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Backing up large data set across multiple LTO tapes, on single manual drive?

quantum-it
Level 4

I have a single slot LTO5 drive (3TB tape size).

If I am backing up a data set that's larger than 3TB, will NBU prompt me to insert the next tape in the Media Resource Pool, when the current tape fills?   My concern is how will I know when the data set job is ready to span multiple tapes.

I am going to be getting a tape robot in future (or move to disk-to-disk backups) but for now I need to know what my interim approach should be?

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Accepted Solutions

Marianne
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified

Yes, jobs will automatically continue when the new tape is loaded.

You need to be sure that you have pre-added media to the Media section of NBU and pre-labeled them.

If NBU does not know that more media is available, backup will fail with status 96 when tape fills up and there are no available, unassigned tapes.

 

My concern is how will I know when the data set job is ready to span multiple tapes.

That is the problem with Standalone. There is nothing that tells you how full a tape is.
The amount of data that can fit on a single tape depends on the type of data, as different types compress differently, from 3:1 to nothing. 
You (or a colleague) become an operator with Standalone - needing to check at regular intervals.

Please motivate to get that tape library ASAP! 
Media management in NBU with Standalone tape drives is a nightmare!

Some reading matter:

How Symantec NetBackup (tm) selects media in standalone drives
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH31177 

About selecting media in robots on Windows
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO67659  

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3

Will_Restore
Level 6

NetBackup will pause the job for "pending request"

 

You can see this with  vmoprcmd -d pr  command

then you can change the tape and issue  vmoprcmd -resubmit <request_id>

 

or, using the GUI, check under Media and Device Management > Device Monitor

 

 

quantum-it
Level 4

Once I swap tapes, will the job automatically continue on, once NBU detects the next tape in the pool as being available in the drive?

Marianne
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified

Yes, jobs will automatically continue when the new tape is loaded.

You need to be sure that you have pre-added media to the Media section of NBU and pre-labeled them.

If NBU does not know that more media is available, backup will fail with status 96 when tape fills up and there are no available, unassigned tapes.

 

My concern is how will I know when the data set job is ready to span multiple tapes.

That is the problem with Standalone. There is nothing that tells you how full a tape is.
The amount of data that can fit on a single tape depends on the type of data, as different types compress differently, from 3:1 to nothing. 
You (or a colleague) become an operator with Standalone - needing to check at regular intervals.

Please motivate to get that tape library ASAP! 
Media management in NBU with Standalone tape drives is a nightmare!

Some reading matter:

How Symantec NetBackup (tm) selects media in standalone drives
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH31177 

About selecting media in robots on Windows
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO67659