Networker

Re: [Networker] How to make a duplicate of a tape (was: nsrclone advice needed)

2013-03-19 09:26:26
Subject: Re: [Networker] How to make a duplicate of a tape (was: nsrclone advice needed)
From: Dag Nygren <dag AT newtech DOT fi>
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:25:48 +0200
On Tuesday 19 March 2013 08:48:10 Michael Leone wrote:
> > The question is: What is wrong with a logical copy?
> > Pros:
> > - Networker will not get confused if he happens to see both tapes at
> > the same time
> > - Easy to create. No wizardy needed.
> > - No issues with varying capacity on tapes due to different write 
> speeds.
> > 
> > Cons:
> > - None
> 
> So let's assume: I make a logical copy (clone using nsrclone) of my tape 
> that has the bootstrap and CFI on it. I keep the clone tape local in my 
> tape library; I send the original offsite, for safety. Now I need to do a 
> CFI recovery (nsrck -L7). Which tape will NW ask me to load and mount? The 
> original, or the clone?
> 
> If the original, then I have to recall it from offsite storage (which in 
> my case requires approval from further up the corporate ladder), which 
> takes time. Then I have to do the CFI recovery, then determine which 
> actual data tapes I need, and recall them, which is more time. (you'd be 
> surprised at the number of recover requests I get that start (I don't 
> remember the exact name of the file, but it's something like ...", meaning 
> I need to browse the CFI to determine what I need, and what tapes I need 
> from that point onward)
> 
> If NW will let me recover the CFI from the clone, then I can cut out one 
> of those tape recall steps, and save time.
> 
> So (and it's an honest question, since I don't know): will NW use the 
> locally available clone to do the CFI recover? I suspect not, but I don't 
> know for sure.

He will use the clone iff you mark the original CFI savesets suspect before you 
start the CFI recovery.

> This is NW 7.6.2, BTW.
> 
> I find it surprising that NW doesn't have a utility to make such a copy. 
> According to my boss, even ArcServe had that capability, years ago, before 
> we started using NW.

There was never any need for that.

Best
Dag