Tapes: Volumes, Volume Sets, and Automatic Replication
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Another unique Volume Set, termed the quarantined media set, contains all tapes that
have been imported into the library but are unrecognized by the system. Typically,
they are not recognized because a cartridge has previously been used by a different
application (such as a backup application) or because an error occurred while the
system was trying to identify the contents of the cartridge.
Following configuration of the File Groups, Volume Sets and any associated replication
requirements, the system operates completely automatically. Files written to the logical
drive under nTier File Migrator control are automatically allocated to File Groups. Files
allocated to File Groups with “Save files to tape” enabled have an assigned Volume Set
and are automatically written to both RAID and tape. If replication is enabled for the
assigned Volume Set, this occurs automatically.
Understanding Volume Sets
A Volume Set consists of a set of tape cartridges with a defined media type (WORM or
rewritable) and replication strategy. Each Volume Set stores files from one or more File
Groups. Automatic tape cartridge replication can be defined for each Volume Set.
When a new system is installed, four default Volume Sets are created: the blank media
set, which contains all the blank media in the library; the quarantined media set, which
contains all unrecognized media; a cleaning cartridge set; and an initial operational
Volume Set, ready for configuration.
About the Blank Media Set
The blank media set is a unique Volume Set of tape cartridges that have been imported
into a library or inserted in a stand-alone tape drive but are not yet allocated to an
operational Volume Set. These may be new (unused) tapes or rewritable tapes that
have been reformatted by the system administrator. Tapes in the blank media set are
allocated to an operational Volume Set either manually by the administrator or
automatically by the Archive Series software when all the existing Volumes in a Volume
Set are nearly full. The first Volume must be allocated manually to each Volume Set.
