Adding new tapes to backup rotation 1

[DaveImme]

I have backup exec on an NT server and had 4 tapes that I use to rotate. I want to have a full 2 week backup, so i added 6 tapes. However, the tapes are not 'seen' by the backup as part of the rotation and is getting kicked out. I did not set up the other tapes in the rotation, so I'm not sure what has to be done to insert this into the existing rotation. Can anyone assist here?

info: Backup exec for NT, ver 8.5

 

[DaveImme]

Nobody has experience with this?????

 

[SQLBill]

Have you inventoried the tapes?

Have you added them to the media set that you use for the backup job?

You don't say how you 'added' the tapes, nor do you explain what you mean by they aren't being 'seen' and are being 'kicked out'.

-SQLBill

 

[DaveImme]

Whoa, thanks for replying. I'm not usually incharge of the backup, but since the other fella tht is has been bogged down with other duties I have 'assumed' the role.

Really, what I want to do is be able to insert any tape I want for a back up. I have 10 tapes to do a 10 dayback up rotation, and when I tried to 'just' use em, it does not accept them.

Is there anything I can do to just ignore the media set and backup what ever tape is inserted? I changed overwrite to essentially 'not care' what tape is there, but it is not taking. I've used arcserve quite a bit in the past, and find tht backup exec is more of a pita.....

So, being 'kicked' in the right direction would do me wonders.

 

[SQLBill]

First things, based on your comment about 4 tapes I assumed you were using a tape library. Now it appears you are using a single tape drive. Is that correct?

If so, follow these steps:

Insert new tape.
In Backup Exec, go to Device tab.
Find the tape device, right click on it and select INVENTORY.
Once the inventory is done (check the tab for Activity Monitor), right click on the media (right pane of the Device tab) and select Label.
Give the tape a label that you understand.
Go to Job Definitions tab.
Look at the line for the job you want to run. What is listed for Media Set?
If Media Set is blank, no problem. If it says the name of a media set, you will either have to right click on the job, chose Properties and change the Media Set or go to the Media tab and drag the tape (look in Scratch Media) to the proper media set.
Run the job.

If you have a tape library, you will need to IMPORT the tapes, INVENTORY the slots, move the tapes to the proper Media Set.

-SQLBill

 

[DaveImme]

Yes, that is correct, just one tape drive.

Thanks, I will go ahead and run this procedure and let you know how it goes. I appreciate it.