Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and associated methods for dynamically re-serializing virtual tape library cartridges. The system comprises a first server node including a first virtual tape library residing on a deduplication file system, in which a backup data file corresponding to a first cartridge is stored in a first container with a first base prefix. A second server node includes a second virtual tape library residing on a second deduplication file system, and is configured to receive and store a replica of the backup data file corresponding to a second cartridge in a second container such that the second cartridge includes the same first base prefix as the first cartridge. An activation code is assigned to the second container, and used to re-serialize the first base prefix to form a second base prefix such that the second cartridge is presented with the second base prefix.