tape retention in days

Summary information

Default value

0

Range of values

0–365

Status

Dynamic

Display level

Intermediate

Required role

System Administrator

The tape retention in days parameter specifies the number of days you intend to retain each tape after it has been used for either a database or a transaction log dump. It is intended to keep you from accidentally overwriting a dump tape.

For example, if you have set tape retention in days to 7 days, and you try to use the tape before 7 days have elapsed since the last time you dumped to that tape, Backup Server issues a warning message.

You can override the warning by using the with init option when executing the dump command. Doing this will cause the tape to be overwritten and all data on the tape to be lost.

Both the dump database and dump transaction commands provide a retaindays option, which overrides the tape retention in days value for a particular dump. See “Protecting dump files from being overwritten” for more information.