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This section discusses preparing tape and DDS devices. Much
of the information can also be applied to storing to StorageTek
devices, although some implementation details may differ. If you
are using disk devices for your backup, refer to the sections "Storing
to Disk Files" for more information on those devices.
You must select the backup media onto which you are going
to store your files. If you have followed the instructions for setting
up a backup library in Chapter 2, "Managing Backups and Backup Media,"
you should have a set of new or scratch backup media or both available
for storing files.
To prepare your backup media, perform the following steps:
Estimate the number of blank media you need, and take them from
your library.
Attach a label to each unit of backup media. (A standard
Hewlett-Packard tape label has several headings for different types
of important information. If your label does not have such headings,
you may want to create your own headings including the information
which is described next.)
Label the first unit of backup media.
- Single or Sequential
Label the first unit Volume 1 of n. Replace
n with the total number of units of backup
media--if you use more or fewer tapes than you planned, you may
have to change this number when you finish storing the files.
Label the second unit of backup media Volume 2 of
n. Label the third unit of backup media Volume 3
of n, and so on.
- Parallel or Parallel Pools
Label each piece of media with both the reel number and
the set number. Label the first media of each parallel device or
device pool as
Volume 1 of "x", Set 1 of "y"
where "x" is the total number of media allocated to the
particular parallel set, and "y" is the total number of parallel
sets. If you use more or fewer units of backup media than you
planned, you may have to change the final number of volumes when
you finish.
For example, if you plan to use four units of backup media with
two parallel devices, label:
First media as Volume 1 of 2, Set 1 of 2.
Second media from the first parallel device as Volume 2 of
2, Set 1 of 2.
First media from the second parallel device as Volume 1 of
2, Set 2 of 2.
Second media from the second parallel set as Volume 2 of
2, Set 2 of 2.
In addition to the media number, write the following information
on each media's label:
The current date which serves as a reminder of when the backup
was created.
The name of your computer system.
A list of the files you intend to store, or if the tape is
from a system backup, write either "FULL BACKUP" or "PARTIAL
BACKUP".
If you plan to use interleave format, write "INTERLEAVE".
(Interleave format is described in Chapter 5, "Storing
Files.")
Any other important information about the backup. Since it is
a STORE backup, write "STORE".
Your name or initials.
The date after which the information on the backup is
obsolete, called the Purge Date. If you keep STORE
backups indefinitely, make a note to that effect.
The number of times the backup media has been used, under the
heading "Cycle".
Figure 3-2 "A Correctly Labeled
Tape" shows an example of a correctly labeled backup:
Figure 3-2 A Correctly Labeled Tape
Stack all your media (tapes or DDSs).
- Single
If you plan to use a single device, stack all of your backups,
label side up, in order, with the lowest number on top, near the
device, as shown in Figure 3-3
"Preparing Tapes for a Single Device".
Figure 3-3 Preparing Tapes for a Single Device
- Parallel
If you are using parallel devices, stack all of your backups,
label side up, in order with the lowest number on top, near the
corresponding device. For example, place all the backups with
numbers ending with Set1 near your first parallel device. Put
media Reel1 Set1 on top of the stack.
Figure 3-4 "Preparing Tapes for
Parallel Devices" shows how to prepare backup medias for
parallel devices.
Figure 3-4 Preparing Tapes for Parallel Devices
Divide your media among the devices.
- Sequential
If you plan to use sequential devices, divide your media among
the devices in order. For example, if you have two sequential
devices and six media, stack media 1, 3 and 5 near device 1, and
stack media 2, 4 and 6 near device 2. Stack all media label side
up and make sure that the lowest-numbered backup is on the top of
each stack. Figure 3-5 "Preparing
Tapes for Sequential Devices" shows an example.
Figure 3-5 Preparing Tapes for Sequential Devices
- Parallel Pool
If you are using parallel device pools, divide your media
among the devices in each device pool, placing them in order with
the label side up. For example, if the first device pool has two
sequential devices and four media, stack media Reel1 Set1 and
Reel3 Set1 near device A1, and place media Reel2 Set1 and Reel4
Set1 near device A2. Figure 3-6
"Preparing Tapes for Parallel Device Pools" shows media
prepared for storing files to parallel device pools.
Figure 3-6 Preparing Tapes for Parallel Device Pools
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