dayzd Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Hello all Does anybody know of any free method/software that will allow us to manage a Sony AIT tape library (LIB-81)? The tape library in question is redundant (it was replaced by a larger unit when we installed a SAN last year) and we want to use it to erase our remaining AIT tapes. However, we do not have a spare Symantec license knocking about and are hoping someone can recommend a technique or bit of freeware that will manage the tape library and allow us to batch-erase a set of tapes in one go. I know NTBackup can erase the tapes for us, but we're struggling to find some software to control the tape loader - there are no front panel options to control which tape is loaded in the drive, so we can't actually access the tapes!
nicholab Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Why are you erasing backups? We keep are archive backup off site.
dayzd Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 They're redundant. The unit in question was replaced 18 months ago after a successful migration to a SAN system, with its own higher capacity backups. The tapes nor the backup tape library (the one in question above) are no longer in use. We want to erase the old tapes so we can pass them on to other schools who may need them, without running the risk of sending them loads of our kids' work from '08-'09!
plexer Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 LIB-81 | Sony Storage Support Tells you how to eject the tapes maybe some other options in the menu will allow you to change the tapes too? Ben
plexer Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Also have you read the manual? seems there is a web interface for it as well: Operating Instructions | Sony Storage Support Ben
apaton Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 If the server in question is not used anymore, reinstall Backup Exec and get 60day free trial. Or attach the Tape Library to a new server with appropriate SCSI connection. Backup Exec has a Long Erase mechanism. Andy
dayzd Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 Tells you how to eject the tapes maybe some other options in the menu will allow you to change the tapes too? Also have you read the manual? seems there is a web interface for it as well Ben Yes, we've looked at that (we can Google, too). Neither the front panel options (as stated in my first post) or the web interface allow you to control which tape is loaded. If the server in question is not used anymore, reinstall Backup Exec and get 60day free trial. Or attach the Tape Library to a new server with appropriate SCSI connection. Backup Exec has a Long Erase mechanism. Andy Might just look into that - the server it's attached to isn't used for any backup stuff any more, so we could easily do that.
plexer Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 If you eject all the tapes and load only one does it insert it into the drive for use or just keep it in the carousel? Ben
dayzd Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 They just get loaded into the carousel. It's fully loaded and ready to rock, so it's quite frustrating we can't tell it "Use that one!" and get cracking!
plexer Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Yes, we've looked at that (we can Google, too). Good for you. You'd be amazed at the amount of people that don't seem to be able to. Ben
plexer Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 You can use the sony tape tools app to issue commands directly to the unit including load/unload, format, erase. http://sony.storagesupport.com/STT_windows Ben
dayzd Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 You can use the sony tape tools app to issue commands directly So far I've not been able to get that to do what I want. Think I'm getting there, though!
dayzd Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 Figured it out. For some reason, the STT app needs restarting between moving tapes and carrying out any other actions...
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