone found in some mammals, see baculum. For the genus of sea snail, see Bacula (gastropod).
Bacula
Developer(s)Kern Sibbald and team
Initial releaseJanuary 2000; 24 years ago (2000-01)
Stable release
13.0.2[1] / 20 February 2023; 20 months ago (20 February 2023)
Written inC, C++
Operating systemCross-platform
TypeBackup
LicenseGNU Affero General Public License v3.0
Websitewww.bacula.org Edit this on Wikidata

Bacula is an open-source, enterprise-level computer backup system for heterogeneous networks. It is designed to automate backup tasks that had often required intervention from a systems administrator or computer operator.

Bacula supports Linux, UNIX, Windows, and macOS backup clients, and a range of professional backup devices including tape libraries. Administrators and operators can configure the system via a command line, GUI or web interface; its back-end is a catalog of information stored by MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite.

Overview

[edit]

Bacula is a set of computer programs for managing backup, recovery, and verification of computer data across a network—providing a backup solution for mixed operating system environments.

Bacula is open-source and released under the AGPL version 3 license with exceptions to permit linking with OpenSSL and distributing Windows binaries.[2]

Bacula is available under a "dual license" (see Multi-licensing) AGPLv3 or Proprietary license. Several entities offer commercial support for the AGPL "Bacula community version" while Bacula Systems[3] sells various levels of annual support contracts for "Bacula Enterprise Edition", which contains various non-GPL components developed in-house.

In common with other dual-license software, components developed for the Bacula Enterprise Edition are released into Bacula Community edition after some period of exclusivity to the proprietary version.

Since April 2002, Bacula has over 2 million downloads, which makes it the most downloaded open-source backup program.[4]

Features

[edit]

Bacula's features include:

Network options

[edit]
  • TCP/IP – client–server communication uses standard ports and services instead of RPC for NFS, SMB, etc.; this eases firewall administration and network security
  • CRAM-MD5 – configurable client–server authentication
  • GZIP/LZO – client-side compression to reduce network bandwidth consumption; this runs separate from hardware compression done by the backup device
  • TLS – network communication encryption[5]
  • MD5/SHA – verify file integrity
  • CRC – verify data block integrity
  • PKI – backup data encryption
  • NDMP – enterprise version plugin[6]
  • cloud backup with some S3 file storage services

Client OS

[edit]

The client software, executed by a "file daemon" running on a Bacula client, supports multiple operating systems.[7]

Considerations

[edit]

By default, Bacula's differential and incremental backups are based on system time stamps. Consequently, if you move files into an existing directory or move a whole directory into the backup FileSet after a full backup, those files may not be backed up by an incremental save because they may have old dates. You must explicitly update the date/time stamp on all moved files. Bacula versions starting with 3.0 or later support Accurate backup, which is an option that addresses this issue without requiring modification of the files timestamps. This feature should always be used if an accurate state of the filesystem is important. Which criteria should be applied is configurable, i.e. inode comparisons, modification times or md5/sha1 signatures.[8]

History

[edit]
Date Event
January 2000 Project started
April 14, 2002 First release to SourceForge.net (version 1.16)
June 29, 2006 Release 1.38.11 (Final version 1 release)
January 2007 Release 2.0.0
September 2007 Release 2.2.3
June 2008 Release 2.4.0
April 2009 Release 3.0.0 with new features[8]
January 2010 Release 5.0.0 with new features[9]
September 2010 Release 5.0.3
January 2012 Release 5.2.4 with new features[10]
February 2012 Release 5.2.6
June 2012 Release 5.2.9
February 2013 Release 5.2.13
July 2014 Release 7.0.5 with many new features[11]
August 2015 Release 7.2.0 with many new features[12]
July 2017 Release 9.0.0 with many new features[13]
December 2018 Release 9.2.0 with many new features[14]
January 2020 Release 9.4.0 with many new features[15]
March 2021 Release 11.0.0 with many new features[16][17]
August 2022 Release 13.0.1 with many new features[18][19]
March 2024 Release 15.0.2 with many new features[20][21]

Forks of Bacula

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In 2011, Graham Keeling, a "former" Bacula community developer, released a friendly fork of Bacula.[22]

In February 2013 a former Bacula community developer (with several other Free Software users) released Bareos as a fork of Bacula.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bacula Release 13.0.2".
  2. ^ "Bacula Copyright, Trademark, and Licenses". Bacula.org.
  3. ^ "Bacula Systems S.A."
  4. ^ "Bacula".
  5. ^ "Bacula TLS – Communications Encryption".
  6. ^ Bacula Enterprise Plugins
  7. ^ "Supported Operating Systems". Bacula.org.
  8. ^ a b "New Features in 3.0.0". Bacula.org.
  9. ^ "New Features in 5.0.0". Bacula.org.
  10. ^ "New Features in 5.2.0". Bacula.org.
  11. ^ "New Features in 7.0.0". Bacula.org.
  12. ^ "New Features in 7.2.0". Bacula.org.
  13. ^ "New Features in 9.0.0". Bacula.org.
  14. ^ "New Features in 9.2.0". Bacula.org.
  15. ^ "New Features in 9.4.0". Bacula.org.
  16. ^ "New Features in 11.0.0". Bacula.org.
  17. ^ "New Features in 11.0.1". Cloud7 News. 6 February 2021.
  18. ^ "New Features in 13.0.0". Bacula.org.
  19. ^ "New Features in 13.0.1". Bacula.org. 5 August 2022.
  20. ^ "New Features in 15.0.0". Bacula.org.
  21. ^ "New Features in 15.0.2". Bacula.org. 22 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Burp".
  23. ^ "Bareos".
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