Christopher-

See previous responses - Darren and Kristopher are both right :-)

"bplabel" is necessary to overwrite the special catalog-format header 
that NetBackup originally wrote to this tape.  If a normal backup 
selects an unassigned media but then discovers a catalog header, the 
tape will not be used and it will be frozen to prevent further use.  
("bpmedia -unfreeze" is the command to rectify this situation)

"vmquery -deassignbyid" is ALSO necessary in order to clear the 
appropriate fields of the NetBackup databases, thereby allowing this 
tape to be used for a non-catalog backup.

But the real reason I felt compelled to respond:

***********
PLEASE NOTE that both of these commands are not to be used lightly!
If run accidentally or carelessly on the wrong tape, data loss or 
database corruption is a potential result!
***********

HTH
rob

On Apr 19, 2005, at 3:22 PM, Williams, Kristopher L wrote:

> Have you tried using vmquery -deassignbyid   ?
>
> Check the help section to get the full syntax
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> [mailto:veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu] On Behalf Of
> Christopher White
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 3:26 PM
> To: veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> Subject: [Veritas-bu] FW: Using a Catalog tape
>
>
>> Is there a way for me to use an old catalog tape for normal backup?
> There are no images on the tape and when you query the Media DataBase
> you get the following:
>> 'requested media id was not found in NB media database'.   When I
> query the Volume database the status of the tape 0x1.  When I attempt 
> to
> expire the tape with the bpexpdate command I get the following: '
> requested media id was not found in NB media database and/or MM volume
> database'.  I have used the bplabel command, but the tapes are still
> listed as catalog tape.  Is there something I doing wrong or am I
> missing a step?
>>
>> Christopher
>
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