Within this dialog, storage location for backups of a period is defined. (For Stratesave Unix, this location is on the server). If the period has not been defined, it is created also. The radio buttons named Storage-media select between Tape, Fixed disk and Removable disk.
Alternately ... backups contains the desired rotation-number, that are kept for each period. If, for example, this number is set to 4, the 5th backup overwrites 1st backup etc. The rotation must be set to between 2 (1 for backups to fixed disks) and 12. Fields 1. to 12., contain storage of backup in each rotation. Tape/disk-volume-names are required to be typed in. A tape name is at most 6 character long and has only uppercase characters or digits. This conforms to ANSI-tape-standard. Volume names of removable disks are at most 12 characters long. They have all uppercase letters, except for Stratesave to Unix server, where mixed uppercase/lowercase volumenames are supported (Unix supports them). For backups to fixed disks, specify the directories, where backups will be stored on server. For backups which extend over several tapes/removable disks, a tapeset (or diskset) should be entered. A tapeset is a list of tape names, separated by blank or comma. When the first tape or removable disk is filled, backup continues to next in list. For all backups of rotation, the same number of tapes/removable disks must be entered. Before backup starts, initialize all tapes or removable disks in set.
For backups on tape or removable disk, each tape or disk can only be used for one period and one macro (PC). This restriction follows from the GFS (Grandfather Father Son) tape rotation scheme used in Stratesave. Also, the last backup in rotation must be stored to a different tape or disk than the first one in rotation scheme. So at least 2 tapes or disks are required per period. The reason is, that backups on tape or removable disk always erase all backups stored further behind on tape or disk. For backups on fixed-disks, there is no such restriction, all backups can go to the same disk. But for maximum safety, it is better to distribute backups to several disks.
Backup rotation 1
You can set backup rotation to 1 for backups to fixed disks. Internally this is similar to rotation 2. A new backup will not overwrite its precedor, but the previous backup is deleted after new backup completes. With rotation=1 you have minimum security, because you can not restore from previous backups, only from the latest backup. But rotation=1 covers the case, where your PC disk crashes during backup. Previous backup is still available to restore from.
Backup over multiple volumes
Stratesave allows backups to extend over multiple volumes (tapes,CDs / DVDs). You can enter a list of volume names into each field for volumes, separated by blank or comma. When first volume gets filled, and a second volume has been specified in list, Stratesave will continue backup on the second volume. Dito for 3rd, 4th volume etc. For example, under 1. enter VOL1A,VOL1B, under 2. enter VOL2A,VOL2B. This will start the 1. backup in rotation scheme on VOL1A. When VOL1A gets filled, Stratesave will prompt for VOL1B and continue backup there. 2nd backup will start on VOL2A, and extend to VOL2B etc.
Option SCSI Autoloader (not RSM) specifies that autoloader will be used for tape backups, and accessed directly (not through Removable Storage Manager). Enter the autoloader slot number(s) for the tapes into fields Slot nr. The numbering of autoloader slots is defined by autoloader itself, and should be visible from autoloader manual. If you don't define a slotnr of a tape, or - as space holder, that particular tape will be prompted for insertion into tape drive.
The dialog is terminated by OK or Cancel. Cancel ignores the changes made in dialog. After OK, the updated settings will be displayed in window Storage location.
Note on usage of tapes and removable disks:
Tapes and removable disks have to be initialized before they can be used with Stratesave. This should be done before start of backup. To avoid mistakes, also label the tapes and removable disks on their cover.
See also: How to design the backup plan