> Im kind of new to Veritas. Im running NetBackup 5.1 with mp5 on a
> windows server. Now I'm having a lot of problems managing my 
> tapes with
> all these barcodes and manual backup logs. I also have weekly and

There is no need whatsoever to have manual backup logs, be aware of any
barcodes or track expiration of images or tapes--those are NetBackup
tasks, not yours.  Most likely, you are self-taught on NetBackup and are
trying to carry over things that were useful in the methodologies you
used before--most of us have been there, done that.  The hard part is to
learn to let go of things--like labeling tapes, or having "Friday" or
"Full backup" tapes--that are familiar, but unnecessary in NetBackup.

> monthly backups that go to a remote site. I also handle the 
> system side
> of the company so im pretty busy. I need a better way to know whats
> going on with my tapes and when they expire. I read about 
> vaulting and I
> think it can help me with my problem. Now I need to know 2 things:

Vault automates 
o  the selection of backups to be duplicated and/or sent offsite
o  optional making a catalog backup to send offsite 
o  optional duplication of images
o  optional ejecting/grouping/tracking tapes
o  optional reporting on all the above
o  optional recall lists of expired tapes to recall from offsite

Vault, in 5.x and later NetBackup, is trivially easy to use.  Many
users, unfamiliar with NetBackup and trying to force it to work like
their previous backup methodology, vastly overcomplicate their NetBackup
setup, including their vaulting setup.  Don't be that guy.

> 1.       Will vaulting help me??

Yes.  Even if you're s scripting wiz and know your bp* and vm* commands
by heart, it will save you a ton of work, whether you duplicate or not,
whether you eject or not.

> 2.       How can I get it? Im in Qatar and my local veritas dealer
> hasn't supplied any licenses for vaulting in Qatar yet. Is there
> somewhere I can download a trial version to get the feel of it?

You already have the code; it's enabled by a license.  I have no idea
why a legitimate dealer/VAR wouldn't sell you a vault license.