unable to reply to backup fatal error options

[kumarasamy]

while taking backup sometime fatal error message appears on the screen like the one mentined below
excessive error rate writing volume...
%BACKUP-I-SPECIFY,specify optio(CONTINUE,QUIT)
BACKUP>
the problem is system does not respond for selection of any of the options.key board is accessible ,no characters are appeared on the screen.but when I use /C or /Z ,system responds and come to system prompt.aborting backup operation.
we are using simple command for taking backup like
$backup/image/log/save_set= dka100: mka0: label

no additional qualifier is used and all other qualifiers are defaults.

should I have to do something with keyboard setup or terminal setup?

advise is grateful

[Volker Halle · Accepted solution]

kumarasamy,

please find below a pointer to the documentation for this kind of scenario:

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/73final/6017/6017pro_052.html

As you have not used the /NOASSIST qualifier, you will have to issue a $REPLY/TO=n "CONTINUE" command from an operator terminal. You can enaable any terminal session as an operator terminal with:

$ REPLY/ENABLE ! needs OPER privilege
$ REPL/STATUS ! show current pending requests to get request number 'n'

Volker.

[kumarasamy]

hai
we cleaned the tape drive today and went through entire backup about 5 hrs with out problm.
I will inform when same status come.
the account we used for backup operation had oper privilage.
thanks

[Jan van den Ende]

kumarasamy,

hei,

A little late perhaps, but:
WELCOME to the VMS Forum!

Let me explain Volker's answer in some more detail.

When BACKUP encounters a situation requiring assistance, it issues a (numbered) REQUEST to OPCOM.
Any process with OPER priv and REPLY enabled, can issue REPLY's to (oa) a request number.

So, when this happens,
LOGIN to an account with OPER priv,
$ REPLY/ENABLE ( = TAPES, if many request are done and you want to restrict yourself to the relevant ones)

$ REPLY/STAT to see any pending requests.

and now, for the action you want:

$ REPLY/TO= "

The BACKUP process will receive that reply, and (try to) respond accordingly.

hth

Proost. ( = Skaal.)

Have one on me.

jpe

[kumarasamy]

volker

yesterday We took stand alone backup during which we encountered fatal error seeking assistamce continue or quit.
system responded for continue as well as quit.

online part I am looking for opportunity to verify your advice
thanks

on this site:
Whenever I assigned points for the answer, that particular movment that dispalyed .next time I visited those places appeared as unassigned.. this is additional query

[Volker Halle]

kumarasamy,

there would be no way in standalone backup to use the OPCOM facility to, so /NOASSIST may be the default qualifier in standalone backup.

In batch mode or if the logical name SYS$COMMAND does not point to a terminal, the /NOASSIST qualifier also is ignored.

Volker.

[kumarasamy]

volker and jpe
I carried out the way you explained while encountered the same error. system responded and released the tape unit.
thanks for your help.
but tape drive gave error that is internal error "clean soon" that need to use cleaning tape , resulting the data tape to be ejected first before cleaning.

thanks

[Volker Halle]

kumarasamy,

as the cleaning tape procedure does not need any interaction from OpenVMS, this should not pose a problem.

- insert the cleaning tape and wait for the cleaning cycle to finish
- remove the cleaning tape
- then insert the data cartridge and issue a REPLY/TO=n "CONTINUE" to allow backup to continue

Volker.

[kumarasamy]

when I could do quit and continue from the console from where the back operation was initiated then as suggested Loging in another terminal and enable to to send optiion of "quite or continue "to the operator request.
cleaning is to be done only after dismounting the tape and use cleaning tape.
this is the different problem .
so this thread is closed
ok thanks to volker