topic Re: tape drive device file problem in Operating System - HP-UX

tape drive device file problem

VINU — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 13:04:42 GMT

Hi,

I have a D330 Server with hp-ux 11.0 and an internal DDS drive.From last week I am not able to backup.

When I try to backup using fbackup, it gives the message that '/dev/rmt/0m is not a valid device file' even though the tape is powered on ,loaded with tape and getting sensed in 'ioscan'.Tha various command outputs are pasted below.I tried creating the device files using 'insf' but no use.Request all of u to provide ut valuable inputs.

Regards

Vinu
--------------command ouputs---------------
suboz046:/ > ioscan -fnC tape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=====================================================================
tape 0 8/16/5.0.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C1537A
/dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTnb
/dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDS
/dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDSb
/dev/rmt/c1t0d0BEST /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDSn
/dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDSnb
suboz046:/ > mt -t /dev/rmt/0m stat
Drive: HP C1537A
Format:
Status: [0]
File: 11
Block: 11
suboz046:/ > mt -t /dev/rmt/0m rew
/dev/rmt/0m: No such device or address
suboz046:/ > fbackup -f /dev/rmt/0m -i /etc -v
fbackup(1004): session begins on Mon Jul 26 19:56:30 2004
fbackup(3038): output file /dev/rmt/0m is not a valid device file for backup
fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file?
no
fbackup(3022): would you like to continue this session?
no
fbackup(3004): writer aborting
fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
suboz046:/ > uname -a
HP-UX suboz046 B.11.00 A 9000/813 2001781333 two-user license
suboz046:/ > model
9000/813/D330
suboz046:/ > tar -tvf /dev/rmt/0m
tar: cannot open /dev/rmt/0m
suboz046:/ >
---------------------------------------

Re: tape drive device file problem

Sundar_7 — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 13:09:25 GMT

hmm..try using the /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BEST* device files.

If that doesnt help then

# rmsf -H 8/16/5.0.0

# insf -e

Now try. If this is not working again then I tend to think there is some hardware problem.

Re: tape drive device file problem

Pete Randall — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 13:11:22 GMT

Vinu,

I would suggest removing the existing device files with rmsf, then re-creating them with insf.

Pete

Re: tape drive device file problem

VINU — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 13:57:01 GMT

tried what u told,but the problem remained as it is.

suboz046:/dev/rmt > rmsf -H 8/16/5.0.0
suboz046:/dev/rmt > insf
insf: Installing special files for stape instance 0 address 8/16/5.0.0
suboz046:/dev/rmt > ioscan -fnC tape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=====================================================================
tape 0 8/16/5.0.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C1537A
/dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTnb
/dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDS
/dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDSb
/dev/rmt/c1t0d0BEST /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDSn
/dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c1t0d0DDSnb
suboz046:/dev/rmt > mt -t /dev/rmt/0m status
Drive: HP C1537A
Format:
Status: [0]
File: 11
Block: 11
suboz046:/dev/rmt > mt -t /dev/rmt/0m rew
/dev/rmt/0m: No such device or address

regards
viny

Re: tape drive device file problem

john kingsley — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 14:01:38 GMT

It could be a bad tape. Have you tried using a different tape?

Re: tape drive device file problem

VINU — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 14:08:31 GMT

It think it is not due to bad tape,i changed tapes no. of times and also tried new tape.

regards
vinu

Re: tape drive device file problem

Sundar_7 — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 15:18:54 GMT

Did you try the c1t0d0BEST* device files ? -

Re: tape drive device file problem

Borislav Perkov — Tue, 27 Jul 2004 04:10:12 GMT

Hi,
Everything points that there is no tape in the tape device. I think it is a hardware problem because the drive cannot detect that the tape is inside or it cannot put the tape in the mechanism and leaded till the magnetic head.

Regards,
Borislav

Re: tape drive device file problem

VINU — Tue, 27 Jul 2004 09:16:26 GMT

hi sundar,
tried with /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BEST* files also, but same error message.

suboz046:/ > mt -t /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BEST rew
/dev/rmt/c1t0d0BEST: No such device or address
suboz046:/ > mt -t /dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTn rew
/dev/rmt/c1t0d0BESTn: No such device or address
suboz046:/ >

regards

Vinu

Re: tape drive device file problem

Bharat Katkar — Tue, 27 Jul 2004 09:53:38 GMT

HI Vinu,
Looking at the your feedback and other replies i suspect the only possible causes as below:

1. Either the TAPE catridge is Bad.

2. Tape catridge not compatible with the format supported by Tape Drive

To me Drive looks OK, OS special file is also OK.

To take a chance try this one:
If possible connect the tape drive to different SCSI cntrl and try creating fresh Device file (insf -e), look at the device name thr' (ioscan -fnC tape) and see if that works.

Regards,