Tape Autoloader with barcode reader (backup exec 10.1d)

[armatage]

I am setting up a HP G2 Autoloader tape library that includes a tape barcode reader and have done the following: -

I have partitioned the 8 tape slots as follows (only slots using 6-7 atm)
Slot 1 - cleaning slot
Slot 2 - not used
Slot 3 & 4 - for testing
Slot 5 - Mon & Wed differential backups (Wed appends)
Slot 6 - Tue & Thur differential backups (Thur appends)
Slot 7 & 8 - Friday’s full backup

we are using Symantec Backup Exec 10d SP3 under Windows Server 2003 SP2

Problems: -

1. I have setup the partition for Friday's backup to contain 2 tapes because soon the backup will require 2 tapes. I need a way of setting the order in which the tapes are used because atm the autoloader will pick the 2nd tape if it's scratch media but I need it to always pick slot 7 first and then slot 8 if it needs the 2nd tape. Is this possible?

2. What can be done with the barcode reader? At the moment I'm just using it to scan the tapes after they have been loaded. Is there anything fancy the barcode reader can do?

3. The tape drive contains what’s called a Mail-slot, any idea what this is used for as I can find little information on it.



Cheers

 

[Origin]

I can't answer all of that but does this help?
Q5. What is the purpose of the user-enabled mail slot in the HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader?

A5. The 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader has a single user-enabled mail slot in its left magazine. This mail slot allows users to import or export a single cartridge at a time. Many data protection applications require this feature to perform certain library functions. If the customer does not use an application that requires this function, they can disable the import/export feature.

Taken from here

 

[jonislost]

If you set a job to run on slot 7 it should automatically look for a tape in the next availible slot. As 7 and 8 by default are in the same group this shouldn't be a problem. The barcode reader is only used for reading the barcodes and afaik

 

[m4cc45]

Barcode reader is good for cataloguing. Instead of the device having to read the tape it can read the barcode and check it against it's library and should know exactly what is on the tape. The problem with this is you need a different barcode for every tape.

Not sure why it is picking up the wrong tape I'd probably put your media in slots 1 and 2 have the last slot (8) as your cleaning tape and anything inbetween for testing - that might fix your problems (thats the layout for us anyway)



M.