Proper procedure for using expired tapes

[EnochChum]

Hi,

What steps do I need to take in order to reuse old expired tapes? Do I need to do a ./bpexpdate command or do I need to also erase the data.

Thanks,
Enoch

 

[AquaTeenFryMan]

You should just be able to thro them in a tape drive and overwrite them. Unless they are frozen tapes, then unfreeze them.

 

[comtec17]

If you want to re-use the tape, then you can simply place the media back into your autoloader and NBU will use it as long as your Global Attributes have the media formats checked to overwrite.

 

[Stumpr]

I am always concerned about the functionality of "old" tapes. I am especially skeptical if I do not know the history of how the tape was handled/stored. I suggest doing a long erase on the media before placing it into production. A long erase actually writes a known pattern to the tape which will overwrite anything on it. This is sort of a simple confidence test??

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