HOW TO get back an expired backup image.

[ESM_Admin]

How can I get back a backup image I just expired.

The tape is in already in the library and has non-expired images of other backups.... I just need to pull back the backup image I expired which sits on that tape... how can I do that??

I have multiple images that need to be pulled back from a bunch of tapes..

please assist.

TY

[Will_Restore]

refer to the Admin Guide if you are not familiar with Importing backup images

[Marianne · Accepted solution]

You can import expired images.

Step-by-step instructions:

Java Console: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH72429

Windows Console: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH43584

Phase 1 will scan entire tape and skip valid (unexpired) images.

You can then select images to do phase 2 import.

[ESM_Admin]

Hi Marrianne, 

the link to Technote for Java is not working..i cant find that technote

[ESM_Admin]

Secondly, this import of an exisiting tape in Netbackup will not affect other active images on that tape, correct?

[revarooo]

ESM - no it reads the tape, it does not write to the tape. You then select which images you want to pull from that tape back into the catalog on the Master server.

[J_H_Is_gone]

Write protect the tapes!  in case the other images on the tape expire before you finishe the 2 steps of importing the images.  If the tape goes completly expired and back to scratch - it could get picked and over written.   You did no say you did that and just want to verify you protect the tapes until you get the imports done.

[ESM_Admin]

will it be good enough to freeze the tapes...that would ensure the expired images on them dont get overwritten...right?

[Marianne]

Expired images will only be overwritten when ALL images on tape have expired. NBU will NEVER overwrite expired image if there are still unexpired images on the tape.

This expiration date is the date when image on tape with longest retention will expire. Check this date with
'bpmedialist -m <media-id>'

Did you manage to get to the TN in the meantime?
There is a 'Known issue' with Symantec TNs that the links do not always work first time. A second attempt normally works.
You can also try this link: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH72429

[ESM_Admin]

got it.. so I am ok in that regard..i've got images that done expire till next year on those tapes.

I got the TN as well.

Q: Once the (expired) images are imported back into NBU catalog at the end of phase 2..what would be their retention marked as? or how soon will they expire? ..guessing I will need to change their retention level immidiately after they are imported back?

[Marianne]

Expiration date on imported images will depend on original retention level.
So, if retention level is 0 (1 week), new retention will be 1 week from import date/time.

You will be able to change image expiration to new date with:
bpexpdate -backupid <backup id> -d <mm/dd/yyyy>

[ESM_Admin]

great.. so I am at this point now, with one of my first images that imported successfully.. I see it has original retention.. and I am trying to modify its retention.... and get "requested media id is not assigned to this host in the EMM database" error.

checked some forums posts but that are related to this message while expiring the tape. (https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/requested-media-id-not-assigned-host-emm-database-0)

bpexpdate -recalculate -backupid clientserver_5469854231 -ret 5

Are you SURE you want to recalculate expiration dates on all images

that meet the following criteria:

  backupid         clientserver_5469854231  

  retention will be changed to 5(13 months)  

Continue?(y/n)y

requested media id is not assigned to this host in the EMM database

nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid TAPE01

NBEMMCMD, Version:6.5.6

====================================================================

Media GUID:                     as9f1930-11e5-11df-9000-fcw8b397gf5e

Media ID:                       TAPE01                              

Partner:                        -                                   

Media Type:                     HCART                               

Volume Group:                   000_0038_TLD                       

Application:                    Netbackup                           

Media Flags:                    1                                   

Description:                    LTO3_IBM_LTO4             

Barcode:                        TAPE01L4                            

Partner Barcode:                --------                            

Last Write Host:                Media_Server_1             

Created:                        01/29/2010 10:10                    

Time Assigned:                  02/06/2011 04:00                    

First Mount:                    07/06/2010 02:41                    

Last Mount:                     05/23/2012 18:00                    

Volume Expiration:              -                                   

Data Expiration:                05/21/2019 20:00                    

Last Written:                   12/06/2011 22:00                    

Last Read:                      05/24/2012 00:00                    

Robot Type:                     TLD                                 

Robot Control Host:             Master_Server              

Robot Number:                   38                                   

Slot:                           282                                 

Side/Face:                      -                                   

Cleanings Remaining:            -                                   

Number of Mounts:               34                                  

Maximum Mounts Allowed:         0                                   

Media Status:                   FULL MPX                            

Kilobytes:                      933365482                           

Images:                         420                                 

Valid Images:                   420                                 

Retention Period:               17                                  

Number of Restores:             2                                   

Optical Header Size Bytes:      1024                                

Optical Sector Size Bytes:      0                                   

Optical Partition Size Bytes:   0                                   

Last Header Offset:             3105710                             

Adamm Guid:                     00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

Rsm Guid:                       00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

Origin Host:                    NONE                                

Master Host:                    Master_Server             

Server Group:                   NO_SHARING_GROUP                    

Upgrade Conflicts Flag:                                             

Pool Number:                    7                                   

Volume Pool:                    Vol_pool_1                          

Previous Pool Name:             SCRATCH                             

Vault Flags:                    -                                   

Vault Container:                -                                   

Vault Name:                     -                                   

Vault Slot:                     -                                   

Session ID:                     -                                   

Date Vaulted:                   -                                   

Return Date:                    -                                   

====================================================================

[Marianne]

Try to add '-h Media_Server_1' to bpexpdate command.

Sure about that image id?

5469854231  translates to Thu, 2 May 2143 11:57:11 as the date the backup was done....

Unless date/time on the master server was totally wrong at the time of backup, there is probably a typo error....

[ESM_Admin]

I changed the image id in my copy/paste... its  clientserver_1314493211

 bpexpdate -backupid<backup_image_id> -d <mm/dd/yyyy> -h <media server> does not work - 

bpexpdate: unrecognized option -h

I tried using -M <master server> -client <client name> options as well.

What I notice is that the media is assigned to media_server_2; however when the image was imported, it was imported using media_server_1... and that's what the problem is i think.

[Marianne]

Sincere Apologies !!

It must be -host <media-server>

(for some or other reason there is no consistency between command options.... some are -h, others -host)

For a list of command options, you can always run a command with -help:

bpexpdate -help
bpexpdate: -m <media id> -d <mm/dd/yyyy HH:MM:SS | 0 | infinity>
             [-host <name>] [-force] [-nodelete] [-notimmediate]
             [-M <master_server,...,master_server>]
bpexpdate: -deassignempty [-m <media id>] [-force]
             [-M <master_server,...,master_server>]
bpexpdate: -backupid <backup id> -d <mm/dd/yyyy HH:MM:SS | 0 | infinity>
             [-client <name>] [-copy <number>] [-force] [-nodelete] [-notimmediate]
             [-M <master_server,...,master_server>]
bpexpdate: -recalculate [-backupid <backup id>] [-copy <number>]
             [-d <mm/dd/yyyy HH:MM:SS | 0 | infinity>] [-client <name>]
             [-policy <name>] [-ret <retention level>] [-sched <type>]
             [-M <master_server,...,master_server>]
bpexpdate: -stype <server type>
             [-dp <disk pool> [-dv <disk volume>]]
             [-nodelete] [-notimmediate]
             [-M <master_server,...,master_server>]
        legal values for sched: 0=full,1=differential incr,2=user,3=arch
                                4=cumulative incr


Full command usage with explanation and examples in NetBackup Commands Reference Guide  http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC3684

PS: I think the main problem with your original bpexpdate command was the image id.

[ESM_Admin]

tried the -host option as welll.....-host gives "invalid command usage."

I think because the aim is to change retention of backup image... whereas the -host option is used to change expiration of a media.

from the command reference guide - 

-host name

Note: For the NetBackup server, this option is not required because only one

server (the master) exists. If you do use the option, specify the host name of

that server.

Specifies the host name of the server to which the media is assigned. This

option should be used only with the -m media_id option, and then only if the

following is true: The master has remote media servers and the volume was

not written on the server where you run bpexpdate.

Could this be an issue?

Media is assigned to media_server_2; however when the image was imported, it was imported using media_server_1... 

[Mark_Solutions]

From your output the tape is in a sharing group so does not have an owner - if that is the case then you don't need to use -host at all fo rany commands.

However, the group is called NO_SHARING_GROUP - it maybe that you do need to share it?

Alternatively transfer it using the bpimage command to the media server that owns the rest of the images on that tape and try again.

If all else fails just do a bpexpdate against the tape - as long as the date is after 21st May 2019 when the other images expire - this will set all images onthat tape to the new date you set.

Hope this helps

[Marianne]

nbemmcmd shows :

Last Write Host:                Media_Server_1  

I see no reference to Media_Server_2.

Please try without -host. As per your extract from commands manual, -host should only be used in combination with -m <media-id>.

bpexpdate -backupid <backup_image_id> -d <mm/dd/yyyy>

[ESM_Admin]

Hi Marianne, 

bpexpdate -backupid <backup_image_id> -d <mm/dd/yyyy> does not work... 

master-root@ / > bpexpdate -recalculate -backupid client-name_10101011 -d 10/10/2012

Are you SURE you want to recalculate expiration dates on all images

that meet the following criteria:

  backupid         client-name_10101011 

to expire on Wed Oct 10 00:00:00 2012 

Continue?(y/n)y

requested media id is not assigned to this host in the EMM database

master-root@ / > 

BTW, thank you for immidiate reply to this thread earlier..i was able to get my importing images going right after reading your post.

Hi Mark_solutions,

Looking at bpimage command - is this the command you are suggesting?

bpimage -newserver newserver_name [-oldserver oldserver_name] [-id

id]

The NBU command guide is not clear if -newserver and -oldserver refers to NBU "client" or NBU "media" server that owns the tape.

So, should it be bpimage -newserver <new_media_server> -oldserver <old_media_server> -id <media id>?

regards,

ES Mark

[Marianne]

Something wrong with image-id: 10101011 must be 10 digits.

bpexpdate should work if image-id is correct.