How can I reuse an encrypted tape as a normal (not encrypted) tape

[ilap]

Hi

Is there any way to reuse an encrypted (KMS) tape as a normal one. I have some expired encrypted tapes and would like to reuse them as normal tapes.

Cheers,

[Marianne · Accepted solution]

I have no 1st-hand experience, but have you tried to move one of the expired tapes to a 'normal' pool?
A pool that does not start with 'ENCR_' ?
Then specify this pool in a policy.

As a test, create a test pool. You may even want to call it Test.
Move expired tape into Test and create a test policy to backup something small to Test pool.

Let us know if this works.
 

[ilap]

Hi,

Yes, I moved those encrypted tapes to some 'normal' pool, but I was not certain whether those will be reused or not. So, I kicked off a test backup which seems worked.

So, no any additional config/work is necessary but just move to them to a normal pool.

[Marianne · Accepted solution]

That is my understanding, yes.

The only way NBU knows that backup must be encrypted is when  'ENCR_' appears in the poolname.

So, normal pool name indicates to NBU to overwrite the tape in non-encrypted format.

[mph999]

There should be no difference, NBU will just overwrite them.

[Nicolai]

Basically just confirming what has been already stated.

Netbackup encrypt the backup image (AKA backup data), not the tape itself (e.g. header information).

So when a tape with KMS enabled has been expired, it will return to the scratch pool and can be used by other non-KMS enabled volume pools. You are all good, no action needed.