Allow Media Overwrite

This property appears for master and media servers only.

The Allow Media Overwrite property overrides NetBackup's overwrite protection for specific media types. Normally, NetBackup will not overwrite certain media types. To disable overwrite protection, place a check in the check box of one or more of the listed media formats.

For example, place a check in the CPIO check box to permit NetBackup to overwrite the cpio format.

The following media formats on removable media can be selected to be overwritten:

• ANSI: When checked, ANSI labeled media can be overwritten.
• AOS/VS: When checked, AOS/VS media can be overwritten. (Data General AOS/VS backup format.)
• CPIO: When checked, CPIO media can be overwritten.
• DBR: When checked, DBR media can be overwritten. (This is a VERITAS backup format that is no longer used.)
• RS-MTF1: VERITAS Remote Storage MTF1 media format. When checked, VERITAS Remote Storage MTF1 media format can be overwritten.
• TAR: When checked, TAR media can be overwritten.
• MTF1: When checked, MTF1 media can be overwritten. With only MTF1 checked, all other MTF formats, apart from Backup Exec MTF (BE-MTF1) and Remote Storage MTF (RS-MTF1) media format can be overwritten.
• BE-MTF1: When checked, Backup Exec MTF media can be overwritten.

The Allow Media Overwrite setting corresponds to ALLOW_MEDIA_OVERWRITE in the /usr/openv/netbackup/bp.conf file.

By default, NetBackup does not overwrite any of the above formats on removable media, and logs an error if an overwrite attempt occurs. This format recognition requires that the first variable length block on a media be less than or equal to 32 kilobytes.

If media contains one of the protected formats and you do not permit media overwriting, NetBackup takes the following actions:

• If the volume has not been previously assigned for a backup
• Sets the volume's state to FROZEN
• Selects a different volume
• Logs an error
• If the volume is in the NetBackup media catalog and has been previously selected for backups
• Sets the volume's state to SUSPENDED
• Aborts the requested backup
• Logs an error
• If the volume is mounted for a backup of the NetBackup catalog, the backup is aborted and an error is logged that indicates the volume cannot be overwritten.
• If the volume is mounted to restore files or list the media contents, NetBackup aborts the request and logs an error that indicates the volume does not have a NetBackup format.