---
name: "amaddclient"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "amanda-common"
version: "1:3.5.4-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/amaddclient"
---

# amaddclient(8)

program to add client to an existing Amanda configuration

## NAME

amaddclient - program to add client to an existing Amanda configuration

## SYNOPSIS

**amaddclient** --config *config* \|\|\
  \--client *client name* \|\|\
  \--diskdev *directory to backup* \[--m\] \[--dumptype *string*\] \[--includefile *string*\] \[--includelist *string*\] \[--excludefile *string*\] \[--excludelist *string*\] \[--user *string*\] \[--auth *string*\] \[--gnutar\_list\_dir *string*\] \[--amandates *string*\] \[--no-client-update\] \[--batch\] \[--help\]

## DESCRIPTION

After Amanda rpms are successfully installed and **amserverconfig** is run, **amaddclient** will add client to the Amanda configuration. **amaddclient** create or update Amanda [**disklist**(5)](/disklist/5.md) file and create or update /var/lib/amanda/.amandahosts file on the server.

If --no-client-update is not specified, **amaddclient** will attempt to update or create /var/lib/amanda/.amandahost, amanda-client.conf and gnutar-lists on the client. (See [ssh-keygen(1)](/ssh-keygen/1.md) and [ssh-add(1)](/ssh-add/1.md) for detail.)

**amaddclient** must be run by user backup.

\--config, --client and --diskdev must be specified.

## OPTIONS

Options may be abbreviated, as long as the abbreviation is not ambiguous. Option argument can either separated by '=' or a space. Example: --conf=v253, --client client8.zmanda.com

- **--config config**

  Amanda configuration which this program will add the client to.

- **--client client**

  The name of the client machine to add. FQDN name recommended.

- **--diskdev diskdev**

  Directory for this Amanda configuration to backup.

- **--m**

  Modify existing entry in the [**disklist**(5)](/disklist/5.md) file.

  Note: if [**disklist**(5)](/disklist/5.md) file has been modified manually, this option might not work.

- **--dumptype dumptype**

  dumptype to use. Dumptype must be defined in /etc/amanda/template.d/dumptypes or /etc/amanda/$config/amanda.conf file. Default: \[user-tar\]

- **--user string**

  name of user using **amrecover** on the client, default is root.

- **--auth string**

  authentication method to use when running **amrecover** from the client , default is bsdtcp.

- **--gnutar\_list\_dir string**

  directory where gnutar keep its state file on the client. Absolute path required. Default is /var/lib/amanda/gnutar-lists. If --no-client-update is not set, this program will attempt to create the directory on the client.

- **--amandates string**

  file where amanda keep the date of each dumplevel on the client, default is /etc/amandates.

- **--batch**

  Turn on batch mode when copying files to the client, default is off

- **--no-client-update**

  If this option is set, **amaddclient** will not attempt to update/create .amandahosts, amanda-client.conf and gnutar-lists file on the client.

- **--help**

  Display usage.

If any of the following four options are used,  **amaddclient** will extend the dumptype definition to an in-line definition in the [**disklist**(5)](/disklist/5.md) file.

- **--includefile string**

  string is a glob expression

- **--includelist string**

  string is a file name on the client containing glob expressions. Specify either --includefile or --includelist.

- **--excludefile string**

  string is a glob expression

- **--excludelist string**

  string is a file name on the client containing glob expressions. Specify either --excludefile or --excludelist.

## FILES

**/var/lib/amanda/template.d**

Amanda configuration template files install location

**/var/lib/amanda**

backup home directory

**/var/lib/amanda/.amandahosts**

Amanda authentication file.

**/var/lib/amanda/gnutar-lists**

A directory which contains backup timestamp and list of files backed up.

**/etc/amanda/$config**

Amanda configuration files location for $config(e.g: DailySet1).

**/etc/amanda/template.d**

A directory contains dumptypes and tapetypes files used by all Amanda configurations.

**/etc/amandates**

Amanda file on the client. It keeps track of structures of previous dumps.

**/tmp/amanda**

directory contains Amanda debug log files.

## RETURN VALUE

On success, zero is returned.  On error, 1 is returned.

## SEE ALSO

[**amanda**(8)](/amanda/8.md), [**amanda.conf**(5)](/amanda.conf/5.md), [**amserverconfig**(8)](/amserverconfig/8.md), [**ssh-keygen**(1)](/ssh-keygen/1.md), [**ssh-add**(1)](/ssh-add/1.md), [**scp**(1)](/scp/1.md)

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

## AUTHOR

**Kevin Till** \<kevin.till@zmanda.com\>

Zmanda, Inc. (http://www.zmanda.com)