Erase Media Option

Use the Erase Data option to erase all data from media. When you use this, Arcserve Backup erases all references to the contents of this media from the database. If you re-format this media, its physical history (read and write passes, and so on) is carried over. If you are using a library drive, you can erase data from a single media or from multiple media.

File System Devices (FSD) that are part of a staging group cannot be erased using the Erase Media option. To prevent accidental erasing of staged data from an FSD prior to it being migrated to a final destination media, the Erase toolbar button on the Device Manager window is disabled. If you want to erase the data from the FSD, you can either use the command line (ca_devmgr) or disable the staging option for the selected FSD.

You can choose one of the following options to erase data:

• Quick Erase-A Quick Erase effectively erases the media but the history of the media is still available to Arcserve Backup for tracking purposes. It overwrites the media label, thus making it much shorter than a Long Erase (which takes minutes to hours).
• Quick Erase Plus-This is the same Quick Erase, but also erases the bar code and serial number if this feature is enabled. The media is no longer traceable by Arcserve Backup and information such as the expiration date is no longer carried forward.
• Long Erase-A Long Erase completely removes all data from media. It takes much longer than a Quick Erase, but the media is completely blank. For security reasons, if you want to make sure that the data on the media is erased completely, use Long Erase.
• Quick Erase and Convert to WORM-This option performs all the tasks associated with Quick Erase and then converts the tape to WORM media.

Note: To use this option, the changer must be a Quantum™ SDLT 600 drive or one of its descendent models, and the media must be at least SDLT-II or higher.

Erasing WORM Media

The Quick Erase and Convert to WORM option is not accessible unless Arcserve Backup detects Quantum™ SDLT-II or higher media in the library slots. After you import media into a library, Arcserve Backup automatically detects and differentiates WORM and non-WORM media in the slots. As such, you do not need to perform a full inventory of the slots after importing media. However, you should perform a full inventory after you install or upgrade Arcserve Backup.

More information:

Inventory Slots Option

Erase Media

Format Media