Problems that are caused by trying to import a tape cartridge that was exported by using the option --offline  can be solved by reimporting the tape cartridge by using the other options available. By using import --recreate  and –overwrite  (assuming the original path is used), some of the inodes on IBM Spectrum Scale are overwritten and new inodes are created for the files that did not have one. At the end of this process, all the files on the tape cartridge have an inode on IBM Spectrum Scale. 

## 7.21.2 Exporting 

Example 7-96 shows an example of importing an offline tape cartridge. 

[root@ltfssn1 ~]# ltfsee import -p JZJ5WORM -t JZ0072JZ --offline Import of tape JZ0072JZ has been requested. Import of tape JZ0072JZ complete. Updated offline state of tape JZ0072JZ. 

Export tape cartridges from your IBM Spectrum Archive EE system by running the ltfsee export  command. When you normal export a tape cartridge, the ltfsee export  command removes the tape cartridge from the IBM Spectrum Archive EE library. The tape cartridge is reserved so that it is no longer a target for file migrations. It is then reconciled to remove any inconsistencies between it and IBM Spectrum Scale. 

The export process then removes all files from the IBM Spectrum Scale file system that exist on the exported tape cartridge. The files on tape cartridges are unchanged by the export, and are accessible by other LTFS systems. 

If the --offline  option is specified, all files from the tape cartridges or tape cartridge pool that are specified are moved to an offline status and those files cannot be accessed. However, the corresponding inode of each file is kept in IBM Spectrum Scale. Those files can be brought back to the IBM Spectrum Scale namespace by reimporting the tape cartridge by using the --offline option. 

This --offline  option can be used, for example, when exporting tape cartridges containing redundant copies to an off-site storage location for disaster recovery purposes. 

Important:  If the --offline option is omitted in the export  command, all files on the exported tape cartridge are removed from the GPFS file system. 

## Export considerations 

Consider the following information when planning IBM Spectrum Archive EE export activities: 

GLYPH<SM590000> If you put different logical parts of an IBM Spectrum Scale namespace (such as the project directory) into different LTFS tape cartridge pools, you can export tape cartridges that contain the entire IBM Spectrum Scale namespace or only the files from a specific directory within the namespace. 

Otherwise, you must first recall all the files from the namespace of interest (such as the project directory), then migrate the recalled files to an empty tape cartridge pool, and then export that tape cartridge pool. 

GLYPH<SM590000> Reconcile occurs automatically before the export is processed. 

