How can I prioritise a restore job to run before other scheduled jobs in System Centre Data Protection Manager?

(FYI - DPM 2012 64 bit on Windows Server 2008 R2 Std with 16GB RAM)

Thanks

Hi

Restores should automatically be prioritized.  If the data source you are doing a recovery for has an ongoing synchronization or recovery point job when you trigger a restore, DPM will cancel that running job and start the recovery.  If there are other jobs running that are not associated with the data source you want to recover, I believe those jobs are left alone, but the recovery job will be scheduled ahead of other pending jobs. 

Thanks for the reply Mike.

What I found was that backup jobs already queued (Monthly to tape) where continuing to hold the tape drive in use, over multiple backup jobs, despite the fact that the restore job had already started but was waiting for the tape.  Eventually a second tape jukebox became available so I moved the tapes into the second jukebox.  Even then the restore only started after I cancelled the restore job and re-created it. 

So, alls well that ends well since I could restore the lost data, but it took far too long. I was expecting it to behave as you described. The restore job started immediately but despite tapes changing for the backup jobs, no data was restored. 

Could this have been caused by 1) The restore job was started minutes after the monthly jobs started. or 2) The restore job has already "started" and was therefore not scheduled any more.

Kind regards

Andy

Hi,

<snip>
...the restore job had already started but was waiting for the tape. 
>snip<

So it sounds like DPM did the right action and started the restore operation, but the tape required to perform the restore was not in the library.

I think for tape restores, your experience will vary based on the following factors.

1) Is the tape needed to perform the restore present in the library and DPM knows about it.
2) Can you insert the needed tape via IE port, or do you need to eject a magazine to insert the needed tape.
3) Does the library have a barcode reader so a fast inventory can be done to recognize the inserter tape.
4) If no barcode reader, does the library have multiple drives so detailed inventory can take place while other backups are in progress.

Anyhow, glad you were able to get the restore accomplished in a timely m