Formerly known as Veritas Backup Exec, the Symantec Backup Exec is a data backup and recovery software for small and medium-scale enterprises. This utility generally utilizes tape libraries as a medium for creative data archives. Veritas Backup Exec stores data onto a magnetic tape cartridge in the .BKF file format.
As LTO tapes are reliable and have a longer life span than conventional data storage media, they are preferred for large-scale data archives and libraries like government banks, institutions, etc., intending to hold the data for more than ten years.
Another reason behind using tapes as a backup or archival storage media is to safeguard the data from ransomware & malware. This is achieved by keeping the tape libraries on a local network or in an isolated facility without internet connectivity.
However, lack of regular monitoring or proper infrastructure can lead to issues with the magnetic storage tapes or LTO tape drives. This results in inaccessible data backups on an LTO tape. In some cases, stiction or the formation of an oxide layer, or brittleness caused by acetic acid can lead to physical damage, resulting in permanent data loss.
Why is there a Need to Recover Data from an LTO Tape?
Generally, we need to recover data from an LTO tape when there is a problem with the tape drive, or the LTO tape format is incompatible with the LTO tape drive. Other reasons behind this issue could be –
- Unusual wearing of the LTO tape
- Incorrect insertion of the LTO tape inside the tape drive
- Malfunctioning or damaged LSI controller
- Improper leader pin positioning in the LTO tape cartridge
- R/w issues with the LTO tape
- Misconfigured or incompatible tape drivers
How to Recover Data From a Veritas-Backed-Up LTO Tape?
As mentioned earlier, magnetic tape storage technology offers a few advantages over conventional data storage media in terms of reliability, longevity, and cost of operations. However, due to the initial cost of installation, specialized hardware requirements, and lower transfer speeds, LTO tapes are only used in libraries, data archives and large enterprises that deal with records.
Scenarios where an LTO tape has become unreadable due to issues like incompatible drives, read-write issues, etc., make the tape backup inaccessible. Such issues can lead to a possible data loss scenario. This is where LTO tape recovery is needed. Tape data recovery is not easy as it requires special hardware, software and expertise in magnetic tape storage media.
However, a simplified way to recover tape backup in a few clicks is available in the form of an LTO tape data recovery software. Stellar Data Recovery for Tape is the tool you need to recover Veritas (Symantec) tape backups from LTO tape cartridges.
If you have created a backup of some data on an LTO tape cartridge using the Veritas (Symantec) Backup Exec and are unable to access it, follow this detailed guide to access the data –
- Purchase and install Stellar Data Recovery for Tape on the system with a connected tape drive.
- Launch the software.
- Click on Create Image and click Next.
- Choose the destination folder to save the tape drive image.
- Choose ‘Auto’ from the drop-down list against the Block Size. This will ensure faster processing and image creation.
- Click Create to initiate the tape image creation process.
- After the image is successfully created, the software will show it on the screen. Click Scan to recover the files.
- Once the software finds all the recoverable files, it will show them.
- Click on a file to preview it. Doing this will help you check its integrity.
- Once you are satisfied, select the files by using the checkbox against them.
- Click on Save.
The recovered files will be saved to the selected destination.
Remember –
- If you don’t want to recover the files from the image, you can simply abort the process after saving the tape image.
- By default, this software creates the tape backup image dump with .tape format. This simplifies the tape data recovery process.
- Stellar Data Recovery Technician offers support for .BKF and compressed .BKF files created using Veritas (Symantec) software. If you have an LTO tape image dump file having a different file format like .TAR, .CPIO, etc., or created via Tivoli, Veritas (Symantec) NetBackup software, you can upgrade to the Toolkit edition.
Conclusion
Even in today’s age of flash or cloud storage, magnetic tape storage is important. It is scalable, reliable, and safe from any malware attack due to its ‘cold’ infrastructure. As it is mainly kept isolated, it becomes an ideal storage system for archives and storing large data sets for a longer period. And this longer period of storage requires a special environment to protect the tapes from any physical damage.
A passionate writer, driven by his interest in everything tech, Keshav Katyal has always been captivated by the latest gadgets since childhood. His interest in gadgets grew when he got his first gaming console, the Nintendo Game Boy Advanced. Hours and days of tinkering with gadgets encouraged the inner geek in him who now loves writing about the latest technologies.
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