---
title: "Start-VBRTapeCatalog"
description: "Starts tape catalog process. Product Edition: Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License This cmdlet provides the following parameter sets: Library Medium This cmdlet starts catalog process."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/powershell/start-vbrtapecatalog.html"
breadcrumb: "Veeam PowerShell Reference > Veeam PowerShell Reference > Tape Devices > Tape Libraries > Start-VBRTapeCatalog"
dateModified: "2026-08-19"
---

# Start-VBRTapeCatalog

## Short Description
Starts tape catalog process.

**Product Edition**: Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License

## Syntax

This cmdlet provides the following parameter sets:

<ul class="syntax-sets">
  <li>
    <p><code>Library</code></p>

```
Start-VBRTapeCatalog -Library <VBRTapeLibrary[]> [-Wait] [<CommonParameters>]
```
  </li>
  <li>
    <p><code>Medium</code></p>

```
Start-VBRTapeCatalog -Medium <VBRTapeMedium[]> [-Wait] [<CommonParameters>]
```
  </li>
</ul>

## Detailed Description
This cmdlet starts catalog process. Catalog process scans tape contents and registers tapes in the Veeam Backup & Replication database after which Veeam Backup & Replication is able to administrate tape allocation and consumption and track data written to tapes.

## Parameters

<table style="width:100%;" class="Blue_Table">
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Parameter</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Description</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Type</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Required</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Position</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Accept Pipeline Input</p>
        </th>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Library</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the array of tape libraries. The cmdlet will catalog these tape libraries.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vbrtapelibrary.md"><code>VBRTapeLibrary[]</code></a> object, GUID or string. To get this object, run the <a href="get-vbrtapelibrary.md"><code>Get-VBRTapeLibrary</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vbrtapelibrary.md"><code>VBRTapeLibrary[]</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByPropertyName, ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Medium</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the array of tapes. The cmdlet will catalog these tapes.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vbrtapemedium.md"><code>VBRTapeMedium[]</code></a> object, GUID or string. To get this object, run the <a href="get-vbrtapemedium.md"><code>Get-VBRTapeMedium</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vbrtapemedium.md"><code>VBRTapeMedium[]</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByPropertyName, ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Wait</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the command waits for the process to complete before accepting more input.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>

`<CommonParameters>`

This cmdlet supports Microsoft PowerShell common parameters. For more information on common parameters, see [ Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_commonparameters?view=powershell-7).

## Output Object
[`VBRBackupSession`](vbrbackupsession.md)

## Examples

::: example
### Example 1. Cataloging Selected Library [Using Pipeline]

This example shows how to catalog a selected library.

```
Get-VBRTapeLibrary -Name "HP MSL G3 Series 3.00" | Start-VBRTapeCatalog
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the `Get-VBRTapeLibrary` cmdlet. Specify the `Name` parameter value.
2. Pipe the cmdlet output to the `Start-VBRTapeCatalog` cmdlet.

:::

::: example
### Example 2. Cataloging Selected Tapes [Using Variable]

This example shows how to catalog selected tapes.

```
$tape = Get-VBRTapeMedium -Name "00140009","00140010"
Start-VBRTapeCatalog -Medium $tape
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VBRTapeMedium`](get-vbrtapemedium.md) cmdlet. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$tape` variable.
2. Run the `Start-VBRTapeCatalog` cmdlet. Set the `$tape` variable as the `Medium` parameter value.

:::

## Related Commands

- [`Get-VBRTapeLibrary`](get-vbrtapelibrary.md)
- [`Get-VBRTapeMedium`](get-vbrtapemedium.md)