Thank you all for your input. I tried lying (creatively) to amanda, changed the tape length slightly, reduced the bump days from 2 to 1, changed the bump threshold, that type of thing. [actually exactly that, I mucked with 3 parameters]
Didn't effect the results on night 1. Following the concept that eventually amanda would want to get it (/maildb2) partition backed up sooner or later and I was losing patience I did a "force" on the partition. The result being that a different partition that wanted to do a level 2 backup was skipped. The problem, besides just too much data, is that notes, as in Lotus Notes, is a mail system as well as a database (really?, roll eyes) system. The solution, large tape capacity, better compression ? I doubt extending the dump cycle will really help since its a mail system and most files are touched every day. Can I tar these files ? Subdivide the partition ? I'm unclear on how tar will help - I know it can be used to make smaller DLEs so that we don't exceed tape capacity with any single DLE but I don't know if it supports any concept of levels so that we can actually skip some of the files, ie, not back them up. Even if tar will skip untouched files, is that going to do anything for me that bumping the backup level isn't already doing ? thanks, Brian --- Brian R Cuttler [EMAIL PROTECTED] Computer Systems Support (v) 518 486-1697 Wadsworth Center (f) 518 473-6384 NYS Department of Health Help Desk 518 473-0773