Using the Command Line Interface › ca_backup - Backup Manager Command › ca_backup - Global Job Options › ca_backup Backup Media Options

ca_backup Backup Media Options

The ca_backup command includes the following global backup media options:

ca_backup

[-firsttapeopt <owritesameblank|owritesameblankany>]
[-firsttapetimeout <minutes<1-9999>>]
[-spantapeopt <owritesameblank|owritesameblankany>]
[-spantapetimeout <minutes<1-9999>>]
[-sessionpassword <session password>[-savepassword [-remindafter n]]]
[-encryption <encryption key> [-atagent|-atserverduringbackup|-atserverduringmigration][-savepassword [-remindafter n]]]
[-compression [-atagent|-atserver]]
[-mediabyname]

• -firsttapeopt <owritesameblank| owritesameblankany>

  Specify media options for the first media used in the backup job. By default, set to Overwrite Same media (append to media). Blank media and Any media are not the same. Any indicates a formatted media with a different media name than that provided in the job.

  The media selection search order is from left to right. If the owritesameblankany option is specified, CA ARCserve Backup will first search for a media with the same name as the job. If one is found and is usable, the media is formatted using the same name, and used for the backup. If not, CA ARCserve Backup will search for a Blank media to use. If no Blank media is available, CA ARCserve Backup will then search for Any usable media to format and use for the backup.

  Note: If the -rotation schedule argument is included, the specified rotation rules will override these options.

• -firsttapetimeout <minutes<1-9999>>

  Specify the time, in minutes, to wait for a usable media to be made available for a backup job. By default, this value is 5 minutes. If a usable media is not made available within this time period, the job times out and fails.

• -spantapeopt <owritesameblank| owritesameblankany>

  Specify media options for any span media used in the backup job. These options apply to jobs that require more than one media to determine the overwrite rules for the additional media. You need to specify which media CA ARCserve Backup can use when the job spans media.

  The media selection search order is from left to right. By default, set to Overwrite Same or Blank. During spanning of tape, if the default is specified, CA ARCserve Backup first searches for a media with the same name and a higher sequence than the original tape. If a tape is found and is usable, the media is formatted and used as the next tape. If not, CA ARCserve Backup searches for a Blank media to use.

  Note: If the -rotation schedule argument is included, the specified rotation rules will override these options.

• -spantapetimeout <minutes<1-9999>>

  Specify the time, in minutes, to wait for a usable span media to be made available for a backup job. By default, this value is infinite, and the job continues to wait and prompt until a usable media is loaded or the user cancels the job.

• -sessionpassword <session password>[-savepassword [-remindafter n]]

  Applies a password to each session backed up to media. To restore data from one of these sessions, the password must be provided.

  • -savepassword

    Specifies to save the session password into the CA ARCserve Backup database for this backup job. If you do not include this switch, the session password will not be saved into the CA ARCserve Backup database.

  • -remindafter n

    Specifies the number of days the session password is saved. After the specified number of days has elapsed, a reminder message prompting you to change your password will be logged in the Activity Log. The available range is 0 to 9999 days.

  Note: For more information about importing and exporting session password from or to the CA ARCserve Backup database, see the DumpDB Utility.

• -encryption <encryption key> [-atagent|-atserverduringbackup|-atserverduringmigration] [-savepassword [-remindafter n]]

  Encrypts files before the backup. To restore encrypted files, the encryption password must be provided.

  To restore a session that was backed up using this argument, you must use the ca_restore -tapesessionpw argument to execute the restore job.

  Note: For a deduplication device, you cannot include the [-atagent|-atserverduringbackup|-atserverduringmigration] switch.

  • If you select -atagent, the encryption will be performed at the agent side. This is the default option.
  • If you select -atserverduringbackup, the encryption will be performed at the server side during the backup process.
  • If you select -atserverduringmigration, the encryption will be performed at the server side during the migration process.
  • -savepassword

    Specifies to save the encryption password into the CA ARCserve Backup database for this backup job. By default, this option is selected.

  • -remindafter n

    Specifies the number of days a encryption password is saved. After the specified number of days has elapsed, a reminder message prompting you to change your password will be logged in the Activity Log. The available range is 0 to 9999 days.

  Note: For more information about importing and exporting session password from or to the CA ARCserve Backup database, see the DumpDB Utility.

• -compression [-atagent|-atserver]

  Compresses files before the backup.

  Note: For a deduplication device, you cannot include the [-atagent|-atserver] switch.

  • If you select -atagent, the compression will be performed at the agent side. This is the default option.
  • If you select -atserver, the compression will be performed at the server side.
• -mediabyname

  CA ARCserve Backup writes to any media that has the specified name, regardless of the media's ID or sequence number. This option is useful if you are running a repeating overwrite job with a specific media and you want to ensure that the same media is used for the job each time.

  • When you include this option, CA ARCserve Backup looks for a media that has the specified name and uses it, regardless of the media's other identifying features.
  • When you do not include this option, the second time the backup job is run, CA ARCserve Backup cannot always locate the original tape because some of its identifying features will have changed.

  Note: If two or more media in the tape library have the same name, CA ARCserve Backup will use the first media in the device group that matches the specified name. Therefore, you should not use this option to perform a single occurrence overwrite.