Robert Hochlaender
Newbie
Posts: 3
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Hello,
we changed from BackupExec to retrospect because we changed our tape drive which wasn't more supported from BE.
Our first tests with retrospect were okay, but now i started to implement our backup strategy and retrospect doesn't work like i expect.
I want to use the following backup strategy:
- One Tape a week
- Monday Backup "New Backup Set"
- Tuesday - Sunday Backup "Normal"
But this isn't working? Retrospect want to write only on specific tapes. I want that retrospect is using the tape which is loaded. On Monday everything on the tape is to delete and a new backup set should be created. The other days only the changes should on the same tape (space is enough).
How can I backup like my strategy? It's for me not easy to understand the retrospect philosophy.
Thanks in advance!
Bye Robert
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Lennart Thelander
Retrospect Veteran
Posts: 1655
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In response to Robert Hochlaender
The philosophy is that Retrospect should never, ever overwrite a tape in the tape drive. That would inevitably lead to data loss. (Like when you forget to change tapes...)
Here's what you do on Mondays:
First "forget" the backup set associated with the tape you intend to use.
Second, you insert the tape and erase it.
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Robert Hochlaender
Newbie
Posts: 3
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In response to Lennart Thelander
thanks, but i understand right that I must delete every tape which should be used vor Backup? It is not possible to delete tape without user intervention? So if i will rotate I must delete manually the old tape. I cant stay on holiday on monday yet 
The other problem is, that the script which should be used Tuesday-Sunday ("Normal"-Backup) not attached the changed files to the Tape from monday. It is still waiting for user intervention.
Thanks
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Lennart Thelander
Retrospect Veteran
Posts: 1655
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In response to Robert Hochlaender
OK, suppose you do a "recycle" backup every Monday. That would reuse the old tape. BUT if something happens before that backup is finished, you have NO backup AT ALL.
Do you have a single tape drive or do you have a tape loader? In the latter case, fill it with erased tapes.
If not, buy a stack of new tapes and teach one of your colleges to remove the old tape and put in a new one each Monday. That should tape care of your vacation. The old tape should (of course) be stored off site in case of fire, theft, flooding, hurricanes etc etc.
The backup you do on a Monday should be a "New Media Backup". Then your Tuesday-Sunday backup should work fine.
The way we do it is a "New Media Backup" on every Friday, so the old tapes are stored right before the weekend. (The weekend is a risk for theft, fire etc since the office is not staffed.)
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Daniels
Gold Club Member
Posts: 464
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In response to Lennart Thelander
Here is your best strategy for doing what you want:
1. Decide how many week cycle you need. I suggest at least a four week cycle giving you about a month's worth of data to recover from. Once this is decided purchase the required number of tapes.
2. Set up a backup set for each week's group of tapes.
3. Once the backup sets are setup you can create scripts.
4. I would create a Monday script that does the recycle backup and it would be something like this:
Week 1 recycle Week 1 backup set and repeat every 4 weeks
Week 2 recycle Week 2 backup set and repeat every 4 weeks
repeat for weeks 3 and weeks 4
5. Then I would create a daily script for Tuesday-Sunday that does the incremental backup so it would be something like this:
Week 1 Tuesday-Sunday use Week 1 backup set and repeat every 4 weeks
Week 2 Tuesday-Sunday use Week 2 backup set and repeat every 4 weeks
repeat for weeks 3 and 4
If you follow this steps carefully it will accomplish the backup strategy you are trying to implement. This will also allow you to reuse the media without having to manually erasing it.
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Robert Hochlaender
Newbie
Posts: 3
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In response to Daniels
Hello,
thanks for all hints. I've tried something but i doesn't work at all.
The recycle backup on monday was okay, but the other days the backup set will be "reseted". I want to do a "normal-Backup", but a "Recycle-Backup" is started (normal-backup is configured).
Any hints?
Thanks
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Daniels
Gold Club Member
Posts: 464
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In response to Robert Hochlaender
The first backup to any media set will always be a recycle backup since Retrospect needs a starting point to use incremental backups.
You might have not setup the scripts and schedules correctly because I use a very similar setup except my full backups are on Fridays.
Here is what you should do:
1. Delete all your current scripts.
2. Create a new script called Mondays.
3. Choose a single backup set and your sources.
4. Add the following "day of the week" schedule to the script: set a time and start date for the backup, make sure to select recycle and only Monday, set repeat time to 4 weeks.
5. Save this schedule and script.
6. Create a new script called daily.
7. Choose a single backup set and your sources.
8. Add the following "day of the week" schedule to the script: set a time and start date for the backup, make sure to select normal, check all boxes except for Monday, set repeat time to 4 weeks.
9. Save this schedule and script.
Once you have setup the scripts for one week you can then add your backup sets to each script and then set their schedules to the appropriate script.
If you do this correctly it should accomplish what you are trying to do.
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07-29-10 06:44 PM -