backup on tape (DAT) device

  • Hello

    my computer have a tape backup device (DAT) and i made 3 jobs for recording 3 databases on my tape .

    All the jobs make an overwrite when begin the job backup. The databases are for example

    123.bak , xpto.bak and teste.bak

    when i run the 3 jobs to make the backup, if i am trying to restore 1 database and i click the button to see "View contents" i have only 1 backup for example the last database backup.

    I dont know why because i think that the overwrite option clean the same database name backup and write a new one with the same name.

    I' am dont understand why the view contents of my tape dont show my the 3 .BAK backup.

    Someone could give me an explanation for this fact.

    Thanks very much

    Luis Santos

  • If you choose overwirte existing media it is the whole tape not just the DB. Choose instead overwrite on first db and append for each additional db backup to be on the device.

    "Don't roll your eyes at me. I will tape them in place." (Teacher on Boston Public)

  • Thanks you for your help, but i have 2 questions:

    In this case my tape volume always growing and i can´t save espace in their, and also if i use the append mode how can i restore only one determinate day of backup because i dont know if i am clicking "View contents" on tape the backup are divdide by day/time for choosing what i want to restore.

    Best regards

    Luis Santos

  • Now you will yes be growing the amount of data on the tape but as I stated you do overwirte for the first databse backup then append for 2 and 3. So you shoul know that if the database name x was the secound backup then it is position 2 on the tape.

    Now if you are going to have more than one day you do overwrite to refresh the tape and append for each db. If they are always done in the same order you can figure out which position they are in and based on the last day you did an overwrite you know what day to account for.

    Finally it you cannot remember you can look at the backup tables in msdb with this query.

    select * from backupset where backup_set_id >=

    (SELECT TOP 1 backup_set_id FROM backupset bs INNER JOIN backupmediafamily bmf ON bs.media_set_id = bmf.media_set_id AND device_type = 5 WHERE position = 1 ORDER BY backup_start_date DESC)

    AND media_set_id IN (select media_set_id from backupmediafamily where device_type = 5)

    May not be optimized but it will return all the backups since the last overwirte on the tape drive only. Then you can use the ordinal number and backup startdate to get what you are asking.

    Hope this helps.

    "Don't roll your eyes at me. I will tape them in place." (Teacher on Boston Public)

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