Copy tapes from old to new

[hbilke]

Howdy fellas,

we do have two complete backupunits w/server, tapelib, repo. May I add the tapeserver on the old machine to the new one w/o affecting data and/or running backups? (The tape jobs will be disabled during the copy). Or better move the library hardware to the 2nd port of the new backup unit?

Cheers
hRy

[HannesK]

Hello,
tapeservers cannot be shared between different backup servers.

Does that answer your question? Because I did not fully understand, whether there was also a question around "copy".

Best regards,
Hannes

[hbilke]

Grüezi Hannes,

we have to copy older tape content (LTO6?) to a new LTO8 drive based lib. Tape copy (migration) as such is possible (I asked already). So now the new devices are on site and I wonder how to connect / attach / use the old library.

Step 1:
stop jobs (and stop any other services on the old server?)

Step 2:
export/backup config-db

Step 3:
config the new server and import config-db to it

Step 4:
activate backups on new server w/o tape jobs

Step 5:
start copying tapes
and here the Q. regarding the old library:

a) attach / connect it from the new server? - there is an option to add another tape "target" - as still in production I didn't try it
b) connect the old library to the new server via the bus connector? This would be an option if the customer keeps the lib alive even running out of vendor support / service.

hRy

[HannesK]

Hello,
1-4: yes, looks good.

5) It's possible to add multiple tape libraries to one backup server, yes. But with LTO6, the tapes can also be read with LTO8 drives. So "copy" would also work if you only import all tapes to the new library and then copy everything with the new library.

Best regards,
Hannes

[hbilke]

"As the customer wish is my demand" and I don't see a problem moving the tape-hw to the new backup server will do:
1. Remove the library from the old "backup/tape infrastructre"
2. Attach to the new server
The "old" tapes are already listed as "offline" there. Cataloging won't be necessary, right?

Cheers and thanx
Harald

[RomanK]

Hello Harald,

I've checked the thread with the QA team. The steps are correct. However, there is no chance of copying from the"offline" tape. If all is OK with the hardware, please open a support case and provide the case ID in this thread so we could collect all the additional details and investigate it accordingly.

Possible issues are tapes in fact "offline" or exported. Also, please ensure that the tape library is online, just in case.

Thanks

[hbilke]

Okay - check myself tomorroy (thursday 10.) - maybe cable?

Report back.