Virtual TapeServer 6.04.03 Operations and Administration Guide

Managing Pools and Virtual Tapes | 61
Erasing and deleting virtual tapes
You can erase the contents of a virtual tape or delete the tape. Erasing removes the data
stored on the virtual tape but leaves the metadata and tape label. Deleting a virtual tape
removes it altogether, and its data cannot be recovered through migration. When you erase a
virtual tape, its modification date is not updated; the ctime (inode change time) is updated.
To perform these operations, you must unmount the virtual tape first, if it is mounted. The
following sections describe how to manually erase and delete a single tape or multiple tapes.
You can also automate these operations from the NonStop server using the VTSPolicy
command if Event Management Service communication is configured. (See
Configuring EMS
Communication on page 39.) To automate erasure from the VTS server, see Using Scan/
Cleanup on page 87.
Single virtual tape
You can erase or delete a single virtual tape from the Virtual Media - Operation page and the
Virtual Media - Cartridge Maintenance page.
To erase an unencrypted virtual tape:
Requires the Erase Cartridges, Vault Access, and Access to all Vaults access rights
To erase an encrypted virtual tape:
Requires Administration group membership and requires the Erase Cartridges, Vault
Access, and Access to all Vaults access rights
To delete an unencrypted virtual tape:
Requires the Delete Cartridges, Vault Access, and Access to all Vaults access rights
To delete an encrypted virtual tape:
Requires Administration group membership and requires the Delete Cartridges, Vault
Access, and Access to all Vaults access rights