JSI Tip 2265. How do I perform an NTBackup in Windows 2000, without having to manually manage the media?

The RSM (Removable Storage Management) causes you to manually
manage media, when performing a NTBackup to removable media (Tape, Jazz, etc.).
Here is how I have automated the process:

1. If you are just getting started, manually Prepare all you media.

2. Use the NTBackup GUI to create and schedule the backup operations with the options
that you require.

3. Use Scheduled Tasks to open the Properties of your backup jobs and
    cut the Run text to a batch file. Change the Run
text to the full path to that batch file and modify the Start in to that folder.

4. Edit the batch file and modify the the NTBackup command to generate date/time
identifiers, per the enclosed example.

5. Add /UM to the end of the NTBackup switches,
    to allow NTBackup to overwrite whatever media you have mounted.

6. Add a RSM refresh command to the beginning of the batch,
    to cause RSM to be aware of the new media. You must allow this command time to complete.
    I use the Resource Kit Sleep command.

7. Add a RSM eject command to the end of the batch.

With the above changes, I perform the following activities every morning:

1. Check the Event log for any errors.

2. File the ejected tape in it's container.

3. Insert tonights tape and label it's container.

Here is my nightly differential backup batch:

rsm.exe refresh /LF"HP C1537A SCSI Sequential Device"
sleep 30
for /f "Tokens=1-4 Delims=/ " %%i in ('date /t') do  set dt=%%i-%%j-%%k-%%l
for /f "Tokens=1" %%i in ('time /t') do set tm=-%%i
set tm=%tm::=-%
set dtt=%dt%%tm%
ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Jerry\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\ALL.bks" 
       /n "JSI001 %dtt%" /d "JSI001 %dtt%" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:on /m differential /j "%dtt%" /l:f /p "4mm DDS" /UM
rsm.exe eject /PF"JSI001 %dtt% - 1" /astart
exit

Here is my weekly normal batch:

rsm.exe refresh /LF"HP C1537A SCSI Sequential Device"
sleep 30
for /f "Tokens=1-4 Delims=/ " %%i in ('date /t') do  set dt=%%i-%%j-%%k-%%l
for /f "Tokens=1" %%i in ('time /t') do set tm=-%%i
set tm=%tm::=-%
set dtt=%dt%%tm%
ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Jerry\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\ALL.bks" 
       /n "JSI001 %dtt%" /d "JSI001 %dtt%" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:on /m normal /j "%dtt%" /l:f /p "4mm DDS" /UM
rsm.exe eject /PF"JSI001 %dtt% - 1" /astart
exit

NOTE: See Windows 2000 NTBackup command line switches.

NOTE: See More on Windows 2000 backup command-line switches.

NOTE: See How do I use the command line for Removable Storage?

NOTE: See What media do I have in my tape library?

NOTE: See Scheduled Backup will NOT use media in the Import pool?

NOTE: See How can my scheduled Ntbackup react to my failure to insert a tape in the tape drive?

NOTE: See How do I Deallocate the mounted tape in a command script?