Hi,
from what I understood
- Media Sets should be used to define append periods and overwrite periods
- Partitions should be used to define which slots should be taken for backup jobs
Ok, let's say I have a backup rotation plan where I need to store some tapes offside. Then I would have to options.
The first option would be to use a Media Set for - let's say monthly - backups. Then I could use a rule for offsite storage in conjunction with Backup Exec's reporting mechanism to send me an notification which tapes needs to be pulled out of the library and which barcode labeled tapes should be taken back into the autoloader.
The second option would be a separate partition for those monthly backups so that the backup operator would take the tapes once a month out off the autoloader and puts others in as desired.
From my understanding, both solutions fit the same backup strategy. So I am asking what's the better way, option 1 or 2?
I guess it's harder to configure option 1 with all these fine tuned media set properties, but then the operator just need to work down the autogenerated list once a month. Then he knows exactly which tapes to take out and which be must bring in.
For the second option, I think it much easier to configure in Backup Exec, but for the operator it's much more work (and a probably human point of failure) to determine which tapes from which month he needs to bring back to the robot. Let's say, now it month #11, and he brings back the tapes from month #10 instead of those from month #8. Then the #10 backups would be overwritten by mistake.
I see that it's hard to compare Media Sets and Partitions, but I am asking myself which way I should go. How can both strategies work together? What do you think?