Convert a catalog tape into a regular backup tape

[BAKMAR]

I need to covert a catalog tape into a regular backup tape, i did see this artical on how to do it -

1. Determine the volume pool number. The volume pool number is the number in parentheses after "volume pool."
/Program Files/volmgr/bin/vmquery -m [media_id]

2. De-assign the volume
/Program Files/volmgr/bin/vmquery -deassignbyid [media_id] [pool#] 1

3. Write a VERITAS NetBackup (tm) backup label on tape media. If the tape is in a robotic library, use this syntax:
/Program Files/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bplabel -m [media_id] -d [density] -p [volume_pool_name]

If the tape is in a standalone tape drive, use this syntax:
/Program Files/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bplabel -m [media_id] -d [density] -p [volume_pool_name] -n [drive_name]

The catalog media would now be available for NetBackup backups.
 

But there is no /Program Files/volmgr in the netbackup server...

[revarooo]

That looks correct to me, make sure the images on tape have expired first obviously.

volmgr directory is wrong, its:  program files\veritas\volmgr\

Also netbackup is also in program files\veritas\netbackup\

[BAKMAR]

how do I expire the image on the catalog tape that I want to put back into the regular backup pool, Thanks

[revarooo]

bpexpdate -m <mediaid> -d 0

Note: That expires ALL images on that tape!

[BAKMAR]

Ok I expired it now a ran program files\veritas\volmgr\/bin/vmquery -deassignbyid [media_id] [pool#] 1 then i get just this -
 

C:\Program Files\Veritas\Volmgr\bin>vmquery -deassignbyid AFF387 -p 1
========================================================================

media ID:              AFF387
media type:            1/2" cartridge tape 2 (14)
barcode:               AFF387L3
media description:     Added by Media Manager
volume pool:           CatalogBackup (3)
robot type:            TLD - Tape Library DLT (8)
robot number:          1
robot slot:            22
robot control host:    pc318
volume group:          000_00001_TLD
vault name:            ---
vault sent date:       ---
vault return date:     ---
vault slot:            ---
vault session id:      ---
vault container id:    -
created:               1/28/2011 10:26:27 AM
assigned:              ---
last mounted:          8/17/2012 7:06:53 AM
first mount:           1/29/2011 6:01:21 AM
expiration date:       ---
number of mounts:      563
max mounts allowed:    500
========================================================================

CAUTION: The act of unassigning volumes may lead to inconsistencies
         between the application media database and volume database,
         leading to the possibility for data loss. You must expire the
         media from an application interface.

C:\Program Files\Veritas\Volmgr\bin>

[revarooo]

CatalogBackup pool is 3, try that. You don't need the -p either.

vmquery -deassignbyid AFF387 3

[BAKMAR]

still the same thing , should I take it out of the catalog pool? put the media into another pool?

[Marianne]

It seems that you are following steps to re-use old Cold Catalog tapes.

The fact that your tape is in CatalogBackup pool says to me that this tape was used for Hot Catalog backup.

There is no need to deassign and label the tape. All you need to do is to expire all images associated with this media id using bpexpdate (command supplied by revaroo).

To find out if there are valid images on a tape, use this command to check: 
C:\Program Files\Veritas\Netbackup\bin\admincmd\nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid <media-id>

If tape was not originally in Scratch Pool, it will remain in CatalogBackup pool. You will have to manually move it to another pool.