How to check tape usage in AS11? 1

[zacca]

Hi there,

I got AS11 installed on w2k server with dlt40/80 tape drive, backup runs fine so far.

Last Friday finally the tape is running out & I would like to check now many GB data it hold.

However in AS backup manager, I couldn't find that info via "Media Pool" or "Device".

Could you please tell me where to check that info?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[GSC]

At the end of every backup job you get a report saying how many GB of data was stored on your tape.

Since you have a 40/80 DLT tape drive I will assume that you have DLT IV tapes and they can store 40/80 GB of data if you have a DLT - 7000 Drive system and 20/40 if you have a DLT - 4000 Drive system.

Check your tape category and also your drive system for an exact answer.

Cheers.
GSC

 

[davidmichel]

ck Database Media view.

 

[zacca]

Thx davidmichel!

Now found that my tape's current media statistics' MB written is 7208, while total media statistics' MB wirtten is 78000???

For a DLT type IV 40/80 tape running in DLT8000 tape drive, even with compression I don't think pratically it can hold 78GB data, right?

So which info should I refer to for how many GB of data in my tape? I guess should read "current media statistics MB written", right?

Many thanks!

 

[davidmichel]

What is wrong with a 40/80gb tape holding 78gb?

Practically speaking you are correct it is unusual for a tape to hold an amount so close to the marketing max. Reality is that it all depends on the type of data.

I am not 100% sure but I think that the total is total amount of data currently on the tape and current would be different if the last job was an append to that tape.

Once the tape is formated or erased it will be zero'ed out.

 

[ceejay07]

I have a similar issue; I'm using ait-2 tapes 50/100. on a blank tape you can enable or disable compression, however if I'm backing up more than 50GB, say 60, it will ask for another blank tape instead of adding all the data on one tape. I'm running Brighstor ARcserve back up r11. Any ideas if I have to apply pataches to fix the issue.

Thank you in advance.

Cj

 

[ceejay07]

the drive does support compression. i have used it with arcserve 2000 and successfully backed up more than 50 less than 100 on a single tape.

 

[zacca]

Hi ceejay07,

Yep, I dunno whether it's arcserve software or the tape hardware did the compression, now my dlt 40/80 tape got about 69MB data written, I'll keep on testing with this tape to see how far it can go.

So my question is, how to force hardware compression when inserting a new tape? If it must be done by pressing the button on the tape drive? Or it can be controlled by software?

 

[ceejay07]

Zacca

I would use the button on the tape drive itself. I just found out that in my case with the ait-2 drive I can disable or enable data compression by setting some dip-switches. When I get in the office i'll take the drive out and double check the settings. I'm starting to think that it was my other tape drive that had compression working on it. I'll keep you updated with my results

cheers

 

[davidmichel]

If you want to know about ARCServe and compression see How does ARCserve control compression? faq478-4399