LTO Tape Migration for VTLs

(LTO-1 to LTO-2 or LTO-3)

Last updated: January 21, 2009
A Data Domain system can be configured as a VTL storage destination for certified backup
software applications that are listed in the Data Domain VTL compatibility matrixes. Starting
with Data Domain operating system version 4.6.1, VTLs can be configured with virtual LTO-2 and
LTO-3 type media and drives. (Only LTO-1 type media and drives were supported in earlier
releases.) This document provides guidelines for how to migrate data from VTLs with LTO-1
media to VTLs that are defined with either all LTO-2 or all LTO-3 media and drives.
Different backup software applications have different requirements for migrating LTO-1 to LTO-2
or LTO-3. See LTO Application-Specific Migration Guides for a list of guides for individual
applications.
Note: In NetBackup 6.5.2 and previous releases, volumes cannot be migrated from a VTL defined
with one type of media to a VTL defined for another type of media. In NetBackup, new VTLs with
LTO-2 or LTO-3 type media and drives can be defined, and backups started to the new VTLS,
while the data on any existing VTLs that have LTO-1 media and drives is maintained until it
expires. See the NBU migration guide for details.

Assumptions

Drives of different types are not mixed in the Data Domain VTL.

No jobs are running to the existing VTL.

All tape media are in their respective slots.

All tape drives are empty.

New unique barcodes are defined for all the new LTO-2 or LTO-3 virtual cartridges imported
to a new VTL.

When two VTLs are used for migration, enough free space is available on the Data Domain
system to create new virtual LTO-2 or LTO-3 tapes. (See Overview of Migration Methods.)

Recommended: Only native-sized virtual tape cartridges are defined.

Overview of Migration Methods

The following table describes migration methods that use either two VTLs or one VTL.
Method

Details

Overview of Tasks

Two VTLs
with
manual
migration

No wait is required for data aging

to occur before removal of old
LTO-1 cartridges.

Create and discover a new VTL with either LTO-2

or LTO-3 drives.

Two VTLs
with data
aging

Natural migration occurs over a

longer time span. This is the least
risky approach.

Create and discover a new VTL with either LTO-2

or LTO-3 drives.

Move data to the new VTL and delete the data on

the old VTL.

Allow backup data to expire on the LTO-1 virtual

cartridges.
After either scheduled or manual cleaning frees up
space, create new LTO-2 or LTO-3 media and
import them to the new VTL.

Single VTL

On the backup server, disable the existing VTL and

Legacy LTO-1 media and drives
delete all LTO-1 drives.
are removed and either all new
LTO-2 media and drives or all new On the Data Domain system, remove the LTO-1
LTO-3 media and drives are added
drives from access groups and delete them. Create
to an existing VTL. A new VTL
new tape drive models in the VTL, and add the new
does not need to be created with
VTL to access groups. Create virtual cartridges.
this method, so free space is not
On the backup server rediscover the VTL, and
required.
configure the new LTO-2 or LTO-3 drives.

LTO Application-Specific Migration Guides

Guides with detailed procedures for specific backup applications are listed below.

LTO Tape Migration for CA ARCserve Backup r12 - 7/1/09

LTO Tape Migration for CommVault 7.0 SP3 - 7/7/09

LTO Tape Migration for EMC Networker 7.4.2 SP2 - 1/22/09

LTO Tape Migration for HP Data Protector 6.0 - 6/3/09

LTO Tape Migration for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager 5.5 - 7/7/09

LTO Tape Migration for Symantec Backup Exec 12 SP1 - 7/7/09

LTO Tape Migration for Symantec NetBackup 6.5.2 - 1/22/09

Note: More LTO tape migration guides for additional applications are scheduled for posting in
the near future. If you need information about a backup application that is not currently in the list,
check back later.
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