NAME

       amlabel - label an Amanda tape

SYNOPSIS

       amlabel [--barcode barcode] [--meta meta-label] [--assign] [-f] [--version]
               [-o configoption...] config [label] [slot slot]

DESCRIPTION

       This command applies a label to an Amanda volume, erasing the volume in the process.

       Amanda uses labels to identify volumes: amdump(8) and amflush(8) verify the label before
       writing to make sure the proper volume is loaded, and the recovery programs use the label
       to ensure they are reading the data they expect.

       If no [slot] and no [barcode] is given, then amlabel labels the tape in the current slot
       of the default changer. If a slot is given, it labels the volume in that slot. If a
       barcode is given, it labels the volume with that barcode.  Label may be any string that
       does not contain whitespace and that matches the labelstr (see amanda.conf(5)).

       If [label] is not given, an autolabel is generated, see autolabel in amanda.conf(5).

       If [--assign] is given, the barcode and meta-label are assigned to the label without
       labeling the volume. The label must already be in the tapelist file.

       This command also appends the new volume to the tapelist(5) file, so that they will be
       used in the order they are labeled (depending on the taperscan in use — see amanda-
       taperscan(7)).

       As a precaution, amlabel will not write a label if the volume already contains an active
       label or if the label specified is on an active tape. The [-f] (force) flag bypasses these
       verifications.

OPTIONS

       --barcode barcode
           With [--assign], assign the barcode to the label. Without [--assign], label the volume
           with that barcode.

       --meta meta-label
           Assign the meta label to the label after labeling the volume.

       --assign
           Assign the barcode or meta-label to the label without labeling the volume. The label
           must already be in the tapelist file.

       -f
           Force the label operation; see above

       --version
           Output version information

       -o configoption
           See the "CONFIGURATION OVERRIDE" section in amanda(8).

EXAMPLE

       Write an Amanda label with the string "DMP000" on the current volume:
       % amlabel daily DMP000

       Label the tape in slot 3 of the changer with the label "DMP003":
       % amlabel daily DMP003 slot 3

MESSAGES

       Label 'label' doesn't match labelstr 'labelstr'
           The given label does not match the configured labelstr. Even with -f, this is an
           error.

       Label 'label' already on a volume
           The given label is already on another volume in the tapelist, and Amanda will not
           write it to this volume unless forced.

       Found label 'label', but it is not from configuration config.
           The label amlabel found on the volume does not match this configuration's labelstr, so
           it is probably part of a different Amanda configuration. Amanda will not overwrite the
           label unless it is forced.

       Volume with label 'label' contains data from this configuration.
           The label amlabel found on the volume still has valid data on it and Amanda will not
           overwrite it unless forced. Note that this does not distinguish between active and
           inactive volumes.

SEE ALSO

       amanda(8), amanda.conf(5), tapelist(5), amanda-taperscan(7), amdump(8), amflush(8)

       The Amanda Wiki: : http://wiki.zmanda.com/

AUTHORS

       James da Silva <jds@amanda.org>

       Stefan G. Weichinger <sgw@amanda.org>

       Dustin J. Mitchell <dustin@zmanda.com>
           Zmanda, Inc. (http://www.zmanda.com)