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Restore from old tape backup system

We recently discovered that some old files from last year were removed from our server. Our current barracuda backup system only saves 6 months of archives and the files are not recoverable from that server. I did do a final tape backup before we switched from an old server so I have the tapes I need.

The old server and all equipment are in pieces but I can put something back together to get the drive to work, I'm just not sure if it will work.

So if I build a Windows 2003 server and put Veritas on the server, hookup the Quantum Value Loader LTO-2 and look at the tapes, will I be able to get data off of them? I don't have any of the old backup data or logs off the server.

Thanks for any replies/suggestions. Thanks.

SOLUTION

Rodney Barnhardt

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kim2vp

ASKER

Well the tapes are still in the value loader, I've never taken them out so it should be a complete set.

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Rodney Barnhardt

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kim2vp

ASKER

I have the SCSI card in a windows XP machine and I'm loading veritas now. One odd issue I'm having is that I can't seem to get the Quantium to turn on. The light in the back is on, indicating power from the SCSI card but the display ont he front won't whoe anything regardless of whether I put the switch on the I or the O. Any ideas?

mrhamen

I'll second rbarnhardt suggestions, you simply need to get something that you can install the software on and hook the tape drive up to. Do a catalog of the tape set and once that is done you should be able to restore the files either directly to where you want or redirect them to another location to copy back manually.

Rodney Barnhardt

Well, if it has been sitting around for a while, the PS may be bad. Is this a physical switch, or just a touchpad type switch. If it is a physical switch, then the PS is probably bad. If is it s touch or soft-button, then the signal may not be getting to the board to power it on.

kim2vp

ASKER

Well software is installed but the LTO-2 won't turn on and I can't figure out what is wrong. Any ideas? Again the light in the back for the scsi is lit up but I can't get the display on the front to come on. Thanks.

coredatarecovery

check the lun numbers at boot up, before the OS loads, is the tape drive detected?

kim2vp

ASKER

It's a physical on/off switch on the front lower left.

coredatarecovery

test the external power supply for voltage. Make sure it's plugged into a working outlet as well.

kim2vp

ASKER

I took the top off, but that was no help since I can't see the Power Supply to test it or the power switch. It's been sitting about 8 months but was stored in the network room but I think you might be right and it may just be dead.

kim2vp

ASKER

I'm taking the bottom off now.

Rodney Barnhardt

You could look for any fuses. I have seen them blow on Exebyte drives. If all else fails, and you need the data, check ebay for one just like it.

kim2vp

ASKER

Ok so I took off the bottom and managed to get it going by using some of the extra power cables from the computer it was attached to and now it's running. So it was a bad PS.

I have the drivers installed but I can't figure out how to get veritas backup to read the media on the tapes. I've tried import, scan, inventory and none of those seem to do anything.

Any ideas?

Thanks

kim2vp

ASKER

OK after a reboot it looks like all the stuff is now running, I'm cataloging the tapes now. Will post an update in the AM. Thanks.

kim2vp

ASKER

It took a while but the tapes all cataloged and inventoried and I have recovered the data I needed, thanks very much for all your help.

kim2vp

ASKER

Not having to load server was an amazing time saver, thanks for the tip.