bd-archiver helps you archive folders to Blu-ray data discs, from a collection of photos or videos to a larger backup spanning multiple discs. It combines integrity checks and optional recovery data with a workflow that separates archive preparation from burning.
For files you want to open directly, the default
raw mode puts the
original files on one data disc per run. It
plans a larger
incoming collection across discs, previews packing alternatives in name,
modification-time or content-date order and builds the next disc from the units
you select, using reflinks, hardlinks or verified copies. Afterwards it offers to
remove the archived files from the source; the rest stays for the next disc.
Content dates are read with ExifTool, falling back to file modification times;
folders are ordered by their size-weighted date median. --attach adds info
files to every disc. For compressed backups,
DAR mode supports
compression and splits data across multiple discs, even within large files,
with a dedicated restore command to put the files back together.
Archives are prepared as self-contained disc folders by default; add --iso
to create ISO images instead. Exact filesystem sizing checks capacity without
writing an ISO. You can verify the folders and try a restore before burning.
Burning includes automatic
post-burn verification and can be resumed from a chosen disc in the set.
The burned disc is detected by its volume label in any drive, so it can be
verified in another drive; burn --no-close-tray keeps the burner's tray open.
Drive write commands have a minimum timeout of 180 seconds by default, adjustable
with burn --write-timeout SECONDS. A 512 MiB ring buffer keeps the drive fed
while reading the source pauses; raise it with burn --buffer SIZE for slow or
unreliable source storage such as a NAS with hard disks.
SHA-512 checksums help detect damaged data, while optional PAR2 recovery can reconstruct missing or corrupted bytes within its recovery limits. The verification and restoration guides explain what is checked and how recovery works with discs, prepared folders or saved ISO images.
DAR archives can grow through incremental generations, saving new and changed files while retaining earlier generations for restoration. The same guide covers deferring files to a later archive and combining an unburned, partly filled disc with the next archive to make better use of disc capacity. Storage planning explains the disk space needed for creation and restoration.
Multisession is not supported and is not planned for the foreseeable future. Files cannot be added to an already burned disc; collect them before burning or use a new disc for later additions. See the multisession research for the reasons and alternatives considered.
bd-archiver runs on Linux. You can install it natively with Python 3.11+, the required system tools and a C compiler for installation from source, or use the prebuilt Docker image for AMD64 or ARM64. The quick start walks through creating, checking and burning your first archive.
The wiki contains the full documentation, including the CLI reference, troubleshooting and development guide.