Media description - Tape

Media description is deleted after the backup job on the tape.

By Default any Media Description applied to Tape or VTL media in Backup Exec 2012 will be removed during any form of Overwrite Operation. A method to change this behaviour is available by registry modification.

Warning: Incorrect use of the Windows registry editor may prevent the operating system from functioning properly. Great care should be taken when making changes to a Windows registry. Registry modifications should only be carried-out by persons experienced in the use of the registry editor application. It is recommended that a complete backup of the registry and workstation be made prior to making any registry changes

1) Use Regedit to locate

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Symantec\Backup Exec for Windows\Adamm

2) Within the ADAMM key create a REG_DWORD value called

PreserveMediaDescriptions

3) Set the value data to 1 to maintain the media descriptions during overwrite operations (default behaviour would be set the value data to 0)

Best practices for Backup Exec 2012 tape and disk cartridge media management

 If you use backup jobs for which Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) is enabled, there are additional best practices for media management.

For more information about tape and disk cartridge media management, see the Backup Exec 2012 Administrator's Guide.

The following best practices are for effective tape and disk cartridge media management:

• Be aware of the following consequences of the infinite setting for the overwrite protection period for all tape media and disk cartridge media:
  • Backup data may consume tape and disk cartridge media capacity quickly.
  • Tape and disk cartridge media do not become recyclable automatically. You must specify when to overwrite each media.
• Create new media sets with the append and overwrite protection periods that accommodate your needs. When the overwrite protection periods expire, the tape media and disk cartridge media are recyclable and Backup Exec has access to overwritable media.
• Overwrite tape and disk cartridge media periodically to keep the media family at a manageable size so that Backup Exec can rebuild the catalog if necessary. You can use a media rotation strategy so that media is periodically overwritten, or select the option Overwrite media when you run a full backup.

  Note:

  A media family is a set of tape and disk cartridge media that is related because one or more backup jobs span from one media to another. For example, you back up Resource A to Media 1. When Media 1 runs out of space, Backup Exec uses Media 2 to complete the backup. Media 1 and Media 2 are now in the same media family because the backup job started on Media 1 and finished on Media 2. If you append more backups to Media 2 until it runs out of space, then Backup Exec uses Media 3. Media 3 is now part of the same media family as Media 1 and Media 2. The media family continues to grow as Backup Exec appends backup jobs. A new media family starts when a backup job overwrites the first media it uses.