1. Administrator's Guide
  2. Managing Operations
  3. Managing Backup Containers

8 Managing Backup Containers

This chapter explains how to manage tapes, tape devices, disk pools, and cloud storage devices with Oracle Secure Backup.

This chapter contains these sections:

Overview of Managing Backup Containers

While configuring your administrative domain, you configure the backup containers that are attached to media servers as devices in the administrative domain. This includes tape devices and disk pools. You can manage these configured backup containers by performing tasks such as mounting volumes in a tape drive, updating the library inventory, importing volumes, monitoring disk pool usage, reserving tape devices, and deleting expired backup image instances on disk pools.

See Also:

Managing Tape Drives

This section describes how to display tape drive properties and mount or unmount a volume in a tape drive.

This section contains the following topics:

Displaying Tape Drive Properties

This section explains how to display properties for a tape drive.

To view tape drive properties:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".

  2. Click Manage.

  3. On the Manage page, under Devices, click Libraries.

  4. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  5. Click Show Properties.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays a page with the properties for the tape drive you selected.

  6. Click Close to return to the Libraries page.

Mounting a Volume in a Tape Drive

This section explains how to mount and unmount volumes in a tape drive. A volume is a unit of media, such as the LTO5 tape drive. The mount mode indicates the way in which Oracle Secure Backup can use a volume physically loaded into a tape drive.

To mount or unmount a volume in a tape drive:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".

  2. Click Manage.

  3. On the Manage page, click Drives.

    The Tape Drives page appears. This page lists every dataset file and dataset directory. You can use this page to mount and unmount volumes.

  4. Select a tape drive from the drives list.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays the names of all tape drives that are attached to a media server. A tape drive can have one of these status values:

    • In Service

      The tape drive is logically available to Oracle Secure Backup.

    • Not in Service

      The tape drive is not logically available to Oracle Secure Backup.

    • Unmounted

      The tape drive is unmounted.

    • Mounted

      The tape drive is mounted.

  5. 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 tell the scheduler to use this volume for reading only.

    • Write

      Specify this option to tell the scheduler that it can append any additional backups to the end of this volume.

    • Overwrite

      Specify this option to automatically mount a volume on the tape 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, then you are granting permission to overwrite an unexpired volume. An unexpired volume is not eligible to be overwritten according to its expiration policy.

      Caution:

      Use this mode only in situations that warrant or require overwriting unexpired volumes.

  6. From the Mount and Unmount options group, optionally choose one of these options:

    • Unmount

      Select this option to perform an unmount operation on the selected tape 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.

  7. Click Mount to mount the volume.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays the tape drive name and volume ID in the status area.

  8. 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.

See Also:

Automatically Unloading Volumes

Oracle Secure Backup can automatically unload a volume from a tape drive when it has been idle for a set amount of time after a backup or restore operation. Automatic volume unloading has two main advantages:

  • Continuous loading on a powered tape drive affects volume reliability.

  • Because the exportvol command does not query loaded tape drives, idle volumes are never exported.

The amount of time the volume can be idle before being unloaded is controlled by the global policy maxdriveidletime. The default value is five minutes, but you can modify this to as little as zero seconds or as much as 24 hours. You can also set maxdriveidletime to forever, in which case the idle volume is never automatically unloaded.

See Also:

Oracle Secure Backup Reference for more information about the maxdriveidletime policy

A volume is automatically unloaded only after a backup or restore operation. If you manually load a volume into a tape drive, then it is not unloaded automatically.

When an unload operation completes successfully, Oracle Secure Backup writes a success message to the observiced log. The success message includes the name of the tape drive from which the volume was unloaded. If a volume cannot be unloaded for some reason, then Oracle Secure Backup writes an error message to the observiced log.

Managing Tape Libraries

This section explains how to view tape library properties and control tape library operations such as importing volumes into the library, labeling volumes, load volumes, and other such operations as described in Table 8-1.

This section contains these topics:

Displaying the Libraries Page

To display the Libraries page:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. Click Manage.
  3. On the Manage page, under Devices, click Libraries.

    The Libraries page appears as shown in Figure 8-1. This page lists the tape libraries in your administrative domain. You can perform all tape library configuration tasks in this page or in pages to which it provides links.

    Figure 8-1 Libraries Page

    Description of Figure 8-1 follows
    Description of "Figure 8-1 Libraries Page"

Displaying Library Properties

This section explains how to display properties for a tape library.

To view tape library properties:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library in the Devices list.

  3. Click Show Properties.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays a page with the properties for the tape library you selected.

  4. Click Close to return to the Libraries page.

Displaying Library Volumes

This section explains how to display a volume list for a tape library.

To display tape library volumes:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library in the Devices list.

  3. Click List Volumes.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays a page with the volumes for the tape library you selected.

  4. Click Close to return to the Libraries page.

Running Library Commands

You can use the Manage > Libraries page to list the tape libraries in your administrative domain. You can perform all tape library configuration tasks in this page or in pages to which it provides links.

To manage a tape drive or tape library:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. In the Devices list, select a tape library or drive.

  3. Choose one of the commands from the Library commands menu shown in Table 8-1. 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 tape library or drive. For those commands that apply to libraries, however, you can optionally specify a tape drive, because specification of a tape drive always implies the tape library in which it resides.

    Table 8-1 Library Commands

    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.

    "Updating an Inventory"

    inventory

    Import volume

    Library or Drive

    Moves one or more volumes from the import/export mechanism of a library to storage elements.

    "Importing a Volume"

    importvol

    Export volume

    Library or Drive

    Moves one or more volumes to the import/export mechanism for removal from the library.

    "Exporting a Volume"

    exportvol

    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.

    "Inserting a Volume"

    insertvol

    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 the volume you are extracting.

    "Extracting a Volume"

    extractvol

    Move Volume

    Library or Drive

    Moves a tape from an occupied storage element to a vacant storage element or import/export element. You can specify the location from which you are moving a tape and the location to which you are moving it.

    "Moving a Volume"

    movevol

    Open Door

    Library

    Opens the import/export door of a tape library. This command only works for libraries that support it.

    "Opening a Door"

    opendoor

    Close Door

    Library

    Closes the import/export door if the library. This command only works for libraries that support it.

    "Closing a Door"

    closedoor

    Identify Volume

    Drive

    Loads selected volumes, reads their volume labels and returns the volumes to their original storage elements.

    "Identifying a Volume"

    identifyvol

    Load Volume

    Drive

    Moves a volume from the indicated storage element to the selected drive.

    "Loading a Volume"

    loadvol

    Unload Volume

    Drive

    Moves a tape from the selected drive to the storage element you specify.

    "Unloading a Volume"

    unloadvol

    Label Volume

    Drive

    Loads selected volumes and physically labels them. Oracle Secure Backup updates its catalog and the inventory display

    "Labeling a Volume"

    labelvol

    Unlabel Volume

    Drive

    Loads selected volumes and physically removes their Oracle Secure Backup volume labels and backup data.

    "Unlabeling a Volume"

    unlabelvol

    Clean

    Drive

    Requests that a cleaning be performed on the selected tape drive.

    "Cleaning a Tape Drive"

    clean

    Borrow

    Drive

    Borrows the selected drive.

    "Borrowing a Tape Drive"

    borrowdev

    Return

    Drive

    Returns a currently borrowed drive.

    "Returning a Tape Drive"

    returndev

    Reuse Volume

    Drive

    Loads selected volumes and relabels them to be reusable.

    "Reusing a Volume"

    reusevol

  4. Click Apply to accept your selections.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays a page with options specific to the command just specified. Refer to the relevant section for more information.

Updating an Inventory

This command updates the current tape library inventory and enables you to force a physical inventory of the selected tape library.

To update the inventory:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Inventory (Library | Drive) and click Apply.

    A different page appears.

  4. Optionally, select the Force option to force an inventory. Instead of reading from its cache, the tape library updates the inventory by physically scanning all tape library elements.

  5. Optionally, enter a range of storage elements to inventory in the Storage element range field. If no storage element range is specified, then all storage elements are included in the inventory update.

    Every data-transfer element (DTE) and import-export element (IEE) is included in the inventory update, no matter whether a storage-element range is specified or not.

  6. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Importing a Volume

This command moves a volume from the import/export mechanism of a tape library to a storage element.

To import a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Import Volume (Library | Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Options group, select one of these 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.

      Note:

      You cannot specify the Unlabeled option if the selected tape library has an enabled and functioning barcode reader. See Oracle Secure Backup Reference for more information.

  6. In the IEE Range field, enter a range of import/export elements containing the volumes to be imported.

  7. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Exporting a Volume

This command moves one or more volumes to the import/export mechanism for removal from the tape library.

To export a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Export Volume (Library | Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. Specify the volumes to be exported in either of the following ways:

    • In the Volume specification field, enter the volume ID or barcode of each volumes you want to export.

    • In the Storage element range field, enter a storage element number or storage element range. For example, enter 1-20.

  6. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Inserting a Volume

This command notifies Oracle Secure Backup that you have manually inserted volumes into the specified destinations in the tape library and specifies the properties of the inserted volumes.

To insert a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Insert Volume (Library | Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. If you have inserted a volume with a known volume ID or barcode, then select one of these from the Volume specification group:

    • Volume ID

      Enter the volume ID of the tape.

    • Barcode

      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.

  6. In the Storage element field, enter the storage element number for the inserted volume.

  7. Select one of these 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 you have used the cleaning tape.

      • Max uses

        Enter the maximum number of times you can use the cleaning tape.

    Note:

    You cannot select the vol-spec or Unlabeled options if the selected library has an enabled and functioning barcode reader. See Oracle Secure Backup Reference for more information.

  8. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Extracting a Volume

This command notifies Oracle Secure Backup that you have manually removed a volume from the tape library. You specify the source of volumes you are extracting.

To extract a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Extract Volume (Library | Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. 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 these 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 storage element range containing the extracted volumes. In the text field, enter a range of elements. For example, enter 1-20.

  6. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Moving a Volume

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:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Move Volume (Library | Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. 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 these options:

      • Volume ID

        Enter the volume ID of the tape to be moved.

      • Barcode

        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 field, enter a storage element number. For example, enter 1.

  6. In the Element spec field, enter the slot to which the volume should be moved. For example, enter iee2.

  7. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Opening a Door

This command opens the import/export door of a tape library.

To open the import/export door:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Open Door (Library).

  4. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Closing a Door

This command closes the import/export door of a tape library.

To close the import/export door:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Close Door (Library).

  4. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Identifying a Volume

This command loads selected volumes, reads each volume label, and returns the volumes to their original storage elements. You can use this command to verify the state of occupied tape library slots and update the tape library inventory accordingly.

To identify a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select the Identify Volume (Drive) option.

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Drive list, select the tape drive to be used in the volume identification.

  6. Select the Import 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.

  7. In the Storage element range field, enter the storage element range for the volumes to be identified. For example, enter 1-20.

  8. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Loading a Volume

This command moves a volume from the indicated storage element to the selected tape drive.

To load a volume into a tape drive:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Load Volume (Drive).

  4. In the Drive list, select the tape drive to contain the loaded volume.

  5. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  6. 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 these options:

      • Volume ID

        Enter the volume ID of the tape to be loaded.

      • Barcode

        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 field, enter a storage element number. For example, enter 1.

  7. From the Load volume options groups, optionally select one of these:

    • 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 backups to the end of the volume.

      • Overwrite

        Select this option to automatically mount a volume on the tape 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 loaded in the tape drive.

  8. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Unloading a Volume

This command moves a tape from the selected tape drive to the element you specify.

To unload a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Unload Volume (Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Drive list, select the tape drive that contains the loaded volume.

  6. In the Source element address field, enter the element to which the volume should be moved. For example, enter 1.

  7. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Labeling a Volume

This command loads selected volumes and writes a volume label for each volume. This command erases all existing data on the selected volumes.

To label a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Label Volume (Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Drive list, select the tape drive into which the volume should be loaded.

  6. Optionally, select the Force option to force the labeling of a volume. Selecting 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.

  7. Select the Barcode option and enter the barcode for the volume.

  8. Enter a storage element element range in the Storage element range field. For example, enter 1-3.

  9. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Unlabeling a Volume

This command loads selected volumes and physically unlabels them.

To unlabel a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Unlabel Volume (Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Drive list, select the tape drive into which the volume should be loaded.

  6. 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.

  7. In the Storage element range field, enter a storage element range. For example, enter 1-3.

  8. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Cleaning a Tape Drive

This command lets you request that a manual cleaning be performed on a tape drive.

To clean a tape drive:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Clean (Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Drive list, select the tape drive into which the cleaning tape should be loaded.

  6. Click Force to force the tape drive to be cleaned. If there is a tape loaded in the tape drive, then selecting this option unloads the tape, loads the cleaning tape, cleans the tape drive, and then reloads the tape that was originally in the tape drive.

  7. In the Source element address field, enter an element address of a storage element containing a cleaning tape.

  8. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Borrowing a Tape Drive

This command enables you to borrow a tape drive. You must belong to a user class having the manage devices and change device state right.

You can borrow a tape drive if a backup or restore operation is requesting assistance. Borrowing the tape drive temporarily overrides the tape device reservation made by the requesting job and enables you to run arbitrary tape library or tape drive commands. Afterwards, you can return the tape drive and resume the job.

To borrow a tape drive:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Borrow (Drive).

  4. In the Drive list, select the tape drive to be borrowed.

  5. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Returning a Tape Drive

After a tape drive has been borrowed, you can return it.

To return a borrowed tape drive:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Return Device (Drive).

  4. In the Drive list, select the tape drive to be returned.

  5. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Reusing a Volume

This command loads selected volumes and deletes every backup image instance on them. 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 unlabeling it, but reusing directs Oracle Secure Backup to preserve the existing volume label.

To reuse a volume:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. From the Library commands list, select Reuse (Drive).

  4. Click Apply to accept your selection.

  5. In the Drive list, select the tape drive to be returned.

  6. In the Storage element range field, enter a storage element range containing the volumes to be reused.

  7. Click Apply, OK, or Cancel.

Displaying the Error Log

This section explains how to display error messages associated with a tape library or tape drive.

To display error messages:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Libraries Page".

  2. On the Libraries page, select a tape library or tape drive in the Devices list.

  3. Select a tape library or tape drive from the Library Management list.

  4. Click Error Log.

    The Oracle Secure Backup Web tool displays a page with error messages displays for the tape library or tape drive you selected.

  5. Optionally, select Since (date) and specify a date range for specific error messages.

  6. Optionally, select Read device dump file and enter the filename and path of the file to read.

  7. Choose one of these:

    • Click Apply if you have either specified a date range or entered a filename.

    • Click Clear to eliminate error history. New error messages appear from the time of the clear.

    • Click Close to return to the Libraries page.

Managing Disk Pools

Managing disk pools includes performing tasks such as deleting expired backup image instances, moving disk pools across domains, and monitoring space utilization.

This section contains the following topics:

Displaying Disk Pool Properties

You must have the query and display information about devices right to display disk pool properties.

To display the properties of a disk pool:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. In the Web tool, click Configure.

    The Configure page is displayed.

  3. In the Basic section, click Devices.

    The Configure: Devices page is displayed.

  4. Select the disk pool whose properties you want to display and click Show Properties.

    The Device Properties page displays the properties of the selected disk pool.

Monitoring Disk Pool Space Utilization

You can use the Web tool to view information about the space utilization and free space goal threshold of disk pools.

See Also:

"Space Utilization in Disk Pools" for more information about the free space goal threshold of disk pools

To monitor disk pool space usage:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. In the Web tool, click Manage.
  3. In the Devices section, click Disk Pools.

    The Manage: Disk Pools page is displayed. This page displays all the currently configured disk pools.

  4. For each disk pool, the space utilization information is contained in the following fields:

    • Status: Displays the current status of the disk pool. Backup images instances can be written to the disk pool if the status is in service.

    • Capacity: Displays the space allocated to the disk pool.

    • Consumption: Displays the amount of space used by backup image instances.

    • Reclaimable Space: Displays the amount of space that can be freed by deleting expired backup image instances from the disk pool.

    Use this information to manage your disk pool. For example, if the Consumption for a disk pool is nearing its Capacity, you may want to create additional space in the disk pool by increasing its capacity or deleting some backup image instances that are no longer required.

Moving Disk Pools between Domains

Similar to tape, you can use the Web tool to move disk pools between existing domains. You can do this to manage storage space on your administrative domain.

To move a disk pool to a new domain:

  1. From the Oracle Secure Backup Home page, select Configure.

    The Oracle Secure Backup: Configure page appears.

  2. On the Configure page, select Devices.

    The Configure: Devices page appears.

  3. Turn off all services for the concerned disk pool. Ensure that you let all pending jobs complete on this disk pool before performing this step.

    To change the status of the disk pool, complete the following steps:

    1. Select the disk pool that you want to move to a different domain.

    2. Click Edit.

    3. Change the status of the disk pool to not in service.

    4. Click Apply.

  4. Remove this disk pool from its current domain.

    To remove the disk pool from its existing domain, complete the following steps:

    1. Select the disk pool you want to move to a different domain.

    2. Click Remove.

  5. Add the disk pool in the new domain.

    To add the disk pool in the new domain, complete the following steps:

    1. Log on to the Web tool of the new domain.

    2. On the home page, click Configure.

    3. On the Configure page, click Devices.

    4. On the Configure: Devices page, click Add.

    5. Specify the properties of the disk pool. In the Attachments field, enter the path where the disk pool directory is located on this domain.

    6. Click Apply.

  6. Import the disk pool catalog by completing the steps in "Importing and Cataloging Backups".

Moving Disk Pools to a New Hardware Within the Same Domain

You can use the Web tool to move a disk pool to a new hardware within the same administrative domain.

To relocate a disk pool to a new hardware within the same domain:

  1. From the Oracle Secure Backup Home page, select Configure.

    The Oracle Secure Backup: Configure page appears.

  2. On the Configure page, select Devices.

    The Configure: Devices page appears.

  3. Turn off all services for the concerned disk pool. Ensure that you let all pending jobs complete on this disk pool before performing this step.

    To change the status of this disk pool, complete the following steps:

    1. Select the disk pool that you want to move to a different hardware.

    2. Click Edit.

    3. Change the status of the disk pool to not in service.

    4. Click Apply.

  4. Copy the disk pool directory from its existing location, using the operating system copy command, to its new location. Ensure that hidden files and subdirectories are included in the copy.

    For example, on Linux, use the cp -a (archive) command.

  5. Remove this disk pool from its current location.

    To remove the disk pool from its existing location, complete the following steps:

    1. Select the disk pool you want to move to a new location.

    2. Click Remove.

  6. Add the disk pool at the new location.

    To add the disk pool at the new location, complete the following steps:

    1. On the Web tool Home page, click Configure.

    2. On the Configure page, click Devices.

    3. On the Configure: Devices page, click Add.

    4. Specify the properties of the disk pool. In the Attachments field, enter the path of the new location of the disk pool directory.

    5. Click Apply.

  7. Import the disk pool catalog by completing the steps in "Importing and Cataloging Backups".

  8. Optionally, you can remove the disk pool directory from its original hardware.

Moving Disk Pools to a New Hardware in a New Domain

You can use the Web tool to a disk pool to a new hardware in an entirely different administrative domain.

To move a disk pool to a new hardware in a new domain:

  1. From the Oracle Secure Backup Home page, select Configure.

    The Oracle Secure Backup: Configure page appears.

  2. On the Configure page, select Devices.

    The Configure: Devices page appears.

  3. Turn off all services for the concerned disk pool. Ensure that you let all pending jobs complete on this disk pool before performing this step.

    To change the status of this disk pool, complete the following steps:

    1. Select the disk pool that you want to move to a different hardware

    2. Click Edit.

    3. Change the status of the disk pool to not in service.

    4. Click Apply.

  4. Copy the disk pool directory to the new hardware by using the operating system copy command. Ensure that hidden files and subdirectories are included in the copy.

    For example, on Linux, use the cp -a (archive) command.

  5. Remove this disk pool from its current hardware.

    To remove the disk pool from its existing domain, complete the following steps:

    1. Select the disk pool you want to move to a different hardware.

    2. Click Remove.

  6. Add the disk pool in the administrative domain of the new hardware.

    To add the disk pool to the new hardware, complete the following steps:

    1. Log on to the web tool of the domain of the new hardware.

    2. Click Configure.

    3. On the Configure page, click Devices.

    4. On the Configure: Devices page, click Add.

    5. Specify the properties of the disk pool. In the Attachments field, enter the path where the disk pool directory is located on this hardware's administrative domain.

    6. Click Apply.

  7. Import the disk pool catalog by completing the steps in "Importing and Cataloging Backups".

  8. Remove the disk pool directory from the original hardware as the data no longer belongs to that domain.

Deleting Expired Backup Image Instances from Disk Pools

Oracle Secure Backup deletes backup image instances from disk pools through the process of proactive reclamation, which occurs daily at midnight. The disk pool manager attempts to delete expired backup image instances to reach the free space goal of the disk pool device. The expired backups are deleted from oldest to newest. When the space consumed by backup image instances exceeds the storage capacity of the disk pool, no new backups are scheduled to be copied to this disk pool. The administrator must make additional space available on this disk pool by deleting expired jobs or allocating additional space. Similarly, if the disk pool gets filled when a backup job is in progress, reactive reclamation occurs. This implies that if there is no available space on a disk pool during on ongoing backup or copy instance operation, the disk pool manager attempts to create more space in the disk pool. If this fails, then the administrator must allocate additional space to the disk pool, delete existing backup image instances, or abort the ongoing job.

See Also:

"Monitoring Disk Pool Space Utilization"

You must have the manage devices and change device state right to delete expired backup image instances from the disk pool.

To delete expired backup image instances from a disk pool:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. In the Web tool, click Manage.
  3. In the Devices section, click Disk Pools.

    The Manage: Disk Pools page is displayed. This page displays all the configured disk pools and the following properties for each disk pool: Status, Capacity, Consumption, and Reclaimable Space.

  4. Select the disk pool from which you want to delete expired backup image instances and then click Delete Expired.

    A confirmation is displayed asking if you want to delete expired backups from the selected disk pool.

  5. Click Yes to delete the expired backup image instances from the selected disk pool.

Managing Device Reservations

In normal 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 service daemon of the administrative server.

You might encounter certain situations in which you want exclusive and explicit use of a tape device. When such cases arise, you can direct Oracle Secure Backup to reserve a tape 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 tape device.

To manage tape device reservations:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".

  2. Click Manage.

  3. On the Manage page, click Device Reservations.

    The Device Reservations page appears. This page lists tape devices that you can reserve. You can perform all tape device reservation tasks in this page or in pages to which it provides links.

  4. To reserve a tape library or drive, select it in the Devices list and click Reserve.

    The tape device is now reserved solely for your use. The reservation persists until you end your Oracle Secure Backup Web tool session or unreserve the tape device.

  5. To unreserve a tape library or tape drive, select it in the Devices list and click Unreserve.

    The tape devices reserved in this instance of the Oracle Secure Backup Web tool are now available for other activities.

  6. To unreserve all currently reserved tape libraries and tape drives, click Unreserve all.

    All tape devices reserved in this instance of the Oracle Secure Backup Web tool are now available for other activities.

Managing Cloud Storage Devices

Managing cloud storage devices includes performing tasks such as displaying device properties, monitoring space utilization, and deleting expired backup image instances.

This section contains the following topics:

Displaying Cloud Storage Device Properties

You must have the query and display information about devices right to display the properties of cloud storage devices.

To display the properties of a cloud storage device:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. In the Web tool, click Configure.

    The Configure page is displayed.

  3. In the Basic section, click Devices.

    The Configure: Devices page is displayed.

  4. Select the cloud storage device whose properties you want to display and click Show Properties.

    The Device Properties page displays the properties of the selected cloud storage device.

Monitoring Cloud Storage Device Space Utilization

You can use the Web tool to view information about the space utilization and free space goal threshold of cloud storage devices.

To monitor cloud storage space usage:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. In the Web tool, click Manage.
  3. In the Devices section, click Cloud Storage.

    The Manage: Cloud Storage page is displayed. This page displays all the currently configured cloud storage devices.

  4. For each cloud storage device, the space utilization information is contained in the following fields:

    • Status: Displays the current status of the cloud storage device. Backup images instances can be written to the cloud storage device if the status is in service.

    • Capacity: Displays the space allocated to the cloud storage device.

    • Consumption: Displays the amount of space used by backup image instances.

    • Reclaimable Space: Displays the amount of space that can be freed by deleting expired backup image instances from the cloud storage device.

    • Number of objects: shows the actual number of objects in a cloud container.

    • Bytes used: shows the bytes consumed in a cloud container. This value might differ from the value shown for Consumption because Oracle Secure Backup stores additional metadata that is not considered by all operating systems when reporting a value for Consumption.

    Use this information to manage your cloud storage device. For example, if the Consumption for a cloud storage device is nearing its Capacity, you may want to create additional space by increasing its capacity or deleting some backup image instances that are no longer required.

Deleting Expired Backup Image Instances from Cloud Storage Devices

Oracle Secure Backup deletes backup image instances from cloud storage devices through the process of proactive reclamation, which occurs daily at midnight. The pool manager (obpoolmgr daemon) attempts to delete expired backup image instances to reach the free space goal of the cloud storage device. The expired backups are deleted from oldest to newest. When the space consumed by backup image instances exceeds the storage capacity of the cloud storage device, no new backups are scheduled to be copied to this cloud storage device. The administrator must make additional space available on this cloud storage device by deleting expired jobs or allocating additional space. Similarly, if the cloud storage device gets filled when a backup job is in progress, reactive reclamation occurs. This implies that if there is no available space on a cloud storage device during on ongoing backup or copy instance operation, then the cloud storage device manager attempts to create more space in the cloud storage device. If this fails, then the administrator must allocate additional space to the cloud storage device, or delete existing backup image instances, or abort the ongoing job.

You must have the manage devices and change device state right to delete expired backup image instances from a cloud storage device.

To delete expired backup image instances from a cloud storage device:

  1. Follow the steps in "Displaying the Oracle Secure Backup Web Tool Home Page".
  2. In the Web tool, click Manage.
  3. In the Devices section, click Cloud Storage.

    The Manage: Cloud Storage page is displayed. This page displays all the configured cloud storage devices and the following properties for each one: Status, Capacity, Consumption, and Reclaimable Space, Number of objects, and Bytes used .

  4. Select the cloud storage device from which you want to delete expired backup image instances and then click Delete Expired.

    A confirmation is displayed asking if you want to delete expired backups from the selected cloud storage device.

  5. Click Yes to delete the expired backup image instances from the selected cloud storage device.