Volume Initialization 

Volume (tape) initialization refers to the writing of a label (file with the name .tape.hdr0) to the volume concerned. This label file is read when the volume is checked. If this label file does not exist, the check fails and the volume is rejected.

You only have to initialize new tapes or tapes that were not used by BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE. Only initialize the volumes once, not repeatedly before every backup. You do have to reinitialize a volume, however, if want to change the name of that volume. You cannot change volume names during a backup.

Several devices can be used for initializing volumes. The backup devices defined in the init<DBSID>.sap profile in parameters tape_address and tape_address_rew (or in tape_address_arch and in tape_address_rew_arch ) (see tape_address and tape_address_rew) are used serially during a volume initialization. The volumes of all the available backup devices can then be changed at the same time.

Your volumes should also have paper labels in order to make the volume name immediately visible.

The information in the label is overwritten or ignored if you write to a BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE volume directly using a tool which is not from SAP.

Procedure

Volumes are initialized using the programs BRBACKUP and BRARCHIVE.

All volumes to be used by BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE for the first time must be initialized. If you want to use automatic volume management, the volume names must be listed in the init<DBSID>.sap parameters volume_backup/volume_archive (see Automatic Tape Management).

You can use the following options during an initialization:

Rename volumes that have already been initialized. Only possible for volumes with an expired expiration period.

Initialize new volumes or volumes not yet used by BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE. The expiration period check is not active. Important: This option can also be used to reinitialize locked volumes, which you should never do. If you initialize BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE tapes with the addition force , the tape_use_count stored in the tape label is set to 1. Otherwise this value is increased accordingly.

Enter the names of volumes for initialization.

Number of volumes for initialization.

Initialization of volumes with the volume names specified in volume_backup/volume_archive :

Use the BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE option -i [force] . Mount a volume and enter the following command:

brbackup|brarchive -i [force]

All the volumes specified in the parameters volume_backup/volume_archive will be initialized in sequence.

New and non-BRBACKUP/BRARCHIVE volumes must always be initialized with the additional specification force .

If you initialize a volume without this additional specification, the expiration period of the volume is checked. Locked volumes or volumes without labels are rejected; volumes that are not locked are renamed.

Initialization of x volumes with the first x volume names specified in volume_backup/volume_archive:

brbackup|brarchive -i [force] -n x

Initialization of volumes with a specific name:

brbackup|brarchive -i [force] -v <name1>[,<name2>]...

All the volumes for initialization must be mounted in the backup device in the proper order.