Backing up to a Tape Library

[markhoward]

Hi there,

I;ve been tasked with engineering a new backup solution for a company and have at my disposal a server running ARCserve v9 with the Tape Library Option and a Storagetek 9730 Tape Library.

I'm a bit stumped when it comes to the media though.

The tape library has a barcode reader so someone suggested using media pools and barcode labels but I don't understand exactly how this works. I'm assuming that I stick labels on all of the tapes for one week (backups will run in bi-weekly rotation) and crate a media pool which starts with the first bar code? I assume then if I want to restore I just bung all the tapes back in and the tape library knows what is what? Very confused.

The other option was to use groups. Now I'm assuming groups work like this - I assign say the first 7 slots as group 1 and then schedule my weekly backup to use group 1. As long as the weekly tapes are put into the first 7 slots in order every week then my backup job shoulod just use them in order.

Can anyone clarify for me?

I know I've probably left a lot of info out but just let me know and I can tell you - I'm new to backups!

Thanks

 

[mohamdr]

Hi
Using Barcode doesn't mean you won't use the groups you use both,groups are needed even without barcode

You don't need to know anything about barcode since this will be uased by Arcserve to communicate with the library
barcode make faster inventory since without barcode while doing inventory is arcserve has to take every tape from it is solts and put it in tape drives till finish doing all of tapes.
even if you use barcode you should label your tabes with meaningfull names this is only for you arcserve will depend on barcode if it is installed.


regards,
mohamdr
If you want to do a restore you should know which tapes contain the data you want to restore unless the info still
on Arcserve database.