Related to a situation when we hav multi-slot autoloader,,, backups running every night ranging from daily to monthly .cherry on the top customer has himself set up media label,, external barcode which r bit difficult to understand like[instead of simpler one like dailymon1,dailytue2] HP0301L3 ,HP0302L3 ...... etc,not ready to partition the library logically, hav given certain media rotation cycle which should be strictly followed. after all
" CUSTOMER IS THE KING"
suppose we hav 8 slots 1 drive , a confusing media label like HP0301L3 ,HP0302L3 etc
create daily media sets according to the name convention of days like MON,TUE,.... WEEKLY 1. attach them to daily jobs .now customer also don't hav IT staff only sales guy who only load tapes every monday thats all. AHHHHHHHHHHHH [real pain handling such a project]
attach tapes on the first day itself ,, with ,tue wed thu fri sets and only 1 tape with weekly set rest 3 tapes in scratch pool
HP0301L3 mon,
HP0302L3 tue
HP0303L3 wed
.
.
HP0306L3 weekly1 and 3 scratch tapes
even if during any weekdays backup tape is complete it will pick up tape from scratch [by default action] not from any media set. it will protect the tapes from taken by any daily jobs.hence wil not break the media cycle.
If tapes hav only above mentioned like label and no other option
go to device then open slots right click the media -- properties give "media description" as per ur requirement like daily MON 1 and update this descripton along with media rotation cycle in separate document.It wil helpful in media management.
you will end up having clear and simple media list and customer satisfied rotation.
LABEL MEDIA SET MEDIA DESCRIPTION
HP0301L3 mon daily mon1
HP0302L3 tue daily tue1
HP0303L3 wed daily wed1
HP0304L3 thu daily thu1
HP0305L3 fri daily fri1
HP0306L3 weekly1 weekly sat1
after job is complete u can still add media description[to scratch tapes or set associated tapes] without altering anything
comments criticism both welcome--- both will increase my effort level