AWS VTL - Using expired tapes

[infused]

Hi Guys.

When using AWS VTL, does using an expired tape pull it back from glacier storage before overwrite (ie, do I get charged?) or does it simply wipe it?

Is it best practice to delete expired tapes or reuse?

[Dima P.]

Hello infused.

Expired tape would be downloaded back to the site, erased and then reused. It makes sense to download the tape from AWS only when you want to perform a recovery. I'd rather delete the media and AWS library (or shelf) and add a new blank virtual tape for the next job run if recovery is not required.

[infused]

Thanks for this. That was my thoughts - so expired - delete. Any easy method for doing this rather than the quite tedious method currently?

[veremin]

May be it makes sense to set overwrite protection period to Never and request those tapes only, when restore is necessary. Thanks!

[Dima P.]

Any easy method for doing this rather than the quite tedious method currently?

From VBR perspective you can either delete exported tapes manually, or script the deletion via PowerShell. From AWS side I believe only manual deletion is supported.

[anthony.quepons]

Do you know where I can find the powershell script to delete expired vtl tapes?

[Dima P.]

Hello Anthony,

Remove-VBRTapeMedium command can remove the tapes but you need somehow to pass the list of expired tapes. I've asked PS gurus to share a sample if they have one. Thanks!