FWIW, we don't (normally) verify our backups,
but immediately do a copy (bpduplicate) of the image just backed up
(only for our most important "production" backup).

If we've had errors, I've done a (bp)verify on occasions,
but since they seem to take almost as long as a copy,
I reverted to simply re-running the copy, then if it reads
the tape ok, at least I get my copy out of it, and the
knowledge that the backup was readable at some level.

As I have mentioned before, we'd been having read errors 
recently (on both our LTO HP Ultrium 1 drives), and just
recently have had them both replaced. So far ok, although
I have some nagging doubts, i.e. is it likely that both
drives would develop errors within about 18 months of
life (I'd expect them to be much more robust).

If not drives, then media? But again, I'd expect
the Ultrium media to be more robust than e.g. DLT media
which we used to use, and we didn't see such a level
of errors in the corresponding life of the DLT media
(or drives).

I've been trying to find out what is the realistic
life expectancy of Ultrium 1 drives and media.
Most of what I can find on the web is either sales
oriented or theoretical expectations in White Papers, etc.

So if anyone has any real world experience to contribute
here, I'd be grateful.

Regards,
Mike Ellwood

(3.4GA on Solaris 5.8 with Sun-badged L20 robot, incorporating
HPUltrium 1 LTO drvies)

-----Original Message-----
From: Hampus Lind
To: Veritas maillista
Sent: 28/01/2004 09:46
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Verify..

Hi all!
 
How do you all verify your backups/tapes??
Do you run verify per backup job or on whole tape?
When do you run the verify? Later in the day, when there is less
activity on the drives?
 
What does the verify really verify? That it can read the backup images
on tapes at the time of the verify?
 
Is it faster/better/smarter to verify whole tapes instead of images on
tapes or vice versa?
 
All sugestions on how to verify (or why verify) is useful for me. Also
other solutions that is faster/better/smarter...
Greatful for information about this... Thanks.
 
Best regards
Hampus Lind