This chapter explains how to manage tapes and tape devices with Oracle Secure Backup. This chapter contains the following topics:
This section explains how to mount and unmount volumes in a tape drive. This section contains the following topics:
A volume is a single unit of media, such as 8mm tape. The mount mode indicates the way in which Oracle Secure Backup can use a volume physically loaded into a tape drive. Valid mount mode values are as follows:
Read-Only
Write/Append
Overwrite
Not mounted
In the Manage page, click Drives to display the page shown in Figure 9-1. This page lists all dataset files and directories. You can use this page to mount and unmount volumes.
See Also:
Oracle Secure Backup Reference to learn about themountdev
and unmountdev
commands in obtool
To mount a volume in a tape drive:
In the Drives page, select a drive from the main box.
The Web tool displays the names all drives that are attached to one or more media servers. A drive can have one of the following status values:
in service
This value indicates that the drive is logically available to Oracle Secure Backup.
not in service
This value indicates that the drive is not logically available to Oracle Secure Backup.
unmounted
mounted
This value indicates that the drive is mounted.
Choose a mount option from the Mount options provided.
These options let you logically mount a volume. When a volume is mounted, the obscheduled
daemon is notified that a given volume is available for use. You can then set the mode of use for the volume.
The following mount options are available:
Read
Specify this option to tells the scheduler to use this volume for reading only.
Write
Specify this option to tell the scheduler that it can append any new backups to the end of the volume.
Overwrite
Specify this option to automatically mount a volume on the drive and position it at the beginning of the tape so that the existing contents of the volume are overwritten. If you use this option, you are granting permission to overwrite an unexpired volume. An unexpired volume is not eligible to be overwritten according to its expiration policy (see "Volume Expiration Policies").
Caution:
Use this mode only in situations that warrant or require overwriting unexpired volumes.From the Mount and Unmount options group, optionally choose one of the following options:
Unmount
Select this option to performs an unmount operation on the selected drive before it attempts a requested mount operation.
No rewind
Select this option to specify that the tape is not rewound when Oracle Secure Backup finishes writing to it. Oracle Secure Backup remains in position to write the next backup image.
Click Mount to mount the volume.
The Web tool displays the drive name and volume ID in the status area.
See Also:
"Backup Image and Volume Labels" for details about volumes and volume IDsTo unmount a volume in a tape drive:
In the Drives page, select a drive from the main box.
The Web tool displays the names all drives that are attached to one or more media servers. A drive can have one of the following status values:
in service
This value indicates that the drive is logically available to Oracle Secure Backup.
not in service
This value indicates that the drive is not logically available to Oracle Secure Backup.
unmounted
mounted
This value indicates that the drive is mounted.
From the Mount and Unmount options group, optionally choose one of the following options:
Unmount
Select this option to performs an unmount operation on the selected drive before it attempts a requested mount operation.
No rewind
Select this option to specify that the tape is not rewound when Oracle Secure Backup finishes writing to it. Oracle Secure Backup remains in position to write the next backup image.
Click Unmount to unmount the volume.
When a volume is unmounted, the obscheduled
daemon is notified that a given volume is no longer available for use.
This section explains how to view and control tape libraries. This section contains the following topics:
In the Manage page, click Libraries to display the page shown in Figure 9-2. This page lists the tape libraries in the administrative domain. You can perform all tape library configuration tasks in this page or in pages to which it provides links.
To manage a library or tape drive:
In the main text box, select a library or tape drive.
From the Library commands pull-down menu, choose one of the following commands shown in Table 9-1. The last column of the table indicates the corresponding command in the obtool
command-line interface.
Note:
Depending on the command, you must specify either a library or a drive. For those commands that apply to libraries, however, you can optionally specify a drive, because specification of a drive always implies the library in which it resides.Menu Command | Applies to | Description | Section | obtool Command |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inventory |
Library or Drive |
Updates the current library inventory display and lets you force a physical inventory of the selected library. |
||
Import volume |
Library or Drive |
Moves one or more volumes from the import/export mechanism of a library to storage elements. |
||
Export volume |
Library or Drive |
Moves one or more volumes to the import/export mechanism for removal from the library. |
||
Insert Volume |
Library or Drive |
Notifies Oracle Secure Backup that you have manually inserted a volume in the library. You can specify the destination and the type of volume that you have inserted. |
||
Extract Volume |
Library or Drive |
Notifies Oracle Secure Backup that you have manually removed a volume from the library. You can specify the source of volume you are extracting. |
||
Move Volume |
Library or Drive |
Moves a tape from an occupied storage element to a vacant storage element or import/export element. You can the location from which you are moving a tape and the location to which you are moving it. |
||
Open Door |
Library |
Opens the import/export door of a tape library. This command only works for libraries that support it. |
||
Close Door |
Library |
Closes the import/export door if the library. This command only works for libraries that support it. |
||
Identify Volume |
Drive |
Loads selected volumes, reads their volume labels and returns the volumes to their original storage elements. |
||
Load Volume |
Drive |
Moves a volume from the indicated storage element to the selected drive. |
||
Unload Volume |
Drive |
Moves a tape from the selected drive to the storage element you specify. |
||
Label Volume |
Drive |
Loads selected volumes and physically labels them. Oracle Secure Backup updates its catalog and the inventory display |
||
Unlabel Volume |
Drive |
Loads selected volumes and physically removes their Oracle Secure Backup volume labels and backup data. |
||
Clean |
Drive |
Requests that a cleaning be performed on the selected tape drive. |
||
Borrow |
Drive |
Borrows the selected drive. |
||
Return |
Drive |
Returns a currently borrowed drive. |
||
Reuse Volume |
Drive |
Loads selected volumes and relabels them so as to be reusable. |
Click Apply to accept your selections.
The Web tool displays a new page with options specific to the command just specified. Refer to the relevant section for more information.
This command updates the current library inventory and enables you to force a physical inventory of the selected library.
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Inventory (Library | Drive).
Optionally, check the Force box to force an inventory. Instead of reading from its cache, the library updates the inventory by physically scanning all library elements.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command moves one or more volumes from the import/export mechanism of a library to storage elements.
To import a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Import Volume (Library | Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Options group, select one of the following options:
Identify
Select this option to read the first volume label on each volume. This option is equivalent to the operation described in "Identifying a Volume". This option requires specification of a tape drive.
Import
Select this option to read all backup image labels on each volume. You can use this option if you are importing volumes from another administrative domain or if you want information about what backup section is associated with each file number on the tape. This option requires specification of a tape drive.
Note that Import does not catalog the files stored on the volume.
Unlabeled
Select this option to make each imported volume unlabeled.
In the IEE Range box, enter a range of import/export elements containing the volumes to be imported.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command moves one or more volumes to the import/export mechanism for removal from the library.
To export a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Export Volume (Library | Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
Specify the volumes to be exported in either of the following ways:
In the Volume specification box, enter the volume IDs or barcodes of the volumes you want to export.
In the Storage element range box, enter a storage element number or storage element range. For example, enter 1-20.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command notifies Oracle Secure Backup that you have manually inserted volumes into the specified destinations in the library and specifies the properties of the inserted volumes.
To insert a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Insert Volume (Library | Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
If you have inserted a volume with a known volume ID or barcode, then select one of the following from the Volume specification group:
Volume ID
Select this option and enter the volume ID of the tape.
Barcode
Select this option and enter the barcode value of the tape.
Note:
If you do not know the volume ID or the barcode of the volume, then leave this field blank and select Unlabeled, Unknown, or Clean in Step 6.In the Storage element box, enter the storage element number for the inserted volume.
Select one of the following options from the Insert volume options group:
(vol-spec)
Select this option if you specified a Volume ID or Barcode in the Volume specification (vol-spec) group.
Unlabeled
Select this option if the tape is unlabeled or a new volume.
Unknown
Select this option if the tape is of unknown format.
Clean
Select this option if the tape is a cleaning tape. Ensure that you inserted the cleaning tape into the destination storage element that you specified. Enter values for the following options:
Uses
Enter the number of times the cleaning tape has been used.
Max uses
Enter the maximum number of times the cleaning tape can be used.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command notifies Oracle Secure Backup that you have manually removed a volume from the library. You specify the source of volumes you are extracting.
To extract a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Extract Volume (Library | Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
Specify the volumes to be extracted in either of the following ways:
Volume specification
Select this option to specify the extracted volume by volume ID or barcode. Select one of the following options:
Volume ID
Select this option and enter the volume ID of the tape you extracted.
Barcode
Select this option and enter the barcode value of the tape you extracted.
Storage element range
Select this option to specify a range of storage elements containing the extracted volumes. In the text box, enter a range of elements. For example, enter 1-20.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command moves a tape from an occupied storage element to a vacant one. For example, you could move a tape from storage element 1 to import/export element 2.
To move a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Move Volume (Library | Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
Specify the volume to be moved in either of the following ways:
Volume specification
Select this option to specify the volume by volume ID or barcode. Select one of the following options:
Volume ID
Select this option and enter the volume ID of the tape to be moved.
Barcode
Select this option and enter the barcode value of the tape to be moved.
Element spec
Select this option to specify the slot containing the volume to be moved. In the text box, enter a storage element number. For example, enter 1.
In the Element spec box, enter the slot to which the volume should be moved. For example, enter iee2.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command opens the import/export door of library.
To open the import/export door:
In the Libraries page, select a library in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Open Door (Library).
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command closes the import/export door of the library.
To close the import/export door:
In the Libraries page, select a library in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Close Door (Library).
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command loads selected volumes, reads their volume labels, and returns the volumes to their original storage elements. You can use this command to verify the state of occupied library slots and update the library inventory accordingly.
To identify a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select the Identify Volume (Drive) option.
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Drive list, select the drive to be used in the volume identification.
Check the Import box to read all backup image labels on each volume. You can use this option if you are importing volumes from another administrative domain or if you want information about what backup section is associated with each file number on the tape. This option requires specification of a tape drive.
Note that Import does not catalog the files stored on the volume.
In the Storage element range box, enter the range of storage elements for the volumes to be identified. For example, enter 1-20.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command moves a volume from the indicated storage element to the selected tape drive.
To load a volume into a drive:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Load Volume (Drive).
In the Drive list, select the drive to contain the loaded volume.
Click Apply to accept your selection.
Specify the volume to be loaded in either of the following ways:
Volume specification
Select this option to specify the volume by volume ID or barcode. Select one of the following options:
Volume ID
Select this option and enter the volume ID of the tape to be loaded.
Barcode
Select this option and enter the barcode value of the tape to be loaded.
Element spec
Select this option to specify the slot containing the volume to be loaded. In the text box, enter a storage element number. For example, enter 1.
From the Load volume options groups, optionally check one of the following:
Mount (option)
The mount mode indicates the way in which the scheduling system can use a volume physically loaded into a tape drive. Valid values are:
Read
Select this option to tell the scheduler to use this volume for reading only.
Write
Select this option to tell the scheduler that it can append any new backups to the end of the volume.
Overwrite
Select this option to automatically mount a volume on the device and position it at the beginning of the tape so that the existing contents of the volume are overwritten. If you use this option, then you are granting permission to overwrite an unexpired volume.
Load if Required
Select this option to load the volume only if it is not already loaded in the drive.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command moves a tape from the selected drive to the element you specify.
To unload a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Unload Volume (Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Drive list, select the drive that contains the loaded volume.
In the Source element address box, enter the element to which the volume should be moved. For example, enter 1.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command loads selected volumes and writes new volume labels to these volumes. This command erases all existing data on the selected volumes.
To label a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Label Volume (Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Drive list, select the drive into which the volume should be loaded.
Optionally, check the Force box to force the labeling of a volume. Checking this option overrides any conditions that would otherwise prevent the labeling operation to complete. This option enables you to overwrite unexpired volumes or to overwrite an incorrect manual entry for a barcode without the currently required prior step of unlabeling a volume.
Check the Barcode box and enter the barcode for the volume.
Enter an element range in the Storage element range box. For example, enter 1-3.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command loads selected volumes and physically unlabels them.
To unlabel a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Unlabel Volume (Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Drive list, select the drive into which the volume should be loaded.
Click Force to ignore the expiration time on a time-managed volume and the deletion status of each contained backup piece on a content-managed volume. If you do not select Force and the volume is not expired, then the unlabeling operation fails.
In the Storage element range box, enter an element range. For example, enter 1-3.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command lets you request that a manual cleaning be performed on a tape drive.
To clean a drive:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Clean (Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Drive list, select the drive into which the cleaning tape should be loaded.
Click Force to force the drive to be cleaned. If there is a tape loaded in the drive, then selecting this option unloads the tape, loads the cleaning tape, cleans the drive, and then reloads the tape that was originally in the drive.
In the Source element address box, enter an element address of a storage element containing a cleaning tape.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command enables you to borrow a drive. You need to belong to a user class having the manage devices and change device state
right.
You can borrow a drive if a backup or restore is requesting assistance. Borrowing the drive temporarily overrides the device reservation made by the requesting job and enables you to execute arbitrary library or drive commands. Afterwards, you can return the drive and resume the job.
To borrow a drive:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Borrow (Drive).
In the Drive list, select the drive to be borrowed.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
After a drive has been borrowed, you can return the drive.
To return a borrow drive:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Return Device (Drive).
In the Drive list, select the drive to be returned.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This command loads selected volumes and deletes their backup images. The volume attributes (volume ID, media family, and so on) are retained, but the contents of the volume are erased. Reusing a volume is similar to the unlabeling it, but reusing directs Oracle Secure Backup to preserve the existing volume label.
To reuse a volume:
In the Libraries page, select a drive in the main text box.
From the Library commands list, select Reuse (Drive).
Click Apply to accept your selection.
In the Drive list, select the drive to be returned.
In the Storage element range box, enter a range of elements containing the volumes to be reused.
Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.
This section explains how to display properties for a library.
To view library properties:
In the Libraries page, select a library in the main text box.
Click Show Properties.
The Web tool displays a page with the properties for the library you selected.
Click Close to return to the Libraries page.
This section explains how to display properties for a tape drive.
To view tape drive properties:
In the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the main text box.
Click Show Properties.
The Web tool displays a page with the properties for the drive you selected.
Click Close to return to the Libraries page.
This section explains how to display the volumes currently contained in a library.
To display library volumes:
In the Libraries page, select a library in the main text box.
Click List Volumes.
The Web tool displays a page with the volumes for the library you selected.
Click Close to return to the Libraries page.
This section explains how to display error messages associated with libraries and tape drives.
To display error messages:
In the Libraries page, select a library or drive in the main text box.
Select a library or drive from the Library Management box.
Click Error Log.
The Web tool displays a page with error messages displays for the library or drive you selected.
Optionally, check Since (date) and specify a date range for specific error messages.
Optionally, check Read device dump file and enter the filename and path of the file that you want to read.
Choose one of the following:
Click Apply if you have either specified a date range or entered a filename.
Click Clear to eliminate error history. New error messages will display from the time of the clear.
Click Close to return to the Libraries page.
This section explains how to manage device reservations. This section contains the following topics:
In the normal course of operations, Oracle Secure Backup temporarily assigns exclusive use of shared resources to its processes and jobs. It does so using a built-in resource reservation system managed by the administrative server's service daemon.
You may encounter certain situations in which you desire exclusive and explicit use of a device. When such cases arise, you may direct Oracle Secure Backup to reserve a device for your use and, when you are finished, to release that reservation (unreserve it). While you hold the reservation, no Oracle Secure Backup component accesses the device.
In the Manage page, click Device Reservations to display the page shown in Figure 9-3. This page lists devices that you can reserve. You can perform all device reservation tasks in this page or in pages to which it provides links.
This section explains how to reserve a device for your exclusive use. You can also unreserve a specific device or unreserve all of your devices at once.
To reserve a device:
In the Device Reservations page, select a library or tape drive in the main text box.
Click Reserve.
The device is now reserved solely for your use. The reservation persists until you end your Web tool session or unreserve the device.
This section explains how to unreserve a device that has been previously reserved. You can unreserve a specific device or unreserve all of your devices at once.
To reserve a device:
In the Device Reservations page, select a library or tape drive in the main text box.
Click Unreserve to reserve only the specified device or Unreserve all to unreserve all reserved devices.
The devices reserved in this instance of the Web tool are now available for other activities.
This section explains how you can display errors for a library or drive.
To display the error log for a device:
In the Device Reservations page, select a library or tape drive in the main text box.
Click Error Log.
The Web tool displays a page with error messages for the device that you selected.
Optionally, click Since (date) and specify a date range for specific error messages.
Optionally, click Read device dump file and enter the filename and path of the file you want to read.
Choose one of the following:
Click Apply if you have either specified a date range or entered a filename.
Click Clear to eliminate error history. New error messages will display from the time of the clear.
Click Close to return to the Devices page.