Advice on LTO tape storage

From: Bill Verzal (BVerzal@KOMATSUNA.COM)
Date: Mon Nov 10 2003 - 14:36:53 EST


Hi *,

Got a question for ya related to LTO tape storage.

Currently, I have an LTO library (100 GB native, 200GB compressed). We do
our own tape management via a small 100 byte header on each tape. This
allows us to control tape retention.

If the tape runs to EOT during a backup, the library will eject the tape
and put the next one in. The backup will then continue and in this case,
will overwrite our header.

Currently, I limit myself to what amounts to about 145GB of data per tape.
I am concerned about how close to the end of the tape I am.

I back up a set amount of filesystems, eject the tape, then process the
remaining filesystems.

At what point should I stop "risking" the EOT condition and re-distribute
my offloads to more tapes, thereby allowing more data per tape and more
growth into the future ? Should I just stop risking it now and just make
the change ?

Thanks, Bill.

--------------------------------------------------------

"If everything is coming your way, then you are in the wrong lane"

Bill Verzal
AIX Administrator, Komatsu America
(847) 970-3726 - direct
(847) 970-4184 - fax



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