How to write aux copy to tape using more than one drive

HI ​@Gil from Canada ,

Common Causes for Single Drive Usage

• Streams set to 1 on the storage policy copy.
• Drive pool only includes one drive or has a drive limit set.
• Other jobs are using the drives, leaving only one available.
• MediaAgent or data path configuration restricts usage to a single MediaAgent or path.
• Resource contention or reservation issues.

Action Steps

1. Increase Streams:

   • Set the number of streams on the storage policy copy to match the number of drives you want to use (up to 8).

2. Verify Drive Pool:

   • Ensure all 8 drives are included and online in the drive pool.

3. Check for Competing Jobs:

   • Suspend or reschedule other jobs if they are using the drives.

4. Review Data Path Settings:

   • Make sure both MediaAgents are available and not restricted by preferred data path settings.

5. Adjust Drive Pool Limits:

   • Increase the maximum number of drives if a limit is set.

Below are step-by-step instructions to ensure your auxiliary copy jobs in the CommCell Console (Java GUI) can use multiple tape drives:

1. Verify All Drives Are in the Drive Pool

1. Open CommCell Console.
2. Navigate to Storage Resources > Libraries > [Your Tape Library] > Drive Pools.
3. Right-click your drive pool and select Properties.
4. On the Drives tab, ensure all 8 drives are listed and checked.
   • If not, add missing drives by selecting them and clicking Add.

2. Check Drive Status

1. In Storage Resources > Libraries > [Your Tape Library] > Drives, verify all drives show as Online.
2. If any drive is offline, troubleshoot hardware or zoning issues.

3. Set the Number of Streams on the Storage Policy Copy

1. Go to Policies > Storage Policies.
2. Expand your storage policy and right-click the secondary (tape) copy.
3. Select Properties.
4. Go to the Media tab.
5. Under Combine source data streams to, check the box and set the number of streams (e.g., 8 for 8 drives).
   • Important: Do not set this higher than the number of physical drives.
6. Click OK to save.

4. Set Streams When Running Auxiliary Copy

1. Right-click the storage policy, point to All Tasks, and select Run Auxiliary Copy.
2. In the Auxiliary Copy Job Options dialog:
   • On the General tab, select Number of Streams and enter the desired number (up to 8).
   • Or, select Allow Maximum to use all available drives.
3. On the Job Initiation tab, choose Immediate or Schedule as needed.
4. Click OK to start the job.

5. Check for Competing Jobs

1. Open the Job Controller.
2. Review running jobs to ensure other backups or restores are not using the drives.
3. Suspend or reschedule other jobs if necessary.

6. Confirm MediaAgent and Data Path Settings

1. In Policies > Storage Policies, right-click your storage policy and select Properties.
2. Go to the Data Paths tab.
3. Ensure both MediaAgents are listed and enabled as data paths for the tape copy.

7. Monitor Job Distribution

• As the aux copy runs, check the Job Controller to see if multiple drives are being used.
• If only one drive is used, re-check the above settings.

If this does not help, please reach out to support for further assistance.

Regards,

Rohit Ravi