# Install bacula-fd with Homebrew, apt, apk, dnf, MacPorts, Nix Network backup solution. Version 15.0.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bacula-fd ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bacula-fd ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install bacula ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/bacula/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install bacula-fd ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: bacula-fd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add bacula ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bacula from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install bacula-client ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bacula-client from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bacula ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ba/bacula/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bacula-fd - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 15.0.3 - **Source summary:** Network backup solution - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** AGPL-3.0-only WITH openvpn-openssl-exception - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:02:51-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - bacula (cli) - bacula-fd (cli) - bbconsjson (cli) - bfdjson (cli) - get_malware_abuse.ch (cli) - md5tobase64.py (cli) - bacula (alias) - bacula-fd (alias) - bbconsjson (alias) - bfdjson (alias) - get_malware_abuse.ch (alias) - md5tobase64.py (alias) ## Dependencies - openssl@3 - readline ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 15.0.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.bacula.org/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Bacula File Daemon is the client-side daemon from the Bacula network backup system. In Homebrew it is packaged as bacula-fd, emphasizing the component installed on machines being backed up rather than the full Director, Storage daemon, catalog, and console stack. ### Project history Bacula is described by its official site as a set of programs for backup, recovery, and verification across networks of different kinds of computers. The File service, also called the Client program or File daemon, is installed on the machine to be backed up and supplies file attributes and data to the Director during backup and restore. The official documentation presents Bacula as a modular client/server backup system made of Director, Console, File, Storage, Catalog, and Monitor services. That architecture gave Bacula a role similar to commercial network backup suites while remaining free software and packageable for Unix-like systems. Bacula's public distribution history is visible through official download links to SourceForge and through the Bacula Community Edition GitLab repository. The official site continues to publish manuals for the 15.0.x series and release artifacts such as 15.0.3 on SourceForge in 2025. ### Adoption history The Bacula site compares it to simpler tools such as tar and dump and to commercial packages such as Legato Networker, ARCserveIT, Arkeia, and PerfectBackup+, which places its adoption story in the system-administration world of scheduled network backups, tape and disk media, catalogs, and centralized restore workflows. The batch metadata shows bacula-fd available through Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora-family packaging as bacula-client, Alpine, MacPorts, and Nix. That cross-distribution packaging reflects the practical need to install the file daemon on many client machines, even when the Director and Storage services live elsewhere. ### How it is used bacula-fd is configured with bacula-fd.conf and runs as a daemon on each client machine. It talks to the Bacula Director, sends file metadata and contents during backup jobs, and participates in restoring file attributes and data during recovery. Unlike one-shot archive tools, Bacula expects an administrator to define resources, jobs, clients, storage, schedules, and catalog settings. The file daemon package matters because it is the small install footprint needed on protected hosts. ### Why package nerds care bacula-fd is a classic packaging split: the package manager exposes one daemon from a larger distributed system because users often need the client component without installing the full backup server. That makes it important for fleet configuration, service management, and reproducible backup-agent deployment. It also represents the older Unix daemon style of operational software: configuration files, long-running services, SQL-backed catalogs, and networked components rather than a single stateless CLI. ### Timeline - 2017: Bacula official 'What is Bacula?' page published, describing the modular backup system and File daemon role. - 2022: Bacula Community Edition GitLab project created. - 2025: Bacula 15.0.3 source and documentation artifacts published through the official SourceForge download area. - 2026: Official manuals page continued to list the 15.0.x documentation series. ### Related projects - The File daemon is related to Bacula Director, Storage daemon, Console, Catalog, and Monitor components. - Comparable backup tools and suites mentioned in Bacula's own documentation include tar, dump, Legato Networker, ARCserveIT, Arkeia, and PerfectBackup+. ### Sources - - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: bacula-fd.conf ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** bacula-fd - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Conflicts With:** bareos-client - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - bacula-fd - 15.0.3-3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-fd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - file daemon | https://www.bacula.org/ - Ubuntu apt - bacula-fd - 13.0.4-1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bacula-fd from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | network backup service - file daemon | https://www.bacula.org/ - MacPorts - bacula: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/bacula/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt - bacula - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - metapackage | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-bscan - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-bscan from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - bscan tool | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-client - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-client from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - client metapackage | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-common - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-common from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - common support files | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-common-mysql - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-common-mysql from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - MySQL common files | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-common-pgsql - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-common-pgsql from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - PostgreSQL common files | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-common-sqlite3 - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-common-sqlite3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - SQLite v3 common files | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-console - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-console from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - text console | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-console-qt - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-console-qt from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - Bacula Administration Tool | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-director - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-director from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - Director daemon | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-director-mysql - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-director-mysql from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - MySQL storage for Director | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-director-pgsql - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-director-pgsql from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - PostgreSQL storage for Director | https://www.bacula.org/ - Debian apt - bacula-director-sqlite3 - 15.0.3-3: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: bacula-director-sqlite3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | network backup service - SQLite 3 storage for Director | https://www.bacula.org/ ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Archive and compression packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [burp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/burp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, network-backup, system. - [afio](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/afio/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [borgbackup](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/borgbackup/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [borgmatic](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/borgmatic/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [bup](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bup/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [bupstash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bupstash/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [dar](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dar/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [duplicity](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/duplicity/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: backup, cli, system. - [bareos-client](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bareos-client/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: backup, cli, openssl, openssl-3, readline. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bacula-fd.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/bacula-fd.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph