As far as having NBU "do the reads, but not the writes", I have heard 
rumors of a file that can be created that will put NBU into a 
"non-writing" mode, i.e. all backups are written to /dev/null instead of 
disk or tape.  But I don't know the details of that. I have done this 
manually by calling bpbkar by hand on the NBU client:

   root # /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/bpbkar -dt 0 -r 888 -nocont /var > 
/dev/null

But you mention seeing the "tapes that would have been used" - I don't 
know of a way to trick NetBackup into selecting a tape without NBU 
attempting to write to that tape.  (you could just write protect the 
tape, but then your simulation backup would fail...)

HTH
rob


Joseph P Frazee wrote:

>Are there any tools available or means to run a backup simulation with
>NetBackup?
>
>I guess what I am in search of is something that would go trough, do the
>reads, not the writes, and keep track of the tapes that would have been
>used along the way.
>
>Does this exist?
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Joseph P Frazee
>frazee.23 AT osu DOT edu
>
>
>
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