How the Inventory Process Works

When Backup labels the contents of an autochanger, it registers the location of the volumes in the autochanger slots when it assigns the volume label. As long as you do not change the volumes in the autochanger after labeling them, Backup can access the volumes because each volume label is assigned to a specific slot.

However, if you change the contents of the autochanger without performing the labeling process, or if you move volumes into new slots, you must inform Backup that the autochanger now holds a different set of labeled volumes or that the volumes are in a different order. This is called taking inventory.

When you inventory the volumes in the autochanger, Backup reads the label of each volume and records its slot number. For example, if you have more than one job pack for an autochanger, you must take inventory each time you remove one job pack and load another one into the autochanger, if you do not label the volumes in the new job pack.

Backup provides the capability of reading barcode labels to speed up the inventory process. We strongly recommend that you use barcode labels if you have a large number of volumes or change your autochanger contents often. See "How Backup Uses Barcode Labels with Autochangers" for more information.