RE: Erase data from tape securily

You don't NEED to erase the data on the tape to reuse them.

If you just want to get rid of the backup from the database then just expire all images on the tape.

The fast way to do that is bpexpdate -m <mediaid> -d 0

This will expire all images on the tape AND remove the images info from the database, making the tape ready to be used again as a scratch tape (even if it is not in the scratch pool)

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You also do not need to erase catalog tapes.  If they are in the catalog pool they are avail for the next catalog backup.

Adding to above post - you do not need to erase your tapes as NBU will overwrite the tapes for which it does not have any valid backup image (in catalog)

Agree fully with above posts.

COLD catalog tapes will have to be re-labelled in order to reuse them.

See TN http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/295233.htm for instructions.

Hi everyone,

thanks for your posts I just did the vmquery to know status and did the (vmquerey -deassignbyid) command, after that I relabel it using GUI console by right clicking on the volumes and selecting label option.

A window pop-up on the screen and I did not select the "Verify Media Label before performing".

If I selected it, it is giving me an error (code 93) in activity monitor pane. If I don't select it, it is showing me successful.

Do I need to select that option when I am reusing the catalog backup tapes as a new?.

Thanks

Bharath

Correct - ensure 'Verify Media Label' is not selected to re-label Catalog tapes.

Thanks Marianne,

I got an error when I scheduled a catalog backup.

It says:

Error bpbackupdb catalog backup to media id A00007 cannto overrite media, dataon it is protected(168).

I choose the volume which I have done the deassign and labeling (i.e., above steps). How can I run succesful catalog backup?.

I looked on line says replace the volume. O.K. but can I use the A00007 for regular backup?.

If I want to make only A00007 as for the catalog backups,then how can I do that?.

can you give me answers to above questions

thanks

bharath

To change a catalog tape to a NON-catalog tape takes a special step.

http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/270446.htm

How to convert NetBackup catalog tape to NetBackup backup tape on Windows

(I know it says on windows, but it is the same commands just different path to find the commands - replace "program files" with "/usr/openv")

Can you also let me know the location of log files for the succesful backup jobs(human readable format) as I want to attach these reports my work

thanks

Bharath

Hi J.Hinchcliffe,

Thanks for your post.

Let me more clear in explaining the problem and solution I needed.

I did what you said already by following the marianne posted link. It did show the (0-Netbackup) in application tab in volume pane for that volume. i.e., it is good to go for the regular backups.

but I want that volume(tape A00007) back to catalog backup tape. (cold catalog am doing now).

I followed series of steps to configure as a catalog backup tape from the GUI wizard by following "configure the catalog backup".

When I run the catalog backup it is giving me an error that the volume is write protected (see the attachment for error)

So, end goal is to make that volume(A00007) as a catalog backup tape?. How?.

Thanks

bharath