To allow your backup software to take advantage of the StarWind VTL Linux solution, you need to complete the setup by configuring a VTL device.
With a VTL device configured in your infrastructure, the backup strategy can leverage the tape capabilities providing an additional option to store the backups.
Blog series
StarWind VTL Linux deployment - pt.1
StarWind VTL Linux configuration - pt.2
StarWind VTL Linux setup VTL device - pt.3
Configure StarWind VTL Linux device
Open the StarWind Management Console and click Add Server. Enter the IP Address or DNS name of the Host then click OK.
The host is added to the console. Click Connect.
To configure a new VTL device, click Add VTL Device.
Select Create a New Virtual Tape Library option and enter the Name. Click the three dots to select the correct Location.
Select the path configured in the VSA Storage and click Open.
When the Location has been specified, click Next.
Select the Device Model to use. Available devices are the following:
- HP MSL8096 LTO8
- IBM TS03584LTO7
Click Next.
Select Create new Target from the drop-down menu Choose a Target Attachment Method. Click Next.
Click Create to create the new VTL device.
The device is being created.
When the device is created, click Close to exit the wizard.
The created VTL device.
Add tapes
Select the just created VTL device and click Create Tape.
Leave default location and click Next.
Specify the tape parameters. Enter the Number of tapes and the Tape Type to create and, if requested, a Custom Tape Size. Click Create to proceed.
The specified number of tapes are created successfully.
Mount the VTL device
Access the Windows server used as data mover by the backup software and open the iSCSI Initiator Properties tool.
Go to Discovery tab and click Discover Portal. Enter the IP address or DNS name of the StarWind VTL Linux appliance's Data traffic NIC. Click Advanced.
From the Local Adapter drop-down list select Microsoft iSCSI Initiator then select the Initiator IP used by the server (tape server) for the VTL Data traffic. Click OK twice.
In the Target tab, select the StarWind VTL device iSCSI target displayed and click Connect.
Click Advanced.
From the Local Adapter drop-down list select Microsoft iSCSI Initiator then select the corresponding Initiator IP of the server and the Target portal IP that correspond to the VTL Data traffic IP address. Click OK twice.
The Target is now connected. Click OK.
Install tape library drivers
Based on the configured tape library as VTL device, download the corresponding driver:
In this example, the HP driver will be used. Click Extract to save the drivers anywhere in the server.
Double click the setup.exe file to run the installer, select available drivers and click Install.
When the installation is completed, click OK to exit.
Once the drivers installation is completed successfully, in the Device Manager you should see under Medium Changer devices the configured Tape library.
The VTL device is now ready to be used as tape device within the backup software in use.
StarWind VTL Linux can be downloaded as 30-day trial.
