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Autoloader Question

Graham_Webber
Level 3
Partner

Hello,

 

I have a quick question on autoloader with BackupExec - I currently discussing supplying one to a client (we have not decided on a brand yet) , and they have said had bad experiences with them in the past (a number of years ago).

 

The issue they raised was: If the backup grew too large to fit on to a single tape in the autoloader, it will not continue the job on to another tape - then the job fails!

 

Would it be possible point me to some documentation that supports this claim, or let me know that the modern autoloader (LTO3 or LTO4) and BackupExec 12 can be configured to handle this scenario?

 

Thanks for the help and advice.

Graham

 

 

2 REPLIES 2

Esselte_Enginee
Level 2

Hello,

We use Backup Exec from 9.1 to 12 with autoloaders HP, DELL end we don't have this problem. And we don't run extra options for this this was - this is automatically. Only when we use streamer we have option "eject tape and prompt for another one" - HP DP express. Maybe this company have strange backup solution. Maybe they have problem with retension, or disabled robotic libary feture, please read some information from Symantec BEX 12 help:

 

About robotic libraries in Backup Exec

Backup Exec's Advanced Device and Media Management (ADAMM) feature provides powerful functionality for robotic libraries. With typical robotic library modules, you divide slots in the robotic library into defined groups, and then target backups to those groups. This arrangement works as long as there is enough media in the group to process the jobs targeted there. Problems occur when the data exceeds the available media in the group, because operations cannot continue until overwritable media is physically added, and you create an import media job to insert media into your robotic library. This situation can take place even though slots in the robotic library assigned to other groups contain usable media.

Backup Exec's Device and Media Management feature solves the problems associated with typical robotic library modules. Rather than targeting a backup job to a specific group of slots with a finite number of media, Backup Exec accesses all of the media in the robotic library and uses media that belongs to the job's targeted media set. If the backup job exceeds the capacity of one piece of media, Backup Exec searches all media contained in the robotic library, finds a suitable media, and uses it for the job.

For example:

An operator has a robotic library with six slots. The operator inserts six blank tapes and targets backup jobs to various media sets within the robotic library. Depending on whether the backups are overwrite or append jobs, Backup Exec automatically allocates available tapes in the robotic library. If a job exceeds the capacity of one tape and another overwritable tape is available in the robotic library, the job will automatically continue on that tape. When Backup Exec runs out of tapes, it prompts the operator to add overwritable media.

In a robotic library, Backup Exec selects the oldest recyclable media in the library to use first. If more than one media meeting the requirements is found, Backup Exec then selects the media in the lowest-numbered slot; for example, media in slot 2 would be selected before equivalent media in slot 4.

If a job requiring overwritable media is targeted to a robotic library and no overwritable media is available, the job is skipped and the next job targeted to the robotic library is queued. When overwritable media becomes available either by the addition of media to the robotic library or by the overwrite protection period expiring for a media currently in the robotic library, the skipped job will run.

 

Kevin_Cotreau
Level 6

Graham, this is simple, and one of the many reasons I steer my clients toward autoloaders. Technically any job that goes more than one tape is going to need another tape, but the great thing about autoloaders is that you can easily configure more than one slot to act as one unit.

 

Under devices, right-click the autoloader, and then "configure partitions". If your tape goes beyond one tape, you can allocate two slots that appear as one drive to your job. This has been available since at least 11d, and probably before.

 

If you send me a private message, I can send you a screenshot of what a 16-slot autoloader looks like partitioned. The partitions appear as seperate tape drives when you are setting up a job under Device and Media>Device.