Commvault Backup Tapes

Not that I do any tape work now, but the questions I would want answered are just.

What is the format of the tape SDLT, AIT, LTO etc.

What software was used to make the backup.

Looking at LTO3 or 4 tapes and Commvault was the software used to make the backups.

I've got tape drives to suit so that's not an issue and I've also got a few bits and pieces of software, I'm considering Nucleus Kernel Tape Recovery which they tell me should work with Commvault tapes.

I've used it previously for Backupexec created tapes and it's a great bit of software, just not sure about Commvault.

Try eMag www.emaglink.co.uk

Try eMag www.emaglink.co.uk

Commvault has high security level. It is impossible to recover data without an original device.

I don't know about very recent Commvault, but several years ago eMag did have a solution. Judging by the LTO-3 drive, it doesn't sound very recent.

Apologies for the long post, but I am pasting a Tape Restoration Best Practices I created for a specific client project of mine involving 400 tapes and around 19TB of restored data

Tape Restoration Best Practices

1. BEST PRACTICE #1 CREATE AN INVENTORY

Due to the fact that the contents and composition of the tapes is completely unknown at this point, our first recommend step is to create and inventory with folder and file listings such as the example below

File Path, File Name, File Size, Modified Date, Created Date, Accessed Date

There are several key pieces of information that may be derived from inventory reports

A. The dates backups were made
B. The type, quantity and location of email correspondences.
C. Obviously named folders of potentially relevant evidence by
a. Department
b. Individual Custodians

A. First pass relevancy filtering

Creating an inventory will allow one to immediately exclude any of the tapes that do not have backups that were created during the relevant time period.

At this stage, one may discover that none of the tapes have backups that fall within the relevant time period of the dispute, in which case tape related services may cease.

2. BEST PRACTICE #2 SEGREGATION OF EMAILS AND LOOSE FILES

Of the ESI that is extracted from the tapes from backup sessions falling within the potentially relevant timeframe, our best practice is to handle email correspondences differently than loose files such as a collection of Adobe PDF files found within a custodian-named folder called “policies”.

A. Email

Our processing software can identify all commonly known email files such as Microsoft PST, MSG, EML, and OST. Based on consultation with the Customer, our best practice is to create and test a list of custodian names and email mail boxes and addresses that may have existed.

This is not an exact science as some custodian’s last names may have changed during the relevant time period such as in the case of marriage or divorce, and knowledge of such name changes is only possessed by reasonably inaccessible former employees, if at all.

B. Folders and Loose Files

There are two distinct methods to identify potentially relevant folders and loose files
Apply key word filters to the entire universe of folders and loose files restored from tape.

This is the most expensive option and not recommended, unless it is unavoidable.

Manual selection of folders that appear to contain potentially relevant ESI.

This can be the far less expensive solution assuming the restored evidence is found to be arranged in a logical and decipherable format. Oftentimes, our inventory reports can identify departmental level folders and distinct custodian named folders. Vast quantities of obviously irrelevant files and folders may be readily identifiable such as software installations or databases.

Visual Workflow Diagram

1. STARTING COLLECTION 400 TAPE COLLECTION OF UNKNOWN CONTENTS

$ 400
2. DIVISION INTO BACKUP SESSION SETS

ONE BACKUP SESSION WRITTEN ACROSS 5 TAPES
Due to the presumably large universe of ESI that would have been backed up to these tapes, one may assume that a single complete backup of the Customer’s network would require, on average, five tapes. Therefore, we will assume that the 400 tapes may actually be comprised of 80 complete backup sessions. Identifying the dates the backup sessions were made will allow us to exclude chronologically irrelevant sessions.
3. FILTERING BY DATE – THE FIRST PASS CUT
Backup Session #1 Made in 2003 = Exclude

Backup Session #22 Made in 2008 = Include

4. FILTERING BY CONTENT
Of the ESI that is restored from backup session tapes that fall within the potentially relevant collection, our best practice is to handle email correspondences differently than loose files such as a collection of Adobe PDF files found within a custodian-named folder called “policies”.
C. Email
D. Loose FilesBackup Session #1 Made in 2003 = Exclude

With 400 tapes, over many years, I think you are very lucky if they have all been backed up with the same software package, and compatible drives. Not all backup programs remain backward compatible.