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Please, read through this whole section before you start with your first backup process to get a good
understanding of all the steps required. Also, notice that TapeWare is a very versatile program with lots of different
features. To get better knowledge of these, you can consult the manual found at /depot/usersgd.pdf. To decode the
possible error messages, see /depot/errcodes.pdf. You can use 'xpdf' to view these documents.
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| 1) |
Compatible tapes: Corellia's tapedrive (HP DLT VS80) uses DLT IV tapes that have the (compressed) capacity of 80GB. HP's own DLT IV tapes (code C5141F) are a "safe bet" but also tapes from other manufacturers' can be used. The key words in getting a compatible tape are 'DLT IV' and '80GB' as the maximum capacity of the tape. Please, check compatibility before ordering large quantities of new tapes, you can also contact Antti before ordering. I'll keep here a list of tested tapes. At the moment, we have tried the following tapes:
- HP DLT IV 40-80GB data cartridge C5141F *works*
- Maxell DLTtape IV 40/80* GIGABYTE *works*
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Log on to TapeWare with username 'AMIUSER', no password is required.
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| 3) |
Acknowledge the Tip of the Day and you will see the main window of TapeWare.
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| 4) |
Select 'Backup Specific' (bottom left hand corner) and you'll get a screen like this.
Here you can define the name of your backup job. It is recommended to use a unique and descriptive name, which e.g.
includes your initials, the name of your measurement project and the backup date (and that you mark your tape with the same name).
With a good name it will be afterwards easier to recognise your backup and remember its contents. If you want, you can also
overwrite an old job by the same name. When you have entered the name, click 'Next'.
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| 5) |
In this window, you'll select the folder or folders that you want to store on your tape.
Remember that your backup data folder is located under /depot/data. Select the folder/folders/files you
want to include in the backup, the selected folders/files will be marked with a tick.
In this example, the folder mybackup (and everything that is under it) would be backed up.
When you have made your selection, click 'Next'. If the size of your selection is more than
one tape can hold (the data is compressed automatically during backup so the storage capacity depends on the type of files
you are backing up), system will use as many tapes as needed so you don't have to worry about it, assuming that you
have enough tapes at hand. However, please, note that due to some system limitations(?), backup software will ignore all
individual files, whose size exceeds 2 GB, i.e. they will not be put on the tape unless they are
split into smaller files. This may happen e.g. with some large archive (tar) files.
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| 6) |
Here you'll have to select the device that will be doing the backup. Well, there isn't much of a
choice in here. The only available device is the tape drive that is visible as 'Dev-0.0.5.0: Benchmark DLT1'. Select it
(you have to open the whole path to see the device) and click 'Next'.
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| 7) |
The next thing you have to decide is what kind of backup you want to do. 'Full' means that all
the selected files/folders will be backed up. It is also possible to make
an 'Incremental' or 'Differential' backup, where only new and modified (since the previous backup) files are stored on the tape.
This is of course faster, but to be successful it requires that you can copy all your data back
to /net/corellia so that everything (filenames, paths, dates etc) is identical to the situation when you did
your original/previous backup, with the exception of the modified and new files, so that the system is able to know
what is new and what is not. So, the easiest option is to select 'Full' and click 'Next'. However, I have also
tested 'Differential' and found it to work OK so it is a valid possibility.
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| 8) |
Now you have to select whether you want to append your data to an old tape (add the files to the end
of the tape so that the data previously stored on the tape is not overwritten) or whether you want to overwrite everything
on your tape. This selection should not affect anything if you have a brand new tape. I have only tested the option 'Overwrite
all tapes that are accessible' but the 'Append' option should be a valid choice as well.
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| 9) |
Next decision is how to verify your backup (how to check that backup was successful). I have not tested the
'Full verify' which should compare everything on the tape and on the hard drive but even the 'Quick verify' is quite thorough,
at least it takes a little bit more time than the actual backup. If you are in a hurry, select 'No verify'. Typically,
to backup 40 GB of data will take about 2.5 - 3.5 hours and to 'Quick verify' 40 GB of data will take something like 3 - 4 hours.
The duration of 'Full verify' is not known at the moment. Do your selection and click 'Next'. (One possible "verification"
is to do partial restore after the backup = to copy some files back to the hard drive from your tape, see the instructions in
the next section.)
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Now you will be asked for the schedule of the backup. Select 'Now' so that the backup will be done
immediately. Before clicking 'Finish', insert your tape to tape drive (if you haven't already done it).
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| 10) |
Now everything starts to happen. In this window you'll see the progress of your backup process. First the
software will build a list of your files to be backed up, then it will scan the tape drive, mount the media, and if it is happy
with the inserted tape, it will start writing your data on the tape. When this is done, it will do the verification that you selected.
You can follow the progress of the operation from the info on this screen. By the way, it is possible that when everything is done, the
'Completed Size' shows something like 3%, which actually means 103% because the counter has already reached 100%. I have seen this
happen a couple of times, so maybe it is a "feature" of the software. Hopefully you get 0 'Warnings'. If you get warnings or error
messages, contact Antti. Notice also that the bottom right hand corner of the main window (which is there in the background)
contains a red alert light. If it is lit up or blinking, click it to see the possible alerts. If there are any, contact Antti.
The writing speed depends, among other things, on the type of data, but it "should" be more than 200 MB/min. If you get a clearly
slower writing speed, something may be wrong. As said, the verification speed will be somewhat slower.
Be also aware that the tape drive itself has three leds giving valuable information. During normal writing only the led in the
middle ('ready') should be flashing. When the tape is not moving, the middle led should be on but steady (= power is on).
If the tape drive encounters some internal errors, it will start flashing the 1st ('drive error') led. If the 3rd led
('clean/media') is flashing, the drive requires either a new tape (previous one may be full or broken) or cleaning (a perfectly normal
operation that has to be done every now and then). If cleaning is needed, a special cleaning tape has to be inserted into the drive.
If this is the case, contact Antti.
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When everything is done, you should see something like this ('Status: Not Running' and all the objects have been completed).
Now you can close this status window and go back to the main window.
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| 11) |
In the main window, click the 'Instructions & Logs' object. A new window opens.
Under the 'Logs' tab you can list previous backup jobs. Select your job and click 'View...'. The log of your job opens.
If everything went fine, there should be 0 warnings, 0 failed objects and also the comforting words 'Job Completed Sucessfully'.
If you are happy with this, click 'OK' and 'OK' to close the log windows and exit TapeWare (main window -> File -> Exit). Remember to
get your tape from the tape drive (press the eject button and wait while drive rewinds and unloads the tape). Mark your tape so that you
can recognise it afterwards and put it to a safe place. Now you are done. Unless you want to test the restore process (you should try it
at least once to see if your tapes really work) described in the next section...
Remember also to remove your data from /depot/data so that there is room also for the next user, thank you.
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Please, read through this whole section before you start with your first restore process to get a good
understanding of all the steps required. If you are restoring some files/folders just to see that your backup tape is
working fine, please, rename (command 'mv') the original backup folder under /depot/data (if it still is there) to
something else so that you can see that the restore process has really recreated your data folder.
Also, notice that TapeWare is a very versatile program with lots of different
features. To get better knowledge of these, you can consult the manual found at /depot/usersgd.pdf. To decode the
possible error messages, see /depot/errcodes.pdf. You can use 'xpdf' to view these documents.
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| 1) |
Log on to TapeWare with username 'AMIUSER', no password is required.
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| 2) |
Acknowledge the Tip of the Day and you will see the main window of TapeWare.
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| 3) |
Click the 'Restore Specific' object in the main window of TapeWare and you will get a screen
where you have to give a name for your restore job. If the name is not unique, you will be asked if an old job
by the same name will be overwritten. You can also use the default name 'Restore Specific'.
When you have given the name, click 'Next'.
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| 4) |
Now you can browse the contents of /depot/data. The folders/files marked with a cross are
folders/files that have at some point existed under /depot/data (but don't exist anymore) and that can now be
restored from the correct backup tape. You should be able to see your own data folder here (the software keeps a database
of everything that has been backed up). You can select the whole folder or open it and select only some specific subfolders
or files (selections will be marked with a "tick", here the folder mybackup and everything under it will be restored).
When you are ready, click 'Next'.
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| 5) |
Here you'll have to select the device that will be used to restore the data. Well, there isn't much of a
choice in here. The only available device is the tape drive that is visible as 'Dev-0.0.5.0: Benchmark DLT1'. Select it
(you have to open the whole path to see the device) and click 'Next'.
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| 6) |
Now you will have to select, when the job will be done. Select 'Now' and, before you click 'Finish', go and
insert the correct backup tape into the tape drive - if you haven't already done it.
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| 7) |
Now the job starts running. The software will build a list of the files to be restored, scan the tape drive,
mount the media and then, if everything is OK, start copying files back to the hard drive.
Be also aware that the tape drive itself has three leds giving valuable information. During normal writing only the led in the
middle ('ready') should be flashing. When the tape is not moving, the middle led should be on but steady (= power is on).
If the tape drive encounters some internal errors, it will start flashing the 1st ('drive error') led. If the 3rd led
('clean/media') is flashing, the drive requires either a new tape (previous one may already be scanned or it may be broken) or cleaning (a perfectly normal
operation that has to be done every now and then). If cleaning is needed, a special cleaning tape has to be inserted into the drive.
If this is the case, contact Antti.
When everything is done, you will see something similar to this ('Status: Not Running' and all the objects have been completed).
Hopefully you have 0 warnings. Notice also that the bottom right hand corner of the main window (which is there in the background)
contains a red alert light. If it is lit up or blinking, click it to see the possible alerts. If there are any, contact Antti.
If everything is OK, close the status window.
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| 8) |
If you want, you can check the log of your restore job. In the main window, click the 'Instructions & Logs'
object. A new window opens.
Under the 'Logs' tab you can list previous jobs. Select your job and click 'View...'. The log of your job opens.
If everything went fine, there should be 0 warnings, 0 failed objects and also the comforting words 'Job Completed Sucessfully'.
If you are happy with this, click 'OK' and 'OK' to close the log windows and exit TapeWare (main window -> File -> Exit). Remember to
get your tape from the tape drive (press the eject button and wait while drive rewinds and unloads the tape). Now all your data should
be found under /depot/data. Please, move it to a safer place (/depot/data can be emptied automatically) and you are done.
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