5 0 0:Setting up Archive Adjustment

Overview

Archive adjustment is used to perform a comparison between the media in the loader (tape library) and the SEP sesam media archive database, and to perform a database synchronization with the selected loader by updating the database with the most current inventory information from the scanned device.

Archive adjustment is mandatory whenever the contents of your loader have changed. Typically, you need to run archive adjustment whenever new media or used media that have not yet been registered (initialized) by SEP sesam are inserted to identify unrecognized tapes.

You can perform archive adjustment for an entire tape library or run the job for selected tapes only by specifying the selected segment (see Slot range below).

SEP sesam also supports archive adjustment with media introduction over barcode only. The option Adjustment by barcode only is shown for all libraries that have a barcode reader to quickly locate individual media by reading the barcode attached to the media. The media does not need to be loaded into a drive, which means that the process is faster and does not block all drives for backup or restore.

Prerequisite

Make sure your loaders are configured correctly. If you want to run archive adjustment from the command line, the task must include the name of the target autoloader or tape device. You should check your storage device configuration, as described in Configuring Loaders and Drives.

Steps

1. From Main Selection -> Components -> Loaders, select the relevant loader and click Archive Adjustment.

2. In the Archive Adjustment window, specify the required fields. Note that the available options depend on the loader and SEP sesam version.
   
   
   • The Drive group is already selected and cannot be changed. You can select a drive from a drop-down list next to Drive (opt.).
   • Slot range: You can limit the synchronization to the specified loader segment by entering the number of the first and last slot.
   • Adjustment by barcode only: If your loader contains a barcode reader, select this option to use it for archive adjustment of tapes in the loader. SEP sesam checks the barcodes of all tapes that are not in drives. This enables adjusting the archive while the drives are in use. SEP sesam scans only the tapes that are in slots, while the tapes in the drives are not scanned.
   • Check label on tape. Ignore barcode labels: Select this option if you want to scan the tape labels; every tape label is re-read and verified, while the barcode information is ignored.
   • Automatic introduction: Select this option if your loader does not contain a barcode reader and you want to automatically add unknown media (without a SEP sesam label) from the tape library to the specified media pool.
3. Media pool: Select a media pool where you want to perform archive adjustment.
4. If you have selected the option Automatic introduction, select the appropriate tape type using the Tape type drop-down list. Then set the following:
1. Select the preferred way for Handling of unknown SEP sesam media.
   All tape media that do not have a SEP sesam tape label stored on the tape will be overwritten. However, for tape media with an existing SEP sesam label, the following applies:
   • If the label is already stored in the SEP sesam DB (media table), the tape remains untouched.
   • If the SEP sesam tape label is unknown, the tape handling depends on the following options:
     • Accept without initialization is enabled by default. This means that if a tape with unknown SEP sesam label (which is not in SEP sesam DB) is retrieved, e.g., a tape from another SEP sesam Server, it will be automatically inserted. Note that such tapes are simply added to the SEP sesam DB without providing meta information about their contents.
     • If you select Overwrite, a tape with unknown SEP sesam label (which is not in SEP sesam DB) will be initialized and added to the selected media pool.
Note that tape media from competing manufacturers are not recognized and will be overwritten.
5. Click Start.

Your archive adjustment starts immediately. If you selected the option Automatic introduction, SEP sesam will unload all drives for archive adjustment. If a drive is in use, e.g., for a backup or restore, archive adjustment will start as soon as the drives are no longer used by another process.

You can also set up a special media event for archive adjustment and schedule it to run automatically, as described in the following section.

Alternatively, you can use a command event to set up automatic archive adjustment. For details, see How to set up automatic archive adjustment.

Adding SEP sesam labeled tapes to a new or different media pool

If you want to use already labeled tapes in a new or another media pool, proceed as follows:

1. From Main Selection -> Components -> Media, double-click the relevant media and click Delete Media. Note that all metadata of the tape is deleted and the tape entry is removed from the media table.
   
   
2. Start archive adjustment by using the option Automatic introduction together with Overwrite (see above steps). The tapes are reinitialized with a new label for the selected media pool.

	Note
	Overwriting the existing label will erase all data on the tape.

Creating a media event for archive adjustment

By creating a special media event for archive adjustment, you can schedule it to run automatically at specific intervals or set up an archive adjustment template that lets you start it interactively.

Steps

1. From Main Selection -> Scheduling -> Schedules, select the schedule you want to associate the event with, select New, and then New Media Event. A schedule is opened with a new tab Parameter.
2. Under the Media action, select Archive adjustment.
3. Under Parameter, specify the relevant options for archive adjustment (Loader, Media Pool, Drive, etc.), as described above.
   Click OK.
   
   
4. You can start the archive adjustment immediately via Activities -> Immediate Start -> Media Action. For details, see Immediate start of a media action.