Robotic library sharing prerequisites

Before you can share libraries, you must have the following installed:

Backup Exec for Windows Servers on the Windows media servers.
Backup Exec for NetWare Servers version 9.0 or later on the NetWare media servers.
The Backup Exec for Windows Servers SAN Shared Storage Option on each Windows media server you want to operate in the shared environment.
Backup Exec for NetWare Servers SAN Shared Storage Option on each NetWare media server you want to operate in the shared environment.
The Backup Exec for Windows Servers Library Expansion Option or the Backup Exec for NetWare Servers Library Expansion Option.

Note:

The drive licenses you purchase for your robotic library are not platform-specific for this implementation. For example, if you plan to share a ten-drive robotic library, you can purchase nine Backup Exec for Windows Servers or Backup Exec for NetWare Servers drive licenses (the first drive in a robotic library does not require a Library Expansion Option license).

In order to successfully share robotic libraries, you need a working knowledge of both Backup Exec for Windows Servers and of Backup Exec for NetWare Servers. You also should have complete access to hardware and the ability to restart media servers.

Before proceeding with the robotic library sharing configuration, plan how you want to use your robotic library in this shared environment. For example, if you have a robotic library that has 100 slots in it, you may want to partition your robotic library so Backup Exec for Windows Servers uses 50 slots and Backup Exec for NetWare Servers uses 50 slots. Factors affecting how many slots you use for each operating system include media rotation schemes, the number of servers you are protecting, and the types of data stored on each server.

Label your media according to operating system or Backup Exec type. Color-coded or unique bar codes identifying whether the tapes are being used with Backup Exec for Windows Servers or Backup Exec for NetWare Servers is recommended. This will help you identify the media when you need to restore data or rotate the media back into your media rotation schedule.