Barcodes and being able to physically find/archive tapes 1

[bnordman]

Currently we are using Legato and we physically write labels and put them on our tapes for offsite or vault storage. This makes it easy to find tapes (store all the Fulls, Incr, etc labeled tapes together) when we need them for a restore or when they are ready to be overwritten.

I am now setting up Backup Exec 10 with our library that has a barcode scanner and we have a box of 200 ait3 barcoded tapes.

What is the best strategy for labeling tapes so I can easily store and find them again when needed? If we are using barcodes only how do I know what tape I am looking at, short of putting it in my library and inventorying it?

Just wondering how others are using this out there. It would be nice not to have to write a label and stick it on each tape, but that is convenient for pulling the tape later... THANKS!

 

[RCorrigan]

As the barcode can be anything you want ..... use a barcode font to make it say something like "<SERVER> - WEEK 1 - Thursday" (Or what ever your strategy is) and also include that text in a readable font on the label.

HTH

<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>

 

[bnordman]

Thanks for the suggestion.

In the current system, we are physically labeling the tapes when they are ejected from the jukebox. When we put the tape in, we are not sure what job's data will be written to it (if I put in 10 blank tapes and let the jobs run, the system will take tapes as needed for different jobs and label them - then when the tape is full, I eject the tape and put a physical label on it to match what the system has named it.) It's another story when I insert a recylcable tape, do I want to print a new label before I insert the tape with the old data on it? Or do I want the old label, so the system knows what it is, and then at some point relabel it when the new data is written?

Since I am in transition to a new system, I can create the process to be the most efficient - but am just not seeing how right now.

If this new process is: before I load tapes, I need to plan how many of each media set I will need and print labels accordingly, then that's what I will do.

Anyone else have examples how they are using the barcodes?

 

[bnordman]

OK - I am attempting to print my own barcode labels. Does anyone know the font or have a template I can use?

I just used the 3of9 font and BE is not recognizing it.

 

[bnordman]

http://www.qualstar.com/pin-040.pdf

 

[RCorrigan]

3 of 9 was the one that I was using ..... never had an issue with recognition.

<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>