Virtual TapeServer 8.3 Configuration Guide

Enabling and Performing Stacked Exports

Through integration with a backup management application server, you can read and write files to

and from Virtual TapeServer (VTS). You can then create stacked export jobs on VTS to export, or

“migrate”, virtual tapes to physical tapes using an attached external tape device.

Note Stacked export jobs are available if a capacity license is enabled on the server.

Stacked exports allow for better use of the disk space on the storage array. For instance, if a virtual

tape needs to be saved for seven years for legal purposes, it is not fiscally prudent to keep that data

on disk. You could automatically export the virtual tape to physical tape. In the unlikely event that

the virtual tape is needed, VTS can restore it from physical tape.

When a virtual tape is exported to physical tape, all data on the virtual tape is written to physical

tape, including the header information (metadata). To restore a virtual tape that was exported, the

tape must first be restored on VTS before restoring on the host server. Host servers cannot read

physical tapes that were created through stacked exports because the tape is formatted for use by

VTS only. After the data is restored as a virtual tape in VTS, the host server can then restore the

data.

Note You can also export a virtual tape to physical tape using a tape-to-tape export job, which does

not require backup management application integration. See "Enabling and Performing Tape-

to-tape Exports" on page 39 for more information.

If Scan/Cleanup is enabled, you can configure VTS to automatically erase virtual tapes after they are

exported to tape by a stacked export job. See "Enabling and Configuring Scan/Cleanup" on page 125

for more information about enabling and configuring Scan/Cleanup.

Steps to enable, configure, and use stacked exports

1. Connect the library or drive to VTS. Refer to the Quick Start Guide for cabling instructions.

2. Contact HP Global NonStop Solution Center (GNSC) for assistance in enabling and configuring

the backup management application client and this feature on the VTS server.

3. If using a NonStop host server, configure the Event Management Service (EMS) on VTS as

described in "Configuring EMS Communication" on page 71.

4. Configure the physical drive or library for use with stacked export jobs as described in this

chapter.

5. Configure a system account for use by the backup management application as described in this

chapter, so that it can communicate with VTS and perform the stacked export.