Ultrium 460 External Failure

[Rob Evans_1]

We have a repeatable error on an Ultrium 460 external - support ticket attached.

When a tape is inserted, it appears not to seat correctly. The backup software then returns an error of no tape present.

The drive was disconnected from the server and a cleaning tape inserted, the tape appeared to seat. After about 1 minute, the cleaning light came on for 5 secs & the tape ejected.

We are now getting a repeat of the tape failing to seat. The only way to remove is to power off / on when we then get a flashing drive error & tape ejects. This is repeatable.

Any ideas ??

[Santhosh D]

Could you please attach the L&TT Support ticket and also tell us whats the Firmware version of the Tape Drive and also any H/w changes.

[Rob Evans_1]

Support ticket <> is attached.

The drive has been updated to both the latest driver & firmware.

[TapeDrive Killer]

Have you tried another tape? If so run LTO drive assesment test.

Pablo Alvarado Siles

[Rob Evans_1]

Have tried other tapes with same effect.

Cannot run LTO test as we cannot get any tape to seat correctly.

HP Tech Support of of the opinion that the tape drive mechanism is defective.

[Víctor Cespón]

The drive seems fine, is has had very little use in two years:

HBA Model: Adaptec SCSI Card 29160LP Low Profile Ultra160 SCSI
Dev-1: Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-2 drive at 0.3.0
Firmware rev F63D is up-to-date for Ultrium 2-SCSI as of Fri Apr 20 19:00:00 2007.
The drive logs contain indications of problems that are usually associated with loading or unloading of a tape.
Please check the tape (Serial Number: F75PQ3t071) for damage (e.g. missing leader pin).

Head life : Great margin, 98% life remaining
Reposition life : Great margin, 99% life remaining
Load/unload life : Great margin, 99% life remaining
Load/unload cycles : 556 (0% of expected life)
Duty cycle : 7%
Power cycles : 20
Cleans : 0

No problems have been identified with the drive mechanism.
No write / read problems were identified with the drive.
The drive is in good condition.

Try with a new tape

[Víctor Cespón]

Oops, I see that you already tried, then it's the loading mechanism, the drive no longer loads tapes, although internally it's OK.

[Rob Evans_1]

Thanks for that. We have just about come to the conclusion that we need to replace the drive.

Regards to all,
Rob