Tape currently in drive cannot be used for backup (Case #07346679)

[Murshid]

(Case #07346679)

We are performing daily backups to tape from "Monday" to "Thursday "and taking weekly synthetic backups to tape on "Friday". This process worked fine until we began reusing the tapes.

Now, we are encountering the message, 'Tape currently in drive cannot be used for backup.' However, we are receiving emails instructing us to insert a specific dated tape, and when we insert that tape, the backup works. but not working with other types.

Now its not working with any tape at all, keep telling to insert tape (by email) also showing (Tape currently in drive cannot be used for backup)

(Case #07346679)

[david.domask]

Hi Mohamed, welcome to the forums.

Thank you for sharing the case number and for the description here, sorry to hear you're having challenges with the tape job.

Based on the Engineer's most recent comment, it looks like the Append backup files to incomplete tapes option is NOT enabled; with this feature, it means that each new backup session, media sets without the Append option enabled will close the media set, and the tape protection period will begin.

Please continue with Support, they will assist with explaining your options, and you can decide what option works best for your environment and requirements.

Thanks!

[Murshid]

I enabled the option " Append backup files to incomplete tapes" & inventory the tape still the same issue showing

[david.domask]

Hi Mohamed,

Glad to hear it, but please note that once a media set is closed, it cannot be reopened. So enabling the option won't re-open the media set on the tapes where it was already closed which seems to be the case for you, but moving forward, it will append backups to the previously used tape.

Please review the User Guide page on Media Sets for a longer explanation, and please continue with Support, they will be able to assist with getting the tape job back to a running state, but the tapes with closed media sets will not be usable until:

1. The protection period is over for the tape
2. The tapes are Marked as Free/erased (please be aware that the "mark as free" operation will make the tape eligible for overwrite, so the existing data will be overwritten)

[Murshid]

ok, thanks for the replay

Also, I want to let you know that the append option has always been enabled from the start. However, we disabled it to see if it would resolve the 'Tape currently in drive cannot be used for backup' issue. When we sent the screenshot to support, they saw the latest screenshot without the option enabled.

We already send the logs to support and waiting for a replay

[david.domask]

Got it, that indeed changes the situation a bit on the procedure -- my instinct tells me the media sets did indeed close, but to tell why we'll need to wait for Support to complete their review of the logs, so let's wait for Support's update.

[Murshid]

The reason for the media set close was due to the automatic tape ejection after the job. To continuously use the remaining storage, we need to keep the tape inside the device until it's full, with the append option enabled. Otherwise, the backup job will display the message "Tape currently in drive cannot be used for backup

if we want to eject a tape after a job, then we can only use the tape again after the retention period is over (expired) or if it is marked as free.

Note : We are using GFS Media Pool

Thank you

[david.domask]

Hi Mohamed,

I think there is a slight confusing here as it's not the eject as per Support's last note, it's that the necessary tape was not available at the time of running while another free/expired tape was inserted, as per the 1st condition here: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... ml?ver=120

Ejecting the tapes is not the catalyst here exclusively, it's the behavior as per the User Guide. Do you by chance have a standalone drive or a library without an automatic changer? It sounds like due to no ability to swap in the most recently used tape, the previous media set was closed, and a new media set opened on an expired/free medium.

[Murshid]

yes we do have standalone drive without an automatic changer

Let me clarify this: Are you saying that even if we eject a tape from the drive and the retention period is not over yet, we can still use the same tape the next day?

Why does it matter which day's tape we use to take a backup to the tape drive as long as it is added to the "daily GFS Media pool"?

[david.domask]

Hi Mohamed,

From my link above, see condition 1 on when the media set will be closed:

> The required tape is offline. If you bring such tape online before the tape job starts, it will be used as planned.

If the last used tape is not available (offline) and a new tape is inserted and eligible for use, the previous media set will be closed and a new one opened. Once a media set is closed, it cannot be reopened without marking the tape as free/erasing the tape or if the tape protection is expired, then it is eligible to be overwritten.

[Murshid]

yes you are correct, now the disks are working properly.
Thank you for the help