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  1. Home
  2. NetBackup™ Backup Planning and Performance Tuning Guide
  3. Media configuration guidelines
  4. About the threshold for media errors
NetBackup™ Backup Planning and Performance Tuning Guide

About the threshold for media errors

Each time a read, write, or position error occurs, NetBackup records the time, media ID, type of error, and drive index in the EMM database. Then NetBackup scans to see whether that media has had "m" of the same errors within the past "n" hours. The variable "m" is a tunable parameter known as the media_error_threshold. The default value of media_error_threshold is 2 errors. The variable "n" is the time_window parameter (default 12 hours).

If a tape volume has more than media_error_threshold errors, NetBackup takes the appropriate action.

Table: If number of tape volume errors exceeds media_error_threshold

Situation

NetBackup action

If the volume has not been previously assigned for backups

NetBackup does the following:

  • Sets the volume status to FROZEN

  • Selects a different volume

  • Logs an error

If the volume is in the NetBackup media catalog and was previously selected for backups

NetBackup does the following:

  • Sets the volume to SUSPENDED

  • Abandons the current backup

  • Logs an error

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Adjusting the media_error_threshold

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