Basic DLT tape question
We have about 500 dlt tapes which our company previously used for backups. I also have the drive that was used, but nothing else.
I have an immediate need to try and find some files from a 3-4 of these tapes, but have not idea how to get started using this hardware. How can I read / restore the data on these tapes? What software do I need to do a simple restore? Desperate! - Thanks.
I have an immediate need to try and find some files from a 3-4 of these tapes, but have not idea how to get started using this hardware. How can I read / restore the data on these tapes? What software do I need to do a simple restore? Desperate! - Thanks.
rindi
First you must know what backup software was used. Then install that software, and then you can restore the data from the tapes.
ASKER
Is there any way to work around that? No idea as this backup was done by prior employees over 10 years ago.
You need to know in which format the tapes are written, to be able to restore the files.
Of course you could try a few standard ways of storage. If these backups were from unix/linux you might try to use tar or cpio to access the tapes.
else you might dump a tape (or parts of it) with dd on a harddrive and analyze the raw data. You might get some clues due to the data structure on the tapes. (e.g. header information the backup software had written).
Of course you could try a few standard ways of storage. If these backups were from unix/linux you might try to use tar or cpio to access the tapes.
else you might dump a tape (or parts of it) with dd on a harddrive and analyze the raw data. You might get some clues due to the data structure on the tapes. (e.g. header information the backup software had written).
There are 3rd party companies out there that will do it for a fee.
http://www.werecoverdata.com/tape-transfer/
http://www.werecoverdata.com/tape-transfer/
ASKER
I know. Not interested in that, but thanks.
What's the OS?
The chances are it's either Backup Exec or a version of Computer Associates of some sorts.
My advice is download an eval of each ,load it up and try to see if you can catalog any of the tapes.
They both have a feature that allows for reading of each others formats.
So you got a 50 50 chance.
The chances are it's either Backup Exec or a version of Computer Associates of some sorts.
My advice is download an eval of each ,load it up and try to see if you can catalog any of the tapes.
They both have a feature that allows for reading of each others formats.
So you got a 50 50 chance.
Hi,
In fact you need to know the previous software, if not you will have to spend a lot of time guessing, except if you are lucky.
10 years... it could be ntbackup, backup exec, netbackup, arcserve, netvault, and others, all using a different way to write and read data on tape (except maybe backup exec, netbackup, and ntbackup which were developed by the same company), AFAIK again.
We have about 500 dlt tapes which our company previously used for backups. I also have the drive that was used, but nothing else.AFAIK there was no SAS yet, so I suppose it is SCSI... So I hope for you that you have a SCSI controller card that fits in one of your server (old PCI), and SCSI cable !
In fact you need to know the previous software, if not you will have to spend a lot of time guessing, except if you are lucky.
10 years... it could be ntbackup, backup exec, netbackup, arcserve, netvault, and others, all using a different way to write and read data on tape (except maybe backup exec, netbackup, and ntbackup which were developed by the same company), AFAIK again.
It is likely that you still have the installation media somewhere in your company, along with the product keys. That would negate the need for guessing. So just look through your archive where you keep your installation CD's etc.
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If you have Server 2003,the built in backup supports tape drives (a stripped down versuion of NTbackup).
This builtin tool IS ntbackup ! ;-)
Open a command prompt on 2003, enter "ntbackup", you'll see.
Made by Veritas, the same company which developed Backup Exec and NetBackup, and was bought by Symantec in 2005..