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A CP 3100 Operation
Overview
As discussed in the “CP 3100 Theory of Operation” on page 15, the host backup software commu-
nicates with the CP 3100 as a physical DAT autoloader. When the CP 3100 is first powered on, the
host backup software recognizes a DAT autoloader with 25 DAT cartridges. These cartridges will be
blank; that is, the host software “sees” these cartridges as containing no data.
When the host software initiates a backup, it moves a virtual tape cartridge from one of the virtual
loader slots to the virtual tape drive. Since there is no mechanical movement, this action occurs
almost instantaneously. The backup software begins the data-writing process and sends data to the
virtual cartridge. At the appropriate time, the CP 3100 requests a physical tape be inserted into the
attached physical tape drive (assuming that
Do Not Archive
is not selected in the Device Proper-
ties page or for the individual virtual tape cartridge).
Archiving to a Physical Tape for the First
Time
The first time a backup is performed to a virtual tape cartridge, the CP 3100 expects the physical
tape to be a blank tape for the archive. If a non-blank tape is inserted into the physical tape drive,
the physical tape is ejected. If a completely blank tape is available, use it for the archive. If a blank
tape is not available you can use a non-blank tape for the archive by performing the following
procedure.
1.
Start RemoteAdmin (see “Logging into RemoteAdmin” on page 44) and click the
Device
Status
page.
2.
In the
Physical Drive
section of the Device Status page, click the
Erase
icon
.
3.
Insert the non-blank physical tape.
4.
When a message asks whether you want to erase physical media, click
Erase
to erase the
contents of the tape.
5.
To continue the archive, reinsert the tape into the physical drive.
Archiving a Previously Archived Virtual
Cartridge
The CP 3100 tracks which virtual cartridges have been written by host backup software and which
virtual cartridges have been archived to a physical tape. If a backup is performed to a virtual car-
tridge that has been previously archived (that is, a physical tape is associated to the virtual car-
tridge), the CP 3100 looks for the appropriate physical tape when the archive is to occur. Any other
physical tape is ejected and the archive does not take place.
For example, assume that the virtual cartridge in slot 1 is named Tape 1 and has been used for a
backup by the host software. Also, assume that an archive was performed to a physical tape and
that the virtual cartridge in slot 1 is again used for a backup. When the archive begins, the CP 3100
