automatically Ejecting Tapes into Media access port 2

[Unixisgreat]

Hi, We have Netbackup 5.0 installed on a master server which is then connected to a L180 storagtek.
The L180 has a 10 port cartridge access panel (CAP)

We have a fairly standard BU policy i.e 6 dailys,4 weekly and then 12 monthly tapes

What I would like to do is to keep the daily tapes within the unit and then every Friday night/saturday morning eject the weekly tapes into the CAP and keep these in the CAP until Monday, which is when the opps person can visit and remove the tapes.

Is there a way to do this?
Can this be done automatically within Netbackup?
or would I have to setup some sort of cronjob (if anyone has the commands for this please post these - thanks)

The hardware is located is secure and remote site and can only be visited by the opps person once a week and hence remote management is out of the question.

Thanks in advance..

 

[comtec17]

Yes, this can be done both manually and automatically. Manually you can right click the volume and eject it.

Automatically there are 2 ways. The first is via command line.

To Eject multiple volumes;
install_path\Volmgr\bin\vmchange -multi_eject -w [-h
volume_database_host] -res -ml media_id:media_id: ...:media_id
-rt robot_type -verbose -rn robot_number -rh
robot_control_host

To inject volumes back into library;
install_path\Volmgr\bin\vmchange -multi_inject -w -res -rt
robot_type -verbose -rn robot_number -rh robot_control_host

Another automated way is to use the NetBackup bpvault product and vault your originals once per week.

 

[Unixisgreat]

Thanks comtec17.

One more question If I may..
Once the media has been ejected and is in the CAP, how long can I leave the media in the access panel for i.e can I eject it on Friday and leave it untill Monday?
- I was advised that there is a time limit before the system carrys out a reinventory and will inject the tapes back into the library.

Is the vault product an addon..which needs to purchased independently of netbackup enterprise.

Sorry thats two questions....But thanks for your help very appreciated.

 

[Stumpr]

I recommend using the vaulting option. It sounds like you will want a paper trail for reporting and tracking the whereabouts of media. The vaulting option is ideal for this as it is easily configurable and can run automatically.

Bob Stump
Just because the VERITAS documentation states a certain thing does not make it a fact and that is truth.

 

[Unixisgreat]

Thanks Stumpr,

would you know if vault comes as standard with netbackup - or do we need to purchase it as an addon?

If it comes as standrad then yes this may seem like the better option - other wise I will have to create a couple of cronjobs using the commands provided by comtec17.

Thanks.

 

[Stumpr]

it co$t$ extra

Bob Stump
Just because the VERITAS documentation states a certain thing does not make it a fact and that is truth.

 

[Stumpr]

You may want to look over this VERY old (NB 3.4) newsgroup item for "Poor man's Vaulting using VB scripts"

http://news.support.veritas.com/dne....netbackup.datacenter.english&item=3914&utag=

I hope this link works.

Bob Stump
Just because the VERITAS documentation states a certain thing does not make it a fact and that is truth.

 

[netbonkers]

Hi,

I had a similar problem when we switched to an IBM Library and needed to eject tapes. There is a time limit for tapes to be removed from the CAP before Netbackup will load the tapes back into the library. I got around this with a little help from the veritas Netbackup forum. The command to use is
vmchange -res -multi_eject -sc -rn [robot num ] -rt [robot type] -rh [host] -vh [host]
The -sc flag appears to be undocumented but an explanation can be found by using that other undocumented flag -Q
as in
vmchange -Q

Hope this helps.

Clive

 

[Unixisgreat]

Thanks to all who have replied - I have managed to get this working, using the combination of the above mentioned commads...however (theres always an however!!) when the Multi-Eject function is executed it asks for a confirmation (y/n) i.e do you want to eject the following media etc.....

Is there a way of bypassing this.. the site is remotely managed hence we are unable to press "y" everytime the media needs to be ejected.

Any help would be appreciated..
Thanks

 

[Stumpr]

-multi_eject
used with the -res option and the -ml <media list> option to eject multiple volumes at once. Use a -w option for interactive multiple eject, use the -verify_eject and -continue_ie/-abort_ie options otherwise.


Bob Stump
Just because the VERITAS documentation states a certain thing does not make it a fact and that is truth.

 

[smicro]

Thanks.