On Fri, Sep 01, 2006 at 08:56:15AM +0200, David Sánchez Martín wrote: > > Now for something completely different ( ;-) ) > > The chg-zd-mtx changer script knows about barcodes, but, > What's the difference between using it or don't? > Just time looking for the next tape on the changer?, > or it will refuse/warn to load a non/bad barcoded tape? >
Keep in mind, this answer is from someone who never used a tape barcode system ... Last query first, I don't know if chg-zd-mtx will refuse to even consider a non-barcoded tape if it is told the library has a reader. Even barcoded tapes have to be labeled with amlabel. Other parts of amanda certainly refuse to use a tape with an inappropriate amanda tape label. But that is an entirely different issue than I think you are asking. Using barcodes has advantage, it seems to me, only if you move through your slots in a non-sequential manner. During restores, or if the library has multiple drives used for multiple configs and tapes are loaded from different parts of the library would be two such examples. Or maybe you are weird and load your slots with tapes in an arbitrary order. For most of us the tape in slot 5 is used after the tape in slot 4. So going the slot 5 "directly" because of a barcode database, or sequentially because it is the next slot is the same. When the movements are not to sequential slots, there are additional advantages to direct moves besides time saved. Without a barcode db, amanda must load, rewind, read, and unload each intervening tape causing additional wear on the tape and the robotics. -- Jon H. LaBadie [EMAIL PROTECTED] JG Computing 4455 Province Line Road (609) 252-0159 Princeton, NJ 08540-4322 (609) 683-7220 (fax)
