Proper usage of Microsoft Backup

[Phil]

I have never completely understood Microsoft backup, and
I need to get it straightened out so I can make sure
backups are correct. Here is the problem:

Basically, I do not understand how Windows, and the
Removable Storage Service handles your Tapes.

I simply want to do the following:

Erase out all previous backups and references to tapes.
I essentially want to re-create the backup routine from
scratch.

I want to have a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday tape. The Friday tape will backup everything,
and the other tapes will backup only certain important
directories on a nightly basis. (There isnt much more
than 2gb of data, so I'm gonna just do a full backup each
night).

I know how to make the selections, etc. I just need to
understand how Windows Manages the tapes. I keep getting
errors saying "The specified media cannot be found", and
other ones.

Please Help! Maybe there is an article or walkthrough
available?

Phil

 

[Jerold Schulman]

May I suggest a different approach.

1. Run with unmanaged media (the /UM) switch and lable the tapes externally with
Monday, Tuesday, etc..
2. See tip 2265 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at http://www.jsiinc.com
3. On Monday-Thursday, use an differential backup, so that Thursdays tape has
Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thursday changes. That way, a restore is never more than 2
tapes.

See tip 7925 to get the RSM FREEMEDIA command.

I have never completely understood Microsoft backup, and
I need to get it straightened out so I can make sure
backups are correct. Here is the problem:

Basically, I do not understand how Windows, and the
Removable Storage Service handles your Tapes.

I simply want to do the following:

Erase out all previous backups and references to tapes.
I essentially want to re-create the backup routine from
scratch.

I want to have a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday tape. The Friday tape will backup everything,
and the other tapes will backup only certain important
directories on a nightly basis. (There isnt much more
than 2gb of data, so I'm gonna just do a full backup each
night).

I know how to make the selections, etc. I just need to
understand how Windows Manages the tapes. I keep getting
errors saying "The specified media cannot be found", and
other ones.

Please Help! Maybe there is an article or walkthrough
available?

Phil

Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com