Tapes with no images or expiration, but can't be used

Question

Netbackup Enterprise Server 7.0. Windows Server 2003 SP2. StorageTek 40 tape library, 299 tapes.
I have a handful of tapes that don't appear to have any images, no expiration date (images or on the volume itself), and Netbackup doesn't appear to write to them if they are in the Library. Normally, once the images expire, tapes automatically go to "Scratch" and are made available again.
&nbsp;

I'm wondering, what if anything I should check or do to reclaim these tapes? Is my only option to expire the media, then reintroduce it to Netbackup?
As an example, here's some info for one of the tapes (000096): vmquery, nbemmcmd -listmedia, and bpexpdate -deassignempty.
&nbsp;
C:\Program Files\VERITAS\Volmgr\bin&gt;vmquery -m 000096
================================================================================
&nbsp;
media ID:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 000096
media type:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1/2" cartridge tape (6)
barcode:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 000096
media description:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Added by Media Manager
volume pool:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; FULL (5)
robot type:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NONE - Not Robotic (0)
volume group:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
vault name:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
vault sent date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
vault return date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
vault slot:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
vault session id:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
vault container id:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
created:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 9/1/2005 4:33:01 PM
assigned:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3/3/2006 6:28:15 PM
last mounted:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3/12/2006 5:36:09 PM
first mount:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9/1/2005 5:16:39 PM
expiration date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
number of mounts:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 52
max mounts allowed:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
status:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0x0
================================================================================
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\bin\admincmd&gt;nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid 000096
NBEMMCMD, Version:7.0
====================================================================
Media GUID:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 416403ae-ebe4-447b-8496-a21fb4074e13
Media ID:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 000096
Partner:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-
Media Type:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; HCART
Volume Group:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ---
Application:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Netbackup
Media Flags:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1
Description:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Added by Media Manager
Barcode:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 000096
Partner Barcode:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; --------
Last Write Host:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NONE
Created:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 09/01/2005 16:33
Time Assigned:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 03/03/2006 18:28
First Mount:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 09/01/2005 17:16
Last Mount:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 03/12/2006 17:36
Volume Expiration:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Data Expiration:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Last Written:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Last Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Robot Type:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NONE
Robot Control Host:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-
Robot Number:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Slot:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Side/Face:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Cleanings Remaining:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Number of Mounts:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 52
Maximum Mounts Allowed:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Media Status:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ACTIVE
Kilobytes:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Images:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Valid Images:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Retention Period:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Number of Restores:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Optical Header Size Bytes:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Optical Sector Size Bytes:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Optical Partition Size Bytes:&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Last Header Offset:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0
Adamm Guid:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Rsm Guid:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Origin Host:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; balt-srvr-nbu
Master Host:
Server Group:
Upgrade Conflicts Flag:
Pool Number:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5
Volume Pool:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; FULL
Previous Pool Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SCRATCH
Vault Flags:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Vault Container:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Vault Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;-
Vault Slot:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Session ID:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Date Vaulted:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
Return Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -
====================================================================
Command completed successfully.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\bin\admincmd&gt;bpexpdate -deassignempty
Search for empty media that meet the following criteria:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Media id: All
&nbsp;
Continue? y/n (n)y
No media matching criteria were found to be deassigned.
no entity was found
&nbsp;

marianne · Accepted Answer

Any chance that a media server was improperly deassigned or lost it's mediaDB in pre-6.x days?
If that happened, images were expired but media could not be deassigned due to missing mediaDB entries...
Try the process in this TN:
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH58277
2. Determine if the media ID exists in the merge table. &nbsp;If the media ID appears in this listing, then a different issue exists - do not proceed further. &nbsp;Contact Symantec Technical Services for assistance with getting this media ID out of the merge table. &nbsp;The following example shows no media IDs in the merge table:
Command syntax example and output:
	&nbsp;
nbemmcmd -listmedia -mergetable
	&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The following number of records were found:0
	&nbsp;
Command completed successfully.
3. From the same path, type bpimmedia -mediaid 000538 to determine if there are any images on this piece of media. &nbsp;If there are no images, then no output will be displayed. &nbsp;If there are images, an IMAGE line and FRAG line will appear for each valid image on the media ID.
	
	4. As long as the media ID does not appear in the merge table, the bptm command can be used to build a complete media record for each affected media ID. &nbsp;Then the volume can then be unassigned and expired. &nbsp;This will require the media ID of the affected media, as well as the density and the volume pool number.
Command syntax example from a UNIX server with a media ID of 000538, a density of HCART, that resides in Volume Pool 1 (NetBackup):
	&nbsp;
bptm -makedbentry -m 000538 -den hcart -poolnum 1
	&nbsp;

5. &nbsp;Once this command completes, rerun the nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid 000538 command from step 1. &nbsp;There should now be a valid Last Write Host hostname. &nbsp;
	
	6. The tape can now be expired with the bpexpdate command:
	
	&nbsp;
bpexpdate
	&nbsp;
Unix: /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd
	&nbsp;
Windows: &lt;Install_dir&gt;\NetBackup\bin\admincmd
	&nbsp;

&nbsp;
If there are no valid images for the media, the command syntax example and output:
	&nbsp;
bpexpdate -m 000538 -justmedia -d 0 &nbsp;
	&nbsp;
Are you SURE you want to delete 000538 y/n (n)? y
	&nbsp;
&nbsp;
If there are &nbsp;valid images for the media, the command syntax example and output:
	&nbsp;
bpexpdate -m 000538 -d 0&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;
Are you SURE you want to delete 000538 y/n (n)? y
	&nbsp;
Now that the media is expired, it can be used for backups again and will be overwritten. &nbsp;
	&nbsp;

j_h_is_gone · Answer

Move them out of the Netbackup pool.&nbsp; I doubt any of your policies use tapes in that pool.
right click the others and see if they are frozen, if they are you will have the option to unfreeze.&nbsp; I suspect this as 96 shows an assigned time.
&nbsp;
a bpmedialist -m &lt;mediaid&gt;&nbsp; will tell you if it is frozen or suspended.
&nbsp;
if you are sure they are empty you can try the bpexpidate -m &lt;mediaid&gt; -d 0

smckelvey · Answer

Everything is working fine: images expire on all other volumes, which are then reassigned to "Scratch" volume pool, then written to again.
The problem is that the tapes in question are in limbo. I'm assuming there's some discrpency in the database. Only one of the tapes if frozen, and unfreezing it is not the issue. I can't change the volume pool.
"bpexpidate -m &lt;mediaid&gt; -d 0" will delete the tape from the database entirely correct? after which I'd need to re add the tape anew.

j_h_is_gone · Answer

&nbsp; If the tape has a time assigned, As I can see in your screen shot. It cannot be moved. The could be that the tape was assigned for a job that failed and then was not called again.&nbsp; ( I have had that a few times)
if you run the bpexpdate command it will remove that assigned time, which will then let you move the tapes.&nbsp; I think what you need to do is just get rid of the assign time&nbsp; and that command will do it.

roncaplinger · Answer

"Robot Control" and "Slot" are empty; these are not in a tape library.&nbsp; they are most likely offsite.
&nbsp;
Never mind, the issue is they are not going to "Scratch"...wasn't paying attention to your dilemma.

j_h_is_gone · Answer

I did not notice that part - but the tapes do still have assigned times to them ( I just cannot see the expiration date from the screen shot)

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