Use different number of tape devices at GFS job

[Georg999]

Hello,

I have the following problem:
2 tape drives LTO8 and library are available
the Backup to Tape Job GFS is configured as follows:
Option: Drive usage - 2 tape drives
Daily backup: Every Day (incremental ~ 1TB)
Weekly backup: Saturday (full >40TB)
Monthly backup: First Saturday of the month (full >40TB)
Quarterly backup: disabled
Yearly backup: First Saturday of the year (full >40TB)

Of course, the job now also uses 2 tapes in parallel for the daily backup <1TB. With the other (W/M/Y) backups he should do this to increase performance.
Is there a way to configure the job to use only one drive (tape) for either daily backup or when the job stays under a tape capacity.

Another possibility occurred to me with job scripts before and after the job to change the job on Friday and Saturday so that the drive usage is then adjusted.
But here I lack the knowledge of configuring a job via Powershell.
I would be grateful for any hint to solve my problem.

[HannesK]

Hello,
and welcome to the forums.

As you already found out, there is no GUI setting. PowerShell, as suggested by you, should do the job. Something like this:

Code: Select all

$mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -EnableMultiStreaming:$true 

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... apool.html
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... apool.html

Best regards,
Hannes
PS: just curious... what's the problem with parallel streaming for incremental backups?

[Georg999]

Thanks for your help. I thought to myself that there is no other way, I'll try it out.

PS: just curious... what's the problem with parallel streaming for incremental backups?

the problem with parallel streaming for incremental backups is the need for twice the tapes, since the incremental backup easily fits on one tape (< 1TB)

[Georg999]

Maybe someone needs it
I try this after the Tape Backup:

Code: Select all

$date = Get-Date
if ($date.DayOfWeek -eq "Friday") {
    $mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
    Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -EnableMultiStreaming:$true -NumberOfStreams:2 -SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives:$true
    }
        else{
        $mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
        Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -EnableMultiStreaming:$false 
        }

[HannesK]

thanks for sharing with the community and happy that it worked

[xzvf]

Hello Georg,

Did it work?
I am in exactly the same situation, but also have lack of powershell skills.
Will try to rewrite this one though.
Nevertheless this is a lifesaver, thanks for sharing!

Maybe someone needs it
I try this after the Tape Backup:

Code: Select all

$date = Get-Date
if ($date.DayOfWeek -eq "Friday") {
    $mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
    Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -EnableMultiStreaming:$true -NumberOfStreams:2 -SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives:$true
    }
        else{
        $mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
        Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -EnableMultiStreaming:$false 
        }

[Georg999]

Update V13

Something has changed in version 13.

The "-EnableMultiStreaming" parameter no longer appears to exist for the "Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool" command. The corresponding menu option is also missing from the GUI.
The choice of whether or not to use multistreaming is determined by the "-NumberOfStreams" parameter; a value of 2 or higher enables multistreaming. In this case, you should also set the "-SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives" parameter to "$false" or "$true" as desired.

Note: The documentation for V13 (at https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/p ... tml?ver=13) still erroneously lists the "-EnableMultiStreaming" parameter, but it no longer works.

Here my new script

Code: Select all

$date = Get-Date
if ($date.DayOfWeek -eq "Saturday") {
        $mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
        Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -NumberOfStreams:2 -SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives:$true
} else {
        $mediapool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name GFS
        Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool -MediaPool $mediapool -NumberOfStreams:1 -SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives:$false
}

[Georg999]

Here the clear version (get help from ChatGPT)

Code: Select all

#requires -Version 7.0
<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Adjusts the stream and drive-splitting settings of a Veeam Tape GFS Media Pool.

.DESCRIPTION
    This script is intended to run before a Veeam tape job.

    On Saturdays:
    - Number of streams is set to 2
    - Job files are split between tape drives

    On all other days:
    - Number of streams is set to 1
    - Job files are not split between tape drives

.NOTES
    Example execution with PowerShell 7:

    pwsh.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -File "C:\VeeamScript\before_Tape_Daily_GFS.ps1"
#>

# Stop the script on errors so that Veeam or Task Scheduler can detect failures
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

# Name of the Veeam Tape GFS Media Pool
$MediaPoolName = 'GFS'

try {
    # Get the current local date and time
    $CurrentDate = Get-Date

    # Retrieve the Veeam Tape Media Pool by name
    $MediaPool = Get-VBRTapeMediaPool -Name $MediaPoolName

    # Validate that the media pool was found
    if (-not $MediaPool) {
        throw "The tape media pool '$MediaPoolName' was not found."
    }

    # Default configuration for normal weekdays
    $NumberOfStreams = 1
    $SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives = $false

    # Special configuration for Saturday
    if ($CurrentDate.DayOfWeek -eq [System.DayOfWeek]::Saturday) {
        $NumberOfStreams = 2
        $SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives = $true
    }

    # Apply the calculated settings to the GFS media pool
    Set-VBRTapeGFSMediaPool `
        -MediaPool $MediaPool `
        -NumberOfStreams $NumberOfStreams `
        -SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives:$SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives

    # Write status information for logs, Veeam history, or Task Scheduler output
    Write-Host "Tape GFS Media Pool '$MediaPoolName' was configured successfully."
    Write-Host "Date/Day of week: $($CurrentDate.ToString('yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss')) / $($CurrentDate.DayOfWeek)"
    Write-Host "NumberOfStreams: $NumberOfStreams"
    Write-Host "SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives: $SplitJobFilesBetweenDrives"

    exit 0
}
catch {
    # Write the error message and exit with a non-zero return code
    Write-Error "Failed to configure tape GFS media pool '$MediaPoolName': $($_.Exception.Message)"
    exit 1
}