Importing Data Protector (DP) Media:-good practice to minimize the risk of data loss.

Credit to for sharing his analysis of this problem.

Problem

When importing media into a Data Protector cell, if protection has expired on
the media, it is possible immediately after the import that the media will be
used for a new backup or copy and the original data on the media will be
overwritten and therefore lost!

Solution Options (if using DP 10.30 or earlier)

A) Instead of importing to an existing media pool that is used for backups or copies,
make a new media pool dedicated for the import only. A media pool that is not
used by any backups or copies. This way the media won't be over written.

B) If the import is of a physical tape, set the write protect switch to the
write protect position.

Note

After the media import in order to see expired catalog items, in most cases,
you will need to set protection on the objects and then carry out an import catalog
of the media.

Warning:- For Catalyst media the above solutions are not effective.
For Catalyst media we propose an upgrade to later DP version (10.40
or later) and then use the omnirc OB2_IMPORT_OPTIONS variable described below.

Extra Solution Option (if using DP 10.40 or later)

If using DP version 10.40 or later, in addition to the steps above,
there is a very useful omnirc variable that can be used to force new
catalog protection on the imported media.

OB2_IMPORT_OPTIONS = -protect {none | weeks n | days n | until Date | permanent | extend} [-expired only]

For example, the following omnirc value forces 30 weeks of protection on imported media:
OB2_IMPORT_OPTIONS=-protect weeks 30

OB2_IMPORT_OPTIONS must be set in the Cell Manager's omnirc file.

Thanks again to for sharing this information.

About the omnirc file

The omnirc (.omnirc on Linux) file can be found in the following
default directory:
Windows: <DriveLetter>:\ProgramData\OmniBack
Unix: /opt/omni/ (hidden file named .omnirc)

Note: The omnirc file may not always exist. If it does not exist, and it
is required, use the template file omnirc.tmpl (.omnirc.tmpl on Linux)
found in the same directory.

On windows it is important the filename is plain omnirc, and not omnirc.txt.