Tape Expiry Confusion

You might be using SLP or Vault duplication. The first copy of your backups might be going to disk/vtl/ost where it will be available for 1 month and once duplicated it will be available for 1 year.

If data is getting backed up using SLP then it won't be deleted till it get duplicated.

Also the SLP schedule will overwrite what you see in the policy.

No not using either.

I am running multiple copies though. The Primary copy has a 1 year retention.

I have this issue across multiple policies.

I am running multiple copies though? Please specify how you are running multiple copies?

Is the primary copy directly going to tape?

Could you please post the screen shot as attachement where it shows 1 month and details of policy here.

Ahh I am sorry you mean Multiple Copies Option. Please check retention to Disk STU and retention to your tape media

In the Schedule - Multiple Copies. There you can specify STU and retention levels, what it shows there?

It might be 1 year and will take effect when it goes to tape.

Yes multiple copies option.

Retention is set correctly.

I only backup to tape.

see attached screenshot.

Your duplication pool which is Copy 2 is showing 1 month that is the reason it will be 1 month.

"Your duplication pool which is Copy 2 is showing 1 month that is the reason it will be 1 month."

No that is incorrect.

When using BAR it should be looking at the primary copy which has a 1 year retention.

Why would it refer to copy 2?

Also when I run a report on the tapes in question the expiry is correct.

Just checked more policies & I have the same issue for all of them.

The last time a month end backup with a 1 year retention is stated correctly from within BAR was at the end of September.

This is how multiple copies is designed. If you just want 1 copy why to use multiple copies then? You might got confused and just thought that you are taking just one copy going to tape but the copy 2 is also happening here. That tick mark on Primay give that feeling that it will only do primary copy but actually there are 2 copies.

But if you just want 1 copy then no need to use the option multiple copies, please check with your teammates they might have it setup for some purpose. Actually it would be better to have 1 copy onsite(mostly on disk) so data can be restored as and when required till it get expired(in your case it is 1 month)

In catalog BAR gui select copy 2 and it will report copy 2 as well.

Copy 2 stays on site & the primary goes off site. Both to tape.

It has been like this for 2 years without issue.

Clearly there is a bug somewhere.

I'll log a ticket with Symantec, thanks for your efforts anyway.