How often do you replace backup tapes?

Mikoyan · 23 Nov 2009 at 09:15

Hey people simple one really,

What is the average time you change backup tapes? we have some customers still using backup tapes from 2005 and the backups are getting erratic..how often do they need to be replaced? (best practices)

Cheers

malman · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:16

follow the manufacturers recommendations for that type of tape be it can usually be found somewhere on their website. I know some cutomers use "when it snaps" as an indicator that it may be worn out.

Saundie · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:56

It's not best practice, but I used to keep using the same tapes until I encountered an error on them. As soon as I got a message from Backup Exec complaining about the tape, it'd be replaced. I didn't have the budget to replace 70 tapes every 6 months.

Venares · 23 Nov 2009 at 12:12

Idealy every 12 months, but in the real world that is never going to happen :rolleyes:

LizardKing · 23 Nov 2009 at 12:50

Saundie said:
It's not best practice, but I used to keep using the same tapes until I encountered an error on them. As soon as I got a message from Backup Exec complaining about the tape, it'd be replaced. I didn't have the budget to replace 70 tapes every 6 months.

This!
It only tends to be the daily differential backup tapes that die though, even then its quite a rare occurrence.
No point changing a tape that gets used once a month every 6 months!

Yamahahahahaha · 23 Nov 2009 at 14:35

+1 for replacing it when it errors. Providing you have verify on, should all be dandy

Sin_Chase · 23 Nov 2009 at 15:13

Replaced when they start generating errors also.

ethos · 23 Nov 2009 at 15:18

Yamahahahahaha said:
+1 for replacing it when it errors. Providing you have verify on, should all be dandy

This plus I test our backup tapes once every couple of weeks to make sure everything is working as it should be.

Mikoyan · 26 Nov 2009 at 09:18

When you guys mean errors do you mean hardware read/write errors or even software?

Thanks

Spooter · 26 Nov 2009 at 12:48

When the tapes start freezing.

Euphoria · 26 Nov 2009 at 19:55

I am not sure about tape replacement as disk space is so cheap now, i basically write to tape once and read many.. NEver use the same tape over and over again as the quality degrades over time

richard smith · 30 Nov 2009 at 12:12

our policy is every 52 full writes (ie backup jobs). so once a year on average.

Netvyper · 1 Dec 2009 at 13:28

another "If it errors, bin it" house here...

That said, we've not had an error in ages, but most of our tapes probably only see a dozen mounts a year due to the rotations.

SiriusB · 1 Dec 2009 at 16:17

We would like our clients to get new tapes at least once a year, especially for the short-rotation ones. It doesn't happen very often, so usually a case of they get replaced after 14 months when we go around with a new set!