fbackup error

[jazouli]

Hi all,

I have a problem when tryng to make backup with my server.
I'm using this command:
fbackup -0nvi /home -f /dev/rmt/c3t3d0BEST 1>>/home/root/sauve.log
Everithing looks going well but in my log file I have this error message:
fbackup(3205): WARNING: unable to read a volume header
fbackup(3024): writing volume 1 to the output file /dev/rmt/c3t3d0BEST

Does anybody have an idea?

I'm using HP DD-3 data cartridge

Thanks in adavance

[melvyn burnard]

That is NOT an error but a warning. It is just telling you that it could not find a volume header, indicating that this tape has not previously been used with fbackup

[IT_2007]

May be tape is bad. did you try to run with new tape? Alsotry to rewind the tape before issuing fbackup.

mt -t /dev/rmt/c3t3d0BESTn rew

What is "1" in your fbackup command before you redirecting to log file?

fbackup -0nvi /home -f /dev/rmt/c3t3d0BEST 1>>/home/root/sauve.log

May be it is not correct syntax?

Try this one.
fbackup -0nvi /home -f /dev/rmt/c3t3d0BEST > /tmp/sauve.log

Also you are trying to save log file in /home/root which falls under /home in the fbackup. Try to take backup log somewhere else other than /home.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Commonly this happens because the tape drive heads are dirty and/or the tape has been used too many times.

I recommend cleaning the heads and/or trying a new tape.

Not being abel to read the volume header does not effect the integrity of the backup.

Using the tape too many times or with dirty heads can fatally effect the backup integrity.

SEP

[Peter Godron]

Hi,
extracting from Bill's answer in http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=316566

"Now it is VERY important to note that fbackup will always report the message "unable to read a volume header" on a new tape or an old tape where the beginning of the tape is not in fbackup format. This message means: "This tape was not previously recorded using fbackup" That's not an error, just information.
"

[Bill Hassell]

You might wonder why fbackup even cares what was previously on the tape. Like all commercial-quality backup programs, fbackup makes sure that it is not going to overwrite the wrong tape. This is especially important with muti-tape backups where the operator fails to load the next tape correctly. You don't want fbackup to write volume 2 on top of volume 1.

[H2K]

Burnard is right. You are using a new tape for the first time. Volume header will increase every time you recyle the tape however there is default setting which indicated you can recyle only for 100 times and backup will failed if this is the 101th . I used to advise my operation folks to retire the tape instead of figure out to extent beyound 100 times. The is way to extent it in fbackup but cannot recall. Anyone can help ?

[Bill Hassell]

Actually, the message occurs on new or old tapes that have some other backup like tar or cpio.

> I used to advise my operation folks to retire the tape instead of figure out to extent beyound 100 times.
> The is way to extent it in fbackup but cannot recall.

There are two methods to change the count:

1. Brute force -- tar something small onto the tape. The counter disappears and the next fbackup restarts the counter from 000.

2. Recommended way: use a config file (man fbackup). This is actually mandatory for any tape drive except old 1/2" reel-to-reel tapes. The entry is maxvoluses and for DDS tapes, 200 is a reasonable number. However, for much better performance, use this config file in fbackup scripts:

blocksperrecord 4096
records 64
checkpointfreq 4096
readerprocesses 6
maxretries 5
retrylimit 5000000
maxvoluses 200
filesperfsm 2000

It is specified with the -c option.

[Rashid Hamid]

It is a normal warning when run fbackup. Usually the backup succesfull.

[Peter Godron]

Hi,
seems all the answers agree.

If you are happy with the answers please read:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#28