Why won't my backup job append to my tape?

Many times, backups in BENT won't append, or overwrite, or just plain behave like you think they should. Here's a brief list of things I've found over the years that may help you on your way to understanding. I may add things to this as time progresses.
Good luck!! -Bill


Why won't my backup job append to my tape?

Believe it or not, it may be that your tape is full. Tape full = no append, thus the "No appendable media" message.

Mixed in with the "full tape" problem is the Media set protection time, the Media Overwrite Options settings (tools, options), and the "When this job begins" option (in the Job properties).

Let's say that:

1. Your backup job is set to "Append to media, overwrite if no appendable media is available"
2. Your BENT options (tools, options, media overwrite tab) are set to "Overwrite recyclable media..."
3. Your media set protection time is set to anything but "NONE"

Then let's say that:

Your full backup job runs, and fills up the tape. Your next backup job (probabaly a daily job to that same tape) runs...oops! The tape is full (can't be appended to), so Overwrite it instead. Oops! Media set is overwrite protected til next week; can't overwrite this tape OR append to it. FINE; just grab the next recyclable media and backup to that.

So now BENT put's this new tape into the backup set that the job was calling for...and the cycle starts all over.

Conclusion: If your jobs aren't doing what they are supposed to do, it could be because of some or all of the above settings.

Then again, since this IS bent that we're talking about, it could just be that the carpet in the building next door is the wrong color.

Bill