Virtual TapeServer 8.0 Configuration Guide

Creating and Managing VTLs and VTDs

After Virtual TapeServer is deployed, you can create virtual tape libraries (VTLs). A VTL

emulates the functionality of a tape library, which contains one or more tape drives,

magazines that hold tape cartridges, a barcode reader to identify tape cartridges, and a media

changer for loading and unloading tape cartridges. The virtual changers move virtual

cartridges to and from virtual tape drives (VTDs) as instructed by standard host software,

backup management applications, and utilities.

If applicable, a VTL can accept these commands from multiple hosts over Fibre Channel.

Note If multiple host servers will share a VTL, ensure that each host server's operating

system supports device sharing, such as through the use of reservations.

If necessary, you can add a vault for VTL and VTD storage as described in Adding vaults on

external storage devices on page 11.

You can also create standalone VTDs.

It is recommended that you back up the VTS database before and after modifying the VTS

configuration. See

Backing up the VTS server on page 119 for more information.

This chapter describes how to create and modify VTLs and standalone VTDs.

Managing VTLs

The Configure Virtual Devices page enables you to create and modify VTLs. The Manage

Virtual Tapes page enables you to manage the virtual tapes in VTLs.

VTL licenses are provided as part of the capacity license. If you need to enable or modify the

capacity license, see

Enabling Licensed Features on page 15.

Creating a VTL

When you create a VTL, the following are also created:

• The specified number of virtual tape drives (VTDs)

• The specified number of slots

• Virtual tapes (the number of virtual tapes is equal to the number of slots created)

• One pool that contains the virtual tapes

• One virtual tape magazine (VTM), which defines the list of virtual tapes that are resident

in the VTL