How to Identify Tapes
Applies To: System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
DPM identifies tapes by using the tape label. Tape labels for tapes used for long-term protection are assigned when you create a protection group. DPM assigns a default tape label in this format: DPM - <ProtectionGroupName> - long-term tape <number>. You can modify this label in the Create New Protection Group Wizard.
Each tape includes an on-media identifier (OMID), which is written to the start of the tape. DPM reads the tape OMID before performing an operation that uses the tape, to ensure that the tape is correct.
If your tape library includes a bar code reader, DPM displays the bar code of each tape in DPM Administrator Console. If the bar code on a tape starts with "CLN", such as bar code CLN0000812, DPM identifies the tape as a cleaning tape after a fast inventory.
Identifying Unknown Tapes
When a tape containing data is added to the tape library and the tape label displays as "Unknown," you can use DPM to identify the tape.
When DPM identifies the tape, it reads the tape header and updates the tape label as follows:
A tape created by the DPM server displays the assigned tape label.
A tape created by another DPM server displays Imported as the tape label.
A tape that contains content that was not created by DPM displays Unrecognized as the tape label.
A tape that has conflicting identification information, such as the bar code or the on-media identifier, DPM displays Suspect as the tape label.
To identify unrecognized tapes
In DPM Administrator Console, click Management on the navigation bar, and then click the Libraries tab.
In the display pane, expand the tape library or stand-alone tape drive and select the unrecognized tape.
In the Actions pane, click Identify unknown tape.
In DPM Administrator Console, click Management on the navigation bar.
On the Libraries tab, select the unrecognized tape.
In the Actions pane, click Identify unknown tape.
Managing Suspect Tapes
A suspect tape is a tape that has conflicting identification information. Tapes are marked as suspect in the following cases:
Two tapes have the same bar code and different on-media identifiers (OMID)
Two tapes have the same OMID and different bar codes
Two tapes have same OMID, and one of the tapes does not have a bar code
A non-cleaning tape is used for cleaning
DPM cannot use a suspect tape. To resolve the suspect status of the tape, perform the appropriate steps as listed in the following table.
| Reason the tape is suspect | Resolution |
|---|---|
Two tapes have the same bar code and different OMIDs |
Change the bar code for one of the suspect tapes. After you resolve the issues for all suspect tapes, open a command prompt window and run the ResolveSuspectMedia.cmd script. |
Two tapes have the same OMID and different bar codes -or- Two tapes have same OMID, and one of the tapes does not have a bar code |
This indicates that one of the tapes is valid, while the tape marked as suspect has the same OMID and is causing both tapes to be marked as suspect.
After you determine the tape marked suspect, do not use it in this DPM server again without erasing it. |
A non-cleaning tape is used for cleaning |
Open a command prompt window and run the ResolveSuspectMedia.cmd script.Do not mark this tape as a cleaning tape again. |
The bar code of a tape is changed after the OMID has been written. |
Put back the old bar code, and then run ResolveSuspectMedia.cmd. |
The OMID of the tape is changed or the tape is erased by software other than DPM. |
Put a new bar code on the tape, and then run ResolveSuspectMedia.cmd. |
How to create the ResolveSuspectMedia.cmd script
In a text editor, enter the following command:
osql -E -S localhost\MS$DPM2007$ -d DPMDB -Q "UPDATE tbl_MM_ArchiveMedia SET IsSuspect = 0"
Save the file as ResolveSuspectMedia.cmd.