Restoring Old Catalogs from Tape

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

Hi,

We received a request to restore data from 5 years ago from our NetBackup tapes.

The problem is that we have implemented a new NetBackup Server 2 years ago, and thus there are no Catalogs of the data we are thying to restore.

Can someone shed some light on how to restore Old Catalogs from tape in order to restore the data?

Regards

[Marianne]

You can import backup tapes into NBU (re-catalog them), provided they have not been overwritten and are readable by your current tape drives.

See this HOWTO doc: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH43584

[RamNagalla]

hi,

first do the phage 1 and 2 import using the below tech note to create catalogs.

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH43584

for Unix:-

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH72429

once you create a catalogs you can do the restore as a alternate client restore method.

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

Thank you for the replies,

We tried the steps you sent, but receive an error message. I attached a screenshot.

[RamNagalla]

EMM error:- media does not exists.

did you keep the media into library and updated the netbackup with New tape info?

[Andy_Welburn]

- When importing expired media, it is recommended to first write protect the media so that it cannot be inadvertantly used by backups.  Once added to the tape inventory, use the media section of the gui to right click and 'change' the volume to a writeable pool other than your 'Scratch' pool. Creating a new pool called 'Import' or the like, will prevent any backups from using these media.

Nagalla essentially just beat me to it, but did you do this bit first from the T/N he quoted initially?

[Yasuhisa_Ishika]

By any chance, did you try to import with cleaning tape labeled CLNU08L1? If so, do not try importing cleaning tape. Go a head with normal data tapes.

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

Thanks, after some more troubleshooting, we are receiving the attached error message.

[Yasuhisa_Ishika]

Media ID is not match with that in previous environment.

Once remove all volumes, and add "MEDIA_ID_BARCODE_CHARS = 0 8 1:2:3:4:5:6" in vm.conf(/usr/openv/volmgr/vm.conf or C:\Program Files\Veritas\Volmgr\vm.conf). Then, re-inventory and try import again.

[Marianne]

You probably don't want to change default Media Id generation for your current environment. Best to take down current tape location (robot #, slot #, barcode, density, pool, Volume Group), delete the tape, then use vmadd command or the GUI to manually add the tape with Media ID that matches the internal tape label (first 6 characters).

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

Thanks, I also receive the following error message as well:

01/18/2013 09:03:30 - begin Import
01/18/2013 09:03:30 - started process bptm (pid=6167)
01/18/2013 09:03:30 - requesting resource NU08L1
01/18/2013 09:03:31 - granted resource  NU08L1
01/18/2013 09:03:31 - granted resource  HP.ULTRIUM3-SCSI.000
01/18/2013 09:03:32 - started process bptm (pid=6167)
01/18/2013 09:03:32 - mounting NU08L1
01/18/2013 09:04:13 - mounted NU08L1; mount time: 0:00:41
01/18/2013 09:04:13 - Error bptm (pid=6167) Mount of Backup Exec media with media id NU08L1 having Media Manager volume database GUID {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} was requested, but GUID {2afecc4a-7f4f-4395-8fd1-3c5fc255e042} was found on tape. Must update GUID of NU08L1 in Media Manager volume database and retry.
01/18/2013 09:04:13 - Error bpimport (pid=6157) Status = cannot perform specified media import operation.
01/18/2013 09:04:13 - end Import; elapsed time 0:00:43
cannot perform specified media import operation  (176)
 

[sksujeet · Accepted solution]

run this command to change the GUID

vmchange -g 2afecc4a-7f4f-4395-8fd1-3c5fc255e042 -m NU08L1

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

Thanks Sazz,

I manage to successfully do an import of a tape.

01/18/2013 10:20:10 - begin Import
01/18/2013 10:20:11 - started process bptm (pid=12456)
01/18/2013 10:20:13 - started process bptm (pid=12456)
01/18/2013 10:20:13 - mounting R766L1
01/18/2013 10:20:11 - requesting resource R766L1
01/18/2013 10:20:11 - granted resource  R766L1
01/18/2013 10:20:11 - granted resource  HP.ULTRIUM3-SCSI.000
01/18/2013 10:20:56 - mounted R766L1; mount time: 0:00:43
01/18/2013 10:31:32 - end Import; elapsed time 0:11:22
the requested operation was successfully completed  (0)

How will I be able to view or browse the data of the imported tape?

[sksujeet]

You have to do phase 2 import as well, please follow the article provided by Marianne in the first post. Once done to restore the data you have to open the BAR gui and do the restore as per below TN.

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO43816
 

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

We managed to restore from the media media, thank you.

The command that helped us most was vmchange.

Regards

[Marianne]

Please select the post that has helped you most and 'Mark as solution'.

[MTC_Sys_Admin]

Thank you.

Regards