Feature request: Remove from catalog even if tape still in device

[mkretzer]

Hello,

today we had a tape drive fault in a way that a tape got stuck in the drive (and is most likely defective as well).

Since the data on that tape needs to be re-written we want to remove it from catalog and re-start the job with the remaining working drives. Problem is that for this to work we have to make the tape library unavailable as only then we can remove a tape from the catalog as online tapes cannot be removed from catalog.

It would be good if a "remove from catalog" would be possible via the hidden Ctrl menu even for still visible tapes!

Markus

[david.domask]

Hi Markus,

Noted on the request, situation makes sense. Cannot comment on if / when will be implemented, but will discuss it internally.

Question though: Is not mark as free a suitable option? It removes the tape catalog information and doesn't require any library activity, and tape data will be over-written when it's next available for a job.

[mkretzer]

Hello,

it might help as a quick fix so data is re-written to other tapes but it also has the risk that the tape is taken by another job.

Markus

[david.domask]

Understood, but I guess still a "now" solution would be to move it to a temporary media pool that's clearly marked as "not for use"

Overall I do get the thrust of your request and it's noted, but I think there are options to accommodate for that.

[mkretzer]

Indeed, but i still do not understand why the button is hidden when tapes are visible.

There is another scenario: We validate our monthly tapes at a remote site and this site has a standalone Veeam installation. If we re-write old monthly tapes with quick formatting them beforehand on the primary side the standalone site is not able to catalog the tape (its header does not match the information in the database about the barcode). In this situation we also have to remove the tape from the catalog first.