Why Use The Export Functionality; When Would Export Be Used; When Would I Restore From An Exported Cartridge; Cartridge Export - HP StorageWorks D2D - Backup Systems User Manual

Step 1
Use backup application on host
to move cartridge to mail slot.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
HP StorageWorks D2D Backup System
Figure 56 Cartridge export

Why use the Export functionality?

The main reason for using Export is to create more space on the HP D2D Backup System. If space is
not an issue, Copy is the recommended method for creating offsite backups, because it is controlled
solely from the Web Management Interface and will not impact any tape rotation strategy. Export
involves use of the backup application. It is directly analogous to moving a cartridge in a physical
library to a mail slot (import/export element) so that the backup administrator can take it offsite or
put it into a firesafe. Only a single copy of the cartridge exists. It is on physical tape and no longer
on the cartridge in the HP D2D Backup System. The backup application is fully aware that the cartridge
location is now offsite, so cannot overwrite it without explicitly asking for the cartridge to be moved
back into the library.
The main advantage of Export is that it frees up disk space on the HP D2D Backup System if
deduplication is disabled on the library device. However, care must be taken to ensure that future
backups do not fail. For example, if a weekly backup tape is "exported", it will not be available for
append or overwrite the next time it is required. Depending on the backup application configuration
it may be possible to simply create a new blank cartridge in the library for use the next time a weekly
backup is required, however, in some configurations it will be necessary to re-import the physical
copy in order for the next backup to occur successfully.

When would Export be used?

Cartridge exports are likely to be used when the user wishes to free up space on the HP D2D Backup
System by exporting to physical tape a cartridge that is used infrequently. For example, if a rotation
scheme uses twelve monthly tapes, it is safe to export a monthly tape from two months ago because
it will not now be required (except for infrequent restores) for another ten months. The same applies
to yearly tapes which may never be required again as they are kept forever.

When would I restore from an exported cartridge?

Restoring from an "exported" cartridge has a higher likelihood than from a copied cartridge, because
the data no longer resides on the HP D2D Backup System. If a restore from an "exported" cartridge
Mail slot
Library
Step 2
Use HP D2D Web Management
Interface to export to tape drive.
1
2 Mailslot
3
4
5
6
7
8
Library
HP StorageWorks D2D Backup System
D2D Backup System HP D2D4112
Physical
Tape Drive
Cartridge
151