Quick start

Quick start

Install bd-archiver first. The examples use /data/photos as source. Replace paths to match your system, keep the source unchanged during creation, and use a separate output directory for each create run.

One directly readable disc

Insert a blank disc for capacity detection, then prepare the disc files:

bd-archive create -s /data/photos -n Photos -o /data/photos-disc

The preview shows the source and three plans, each with the disc's data, recovery data and estimated size, followed by the disc layout. Confirm to start, or decline to adjust the options. Creation does not burn anything. The result is /data/photos-disc/disc. At the end, create asks whether to remove the archived files from the source; the default is no. If the source does not fit on one disc, the disc holds the first part and the rest stays in the source for the next run.

Check that disc folder before burning:

bd-archive verify /data/photos-disc/disc

Folder verification needs no loop mount. Add --iso to the create command if you prefer /data/photos-disc/images/disc_0001.iso; verifying that ISO uses udisks2. Burn either output format with:

bd-archive burn -i /data/photos-disc

Follow the insert-disc prompt. After writing, the drive ejects/reloads the disc and the tool verifies it. Close a tray manually if the drive cannot do so.

The finished disc contains a Photos/ folder (named after -n). Open or copy its files using your file manager. See Raw data discs for larger collections, attachments, capacity limits and repair.

An archive across several discs

Choose DAR explicitly:

bd-archive create -m dar -s /data/photos -n Photos -o /data/photos-gen1

DAR defaults to zstd compression and 5% PAR2 recovery. Use -c none for an uncompressed archive, or -c zstd -l 3 to choose a compression level explicitly. The initial disc-count preview assumes no size reduction unless you supply --sample or --ratio; actual compression still runs.

After creation succeeds, test a restore without burning:

bd-archive extract -o /data/photos-test-restore -i /data/photos-gen1

Use a new, empty restore directory. This reads the generated disc folders (or optional ISOs), checks their slices and restores the source directory's contents into the target. Inspect the restored files; Verification explains how to check recovery files as well. Budget space for all staged slices plus restored data.

Then burn:

bd-archive burn -i /data/photos-gen1 -S 4

Keep the local Photos-gen1-catalog.*.dar files and their checksum sidecars for future incrementals. Each disc carries its own archive README.

Build without a drive

Give create an explicit byte capacity instead of detecting a disc:

bd-archive create -m dar -s /data/photos -n Photos \
  -o /data/photos-gen1 -b 25025314816

This byte count is an example for a particular 25 GB BD-R capacity, not a promise for every medium. Choose a capacity supported by the discs you will use. burn checks the inserted medium again. See Storage and layout.

Later: verify or restore a physical disc

# Verify the disc in the auto-detected drive.
bd-archive verify

# Restore a DAR archive; follow the disc collection prompts.
bd-archive extract -o /data/photos-restored

After the first disc, extraction polls for subsequent discs. Press e while waiting when you have supplied all discs and generations you want restored. See Restoring before working with incomplete or damaged sets.