case no. 03448095. Veeam tape selection not alpha numeric ordering in u4

[siranee.ja]

hello everyone,

I already open the case no. 03448095.

I have problem with the tape selection logic on u4.
It's not Alpha-numerically according to their actual barcode.

I'm using u4 right now and have problem with the tape selection.
I test with tape label as the below orderly and create one tape backup job with the following media pool.
media pool full
A00001L6 --> Thursday full backup
media pool incremental
A00011L6 --> Friday inc backup
B00001L6 --> Saturday inc backup
B00011L6 --> Sunday inc backup
C00001L6 --> Monday inc backup
C00011L6 --> Tuesday inc backup
D00001L6 --> Wednesday inc backup

I expected to have tape write down orderly as the alpha-numeric order but it didn't.
Last message from veeam support told me that "u4 has new logic to pick up tape.
The total write count on the tapes.So Veeam now track and prefer the "youngest" tape (least writes)"

Support from veeam told me that "u4 has new logic to pick up tape.
The total write count on the tapes.
So Veeam now track and prefer the "youngest" tape (least writes)"

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... l?ver=95u4

I see in the url screen it show the read and write count but in my system it always
show read and write count to 0. how can I know the youngest tape? Are there any
other way to check the read and write count other than see on the tape properties ?

Actually the propose of the known tape to write because of we have operator to take
the tape offsite daily. If we have long weekend, we are not insert tape one by one
daily. We have tape library loader then we insert all tape in the library. If we do
not exactly know which tape veeam will write down, operator will pick the tape mix
up and it will have mistake.

Best Regards,
Siranee Jaraswachirakul.

[Dima P.]

Hello Siranee.

Thank you for your post.

how can I know the youngest tape? Are there anyother way to check the read and write count other than see on the tape properties ?

Is it possible to check the tape life cycle via native vendors tools (maybe via library UI)? Can you please name your tape media vendor? Thank you!

[siranee.ja]

Hi Dima,
The Autoloader is "neo loader"
The Drive is "IBM ULTRIUM HH6"
The media is "LTO-6 ULTRIUM" IBM and HPE

Best Regards,
Siranee Jaraswachirakul.

[NickTT]

This option should be user defined and not forced. It adds an extra layer of confusion for off site data rotation.

[Dima P.]

Hello and welcome to the community NickTT,

With latest version of Veeam B&R tapes are selected based on their lifespan (less used tape will be selected first). Mind me asking why you need to enable the selection of the tape media based on it's name? Are you tapes barcoded or you use custom names? Thank you!

[soncscy]

Hi all,

@Dima P, I could have sworn support told me in a previous case that there was attention to this and that there was some plan to introduce a switch for the selection logic in v10 (I want to say they advised a regkey was coming...but I don't remember, it was nearly half a year ago).

Is this not the case with v10? Is there still no choice here? For most of our purposes, we've made it work, but I have a few ancient tape admin clients that loathed this change and have not shut up about it since update 4 landed; is there really no answer for them?

[nikpolini]

Bump this...
Any option to change the selection logic? Via registry? I also want alpha numeric vs least used.
Thanks.
Nick

[Dima P.]

Harvey, terribly sorry - looks like I somehow missed your last reply.

Folks,

There should be a registry key to switch the tape selection logic back to the pre-v10 times. Can you please raise a support case in order to get it? Thank you in advance!

[fga]

It makes absolutly no sense to raise a support ticket each and every time somebody wants that reg key. Support has more serious issues to do than hand out this reg key...

Can we please have this registry key written down publicly so ppl can choose on their own which setting they like?

[Dima P.]

True, deserves a dedicated KB article. Meanwhile, I've got the key and can share it with all of you:

Code: Select all

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication\TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics = 0

where

path = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication\
value name = TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics
value data = 0

You need to add it under the default VBR path and set the value to zero to disable the sorting by usage (to switch back to alpha-numeric).

[jmgal]

Is this a key or a DWORD value?
I was told in an earlier email from Veeam to make a key with a default value of 0. The Dima P post above looks like a value.

Which of these should it be?
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication]
"TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication\TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics]
@="0"

[jmgal]

Code: Select all

TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics=0 

It's not a key. I got confirmation from Veeam support this morning (04543890). It's a value.

The key is [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication], which is created at install time.
The value within that key is TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics=0

For some reason Veeam documentation (and even the first email from support today) calls values keys. They should read this.

[Dima P.]

Hello Alan,

Thank you for your feedback! I've updated my original post with additional notes to avoid further confusion. Cheers!

[nikpolini]

HI all,
I'm on Veeam 11.0.1.1261 and it appears the REG TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics is no longer honoured. Tapes are no being selected Alphanumerically.

Can someone elses confiorm theis please.

Thanks.

[j2wong]

Hi all, sorry my end user also facing this issue that he wants to selected alphanumerically, but after upgrade from U4b to 11A, the tape selection seems to be random. I cannot find the reg key TapeMediumSortByUsageStatistics in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication, can i add this reg key? many thanks.

[Dima P.]

Hello Joe,

Yes you can add the mentioned registry key to enable the alphanumeric sorting. In v11a tapes are selected based on the life span by default to make sure that tapes are aging simultaneously during read/write operations. Thanks!

[j2wong]

thanks Dima, customer mentioned is working after add this regedit to Veeam backup server in 11A.

[Dima P.]

Great, thank you for the update Joe!

[Vodochnik]

Hello Joe,

Yes you can add the mentioned registry key to enable the alphanumeric sorting. In v11a tapes are selected based on the life span by default to make sure that tapes are aging simultaneously during read/write operations. Thanks!

Does not work since upgrade to 12.1 Logs in another topic

[Dima P.]

Hi John,

Asked QA team to check, thank you for your post!