ArcServe 2000 Tape Library Option

[markhoward]

Hi all,

I've been tasked with automating our current file and print backups in order to minimise operator intervention, and have also been told it needs to be done cheaply.

The backups are currently using Arcserve 2000 advanced edition on WIndows 2000 (Professional I beleive) and are connected to a single DLT tape drive.

There is a tape library going spare - an HP A4853A unit (apparently it is just a StorageTek 9730 with a different cover on???) and obviously using this makes the most sense, but the Computer Associates website is not very clear on the ArcServe Tape Library Option.

As I sort of understand it, ArcServe 2000 does have some Tape Library Support, but by Adding the Tape Library Option (is this an additional piece of software I will have to buy??????) I can gain more functionality.

Could someone in the know please just clarify for me, exactly what I need for this project and what difference and features the Tape Library option will provide.

Sorry... first time with ArcServe!

 

[mohamdr]

Hi
you didn't mentioned how many tape drive in your tape library ,Since tape library option only needed if you have more than one drive in your tape library.
Arcserve support one drive Unlimited slots without the tape library option.
also if you are using the SAN option you need the tape library option even if you have one Drive in your tape library.

regards,
mohamdr

 

[markhoward]

There are 3 tape drives in the library.

Now... do I require the tape library option only if i wish to use more than one of the drives, or do I require it because my device supports more than one drive.

Also, off the top of your head, what other features does the tape drive option provide that ArcServe itself does not.

By the way - I am right in assuming that the Tape drive option is just an 'add-on' to my existing product and not a completely new product installation aren't I?

 

[mohamdr]

Hi
You need it if your tape library having more than one drive
I don't think it going to work if you don't install the tape library option.

As I told you to Support more than on drive,Use RAID & Virtual Tape library.

When you have more than one tape drive in your tape library you must utilize this feature not ignore it , what is the use of buying very expensive tape library?

regards,
mohamdr

 

[wjlight]

Mohamdr;

You stated that the ArcServe Library option is only required if there is more than one drive in a library? How do I configure ArcServe 2000 to use a VXA 1x15 library without the library option? It is a single drive with 15 slots.

We are just about ready to upgrade to ArcServe 9. Will Arserve 9 also support a 1x15 single tape library without the tape library option?

Many thanks.

 

[ajtmcse]

Arcserve 2000 and v9 support a single drive library out of the box. As for how you configure it, its quite straightforward. Launch the Device COnfiguration Wizard, choose Tape library, and make sure arcserve sees the library and drive in the left pane. Then just finish the wizard

 

[wjlight]

ajtmcse;

I guess the real question is: Is a single drive library covered under the base product license? CA's distribution disk has just about every agent and driver. You can install any and all and have them run for 30 days.

Thanks

 

[mohamdr]

Tape Library option is required only when you have more the one drive,is it one drive and any number of slots then ,just run Device Configuration.
In your case you have only one drive in your Tape library then jsut run Device configuration no need to buy a license for Tape library option and you don't require to install it at all.

 

[wjlight]

mohamdr, thank you!

Is there any single place where all the features that come with the baseline Arcserve products spelled out?

 

[Cyklops]

Never found one wjlight, sorry. There are hundreds of productcodes for all kind of versions and options and with every release this changes too.
Just keep in mind for ARCserve 2000 Advanced Edition
base products includes 'small library' support (one drive-unlimited # of slots), 5 NT client agents for free and InoculateIT 4.53 (AV) - single server edition for free.
All other options and agents have to be purchased sepa-rately.

regards

 

[wjlight]

I just tried to use a library on an ArcServe 2000 installation and the device configuration manager did not allow the assignment of a tape drive. The error said the option had to be installed. I installed the option and now am getting unlicensed warnings in event viewer.

Am I entitled to a "free" registration of the single drive library? How do I go about that?

Thanks

 

[Cyklops]

It's just build into the base product. As long as you assign only one tape drive to the library/loader there will be no errors. As soon as a second drive comes in the TLO has to be purchased.

 

[wjlight]

Before I installed the library option all I had tried to do was assign one drive to the Library. We have two drives on our server currently and the library drive be a third.

I'm going to call CA licensing and find out what's going on.

 

[wjlight]

Just got off the phone with CA and fired up the forum.

CA licensing said that if the library drive was my ONLY drive it would be OK. Since I have two other drives on line I need to install and license the option.

 

[ajtmcse]

So you have 3 drives IN your tape library, or just 1 in the library and 2 others on the SCSI chain?

Arcserve runs a series of SCSI interrogation queries to identify what is out there. So if it sees more than 1 drive in the library, you would have to have the TLO, or power off the extra 2 drives until you get the TLO license code.

Hope that helps.

 

[wjlight]

One in library, two others on a different SCSI chain in the same box.

We finally fully understand what is going on and the licensing requirements.

Thanks.