Re: [Bacula-users] Data restore from tape: Last minute confirmation before going production

[Frank S. <fs@WPI.EDU>]

Win Htin wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> For all my backup volumes I have set the following:
> 
>      File Retention:        60 days
>      Job Retention:        6 months
>     Volume Retention:   365 days
> 
> I have read and re-read the file restore section many times but would
> like to have an independent confirmation.
> 
> My understanding is, if I NEVER re-cycle an off-site tape, by using the
> "bscan" command, I should be able to restore data from a given volume
> (from off-site) even after "Volume Retention" period had expired. e.g. 3
> years down the road ( ignoring the integrity of the tape, that being a
> different issue).

I just want to stress a point that John mentioned - the catalog data for a
given volume is never absolutely *required* to recover data from a volume.  It
is just a huge convenience factor.   When the worst case scenario happens,
though, and all you have to rebuild your infrastructure is a box full of tapes
and a corporate credit card, Bacula will let you get all of your data back
with a combination of bls, bextract, and bscan.  It may be slower, but it'll work.

-- 
Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu  |  For every problem, there is a solution that
WPI Senior Network Engineer   |  is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL Mencken
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