StorageWorks DAT72i - getting more and more errors

[Thomas Braun]

Hi,

I'm using the above drive in a Dell server with NetWare 5 and Arcserve IT 6.6.

Everything worked like a charm for about 1 1/2 years, but now Arcserve reports excessive tape errors and is not able to finish a backup anymore:

Sep 27 22:24:18 TapeAlert information is reported by device 0
Sep 27 22:24:18 located at SCSIID-LUN=[06-00] on Board=[BOARD0]
Sep 27 22:24:18 E6924 WARNING
Sep 27 22:24:18 E6924 The tape drive is having problems writing data.
Sep 27 22:24:18 No data has been lost, but there has been a
Sep 27 22:24:18 reduction in the capacity of the tape
Sep 27 22:24:18 E6932 CRITICAL
Sep 27 22:24:18 E6932 Your data on tape [ELLIS]
Sep 27 22:24:18 Serial Number [1350457022] is at risk
Sep 27 22:24:18 1. Copy any data you require from this tape
Sep 27 22:24:18 2. Do not use this tape again
Sep 27 22:24:18 3. Restart the operation with a different tape
Sep 27 22:24:29 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 596 recovered Write errors
Sep 28 04:01:36 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 1537 recovered Write errors
Sep 28 04:15:10 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 26 recovered Write errors
Sep 28 05:02:06 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 6 recovered Read errors
Sep 28 08:53:45 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 6 recovered Read errors
Sep 28 09:00:48 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 6 recovered Read errors
Sep 28 09:01:05 [d542e604] Device HP on ID 6 - 6 recovered Read errors

I cleaned the drive an a regular basis (once a week) with HP cleaning tapes and tried a new data tape as well, but the errors do not vanish.

The drive ran around 320 6-hour backup jobs, with sums up to nearly 2000 hours... which seems not that much for a tape drive with a 125,000 hours MTBF.

I still have a parts exchange warranty, so the question is if I can do anything else apart from replacing the drive...

[David Ruska]

The recommended process would be to install HP L&TT and run the drive assessment test. It will review the drive fault logs, walk you though testing of the drive, check your firmware version, etc. It should be run on a new tape.

That's the process HP support normally would ask you to do, so you can do that in advance.

Are there any sources of contamination in your environment such as carpet fibers, pet hair, smoke, paper dust, printer ink, excess organic dust, etc?

HP L&TT is found here: www.hp.com/support/tapetools

[Thomas Braun]

Thanks David for the hint with the tape tool.

I already have run this and got into contact with the HP support.

Regarding your question about air pollution...

Unfortunately, the servers are not located
in a cleanroom environment ;-), but IMO
there is no extraordinarily high pollution
level.

And I think running a cleaning tape once a week
after 5 backups should be sufficient?!

[Stuart Whitby]

I'd always figured that the constantly increasing MTBF figures were measured like your system clock - from 1970 ;)

How often do you replace your cleaning tapes? I *think* the maximum recommended uses for DAT cleaning tapes is 20, though it might be 10. If you go much more than that, you end up just dragging dirt across the heads rather than cleaning them.

[Thomas Braun]

After a few phone calls with HP support
I finally will get a replacement drive -
let's see how long this one will last ;-)

The diagnosis tool did not work properly on
my server - the support could not read
the support ticket created by th tool.

The tool crashed when I tried to
view the ticket data with the tool.

So for now all I can say - case closed :-)

[Rosie_2]

Hi Thomas, the problem may be that the heads have worn or they need cleaning by a repair centre. I know a company near Stuttgart that will be able to help. Let me know if you want there details.