Different devices with F/C Mux & Tape Library

[Michael Tully]

Hi,

We have been having some problems in
relation to the use of a HP Surestore
Tape Library unit 20/700, with a A4688
F/C mux (bridge). The equipment is set
up through a switch from an N4000
server. The problems we are having relate
to the server not being able to see the
devices in the tape library unit. This
happens occassionally where one minute
we can all devices (robot and four DLT 8000
drives) and then we can only see the robot
on all 8 of the devices 0-8. I've attached
an example of the output of ioscan where
we have the problem and then not having
the problem. It is intermittant and is
probably the mux loosing it's config. I was
wondering if anyone else out there has
experienced a similar problem and what
their resolution was.

Thanks
Michael

[David Navarro]

I've been experienced some problem with FC-MUX (4/2 I don't remember P/N). And problem was with FC Card. I remember there was several problems with laser converter in some server cards, and maybe we had same problem with MUX Card. Problem was that card loose laser power along the time. I don't know this new model, but If I had that problem first I will try to attach library directly to server, and if this was not possible, try with last release of STM and look at logs.

[D Wong]

Hi Micheal:

Have you updated to the latest firmware on the 4/1 bridge? 2006y
Do you have the latest FC HBA drivers? and patches?
Have you applied EMS patch PHSS_24044 or instead installed latest ipr107 July release.

All above fix alot of problems.

[Michael Tully]

Thanks Guys for the responses.... We had in fact solved the problem by doing three things. 1. Replace the F/C switch
2. Updating the firmware to 2006y
3. The communication from the F/C switch
was changed from loop to fabric. Arbitrated loop is not supported in the A4688A F/C switch, even though it was working for us for two months...

Regards
Michael

[Naveen Chenoli]

Hello,

I am facing the same problem in a similiar setup. Only difference is that we have a V class server instead of N class. Can you please tell me from where you got the new firmware for the FC-MUX ( bridge). I could not locate it in the web.
many thanks

[David Ruska]

We noticed the firmware is currently not available on the HP Customer Care website. We will add this ASAP (but it may take a week or two). In the mean time, send an email to ltt_team@hp.com, and we can email the file to you. Let us know if you need Support Tools Manager format, or the serial interface format. Also, if you have a Windows host on the SAN, you can use HP Library & Tape Tools which can obtain the firmware from the web automatically, and download it the bridge. This tool is at www.hp.com/support/tapetools