There are three tools to make volume labels: mke2fs, tune2fs and e2label.

Simple invocation
e2label /dev/hdb1 pubsw
tune2fs -L pubsw /dev/hdb1
Either of thse two commands will label the first partition of the second drive "pubsw". That label stays with that particular partition, even if the drive is moved to another controller or even another computer.
mke2fs -L pubsw /dev/hdb1
mkfs.ext3 -L pubsw /dev/hdb1