08-28-2014 08:56 PM
Hi All,
we are using Symentec Netbackup 7.0.1 with LTO4 & LTO5 Tapes, our master server runs on HP_UX OS, I want to know that is there any way to know that how many times tape has been full from start of time of a specific tape, as i want to change the Tapes before its end of life cycle to avoid any disaster.
For.e.g :- i want to know the no. of times Tape01 has been full from its 1st use.
Thanks in Advance.
Solved! Go to Solution.
08-29-2014 01:31 AM
08-29-2014 03:21 AM
Nope, doesn't work like that unfortunately.
The mount count has little or no reflection on media condition.
The media count is nowhere near close to the total number of passes, as for example LTO5, the tape may mount once and be written till it is full. The tape would have made 80 end-to-end passes to do this, LTO4 would have been 56.
One interesting thing that was seen with Storsentry, is that analysis of the results from all UK companies using it at the time, was that out of the all the media that the companies would normally have replaced due to no uses /age etc ... it was found that in fact only about 4% was actually defective - which again is more evidence that no. mounts etc .. is in no way any use to determine media condition.
08-29-2014 05:13 AM
There is nothing in NetBackup that will do this for you but it may be that your tape library already has this information available.
Quatum libraries store some data and if you have the advanced reporting option / license then what you are looking for may be available to you via the reports section of the tape library interface
Hope this helps
08-28-2014 10:26 PM
NetBackup tracks the mounts, and if its full. I don't see anyway to show what you're asking for unless you've been tracking the instance when the tape got full yourself. The mounts are relevant, I don't think the percentage used makes much of a difference.
08-28-2014 10:41 PM
I can track all mount points but doesn't stats no. of time tape is full as backup size is not specific,we use scratchpool so we don't track full Tape & resue since software does it.
08-29-2014 12:35 AM
What you need is a product called StorSentry.
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/proven/hi-stor-te.pdf
I'm not sure who markets this at the moment, but it was originally written by a company called Hi-Stor and monitors the conditions of the tapes and drives at a low level, being able to predict tape failure. I've used it, and seen it used in other companies and it works very very well.
I did an investigation into tape condition, with the help of Imation. According to the 'tape expert' I was speaking to, the number of mounts is irrelevant, tape life is more to do with haow the tapes are handled, stored, condition of the drives and most importantly if they are run above their streaming speed.
A tape that is 'shoe-shined' can show signs of increased wear within a few uses, hence the reason the number of mounts is not generally useful.
Editted to add ...
If the tape is always run in perfect condtions, always above min streaming speed , then yes, no of mounts would then be more useful. In reality this rarely happens.
08-29-2014 01:18 AM
My Client want to replace media as per usage, they want to replace after certain no. of Time specific Tape is used fully, the Product you mention may be helpfull in different companies but my company wants the no. of times media is fully used.
08-29-2014 01:31 AM
08-29-2014 01:35 AM
08-29-2014 01:49 AM
Mount Point can't be count has full usage as in my case it takes min 40 Counts to make media Full, Tapes have already reached more then 1000 mount points but till now i have not faced any issue with Tape.
08-29-2014 03:21 AM
Nope, doesn't work like that unfortunately.
The mount count has little or no reflection on media condition.
The media count is nowhere near close to the total number of passes, as for example LTO5, the tape may mount once and be written till it is full. The tape would have made 80 end-to-end passes to do this, LTO4 would have been 56.
One interesting thing that was seen with Storsentry, is that analysis of the results from all UK companies using it at the time, was that out of the all the media that the companies would normally have replaced due to no uses /age etc ... it was found that in fact only about 4% was actually defective - which again is more evidence that no. mounts etc .. is in no way any use to determine media condition.
08-29-2014 05:13 AM
There is nothing in NetBackup that will do this for you but it may be that your tape library already has this information available.
Quatum libraries store some data and if you have the advanced reporting option / license then what you are looking for may be available to you via the reports section of the tape library interface
Hope this helps