MSL6030 halfinchVRTS Error / Veritas

[Astro2]

Hello

I'm using a MSL 6030 2 drives LTO-2 in a SAN configuration (3 server + 1 W2K cluster using SSO), Veritas Backup Exec 9.1 (4691) SP1, Windows 2000 Server / Adv. Server SP4.

I'm getting the error:
- Source: halfinchVRTS
- ID: 7
- Description: The device, \Device\Tape0, has a bad block
(I think halfinchVRTS is the Veritas driver of the tape)

and in the log BE of the job:
- Completed status: Failed
- Final error: 0x17 - Data error (cyclic redundancy check)

In the driver statistics, the Hard Read Errors or Write Read Errors are increased.

I changed all the media in the library, but the problem still exist. I also executed a manual clean of the drives, but the problem still exist.

The problem is random: 2 or 3 days all the jobs of all the servers are ok, and then the error occurs (sometimes on drive0, sometimes on drive1).

MSL6030 library firmware: 4.21
LTO-2 driver firmware: F43W
SW Veritas + patch updated at 1 OCT 2004

Any ideas ?

Many thanks
Armando Stroppari

[Bostjan Kosi]

HI,

are U using Network Storage router and if so please provide FW version...Are servers HP..are U using Management agents... versions, also versions of FW & Drivers for HBA...

br

B.

[Astro2]

Hi

All the systems are in production from Jan 2004 without relevant problems.

I'm using a NSR HP NSR1200-160:
- Vendor HP
- Product Network Storage Router
- Firmware Level 5.3.0b
- Bios Version BIOS 4.23
- Booter Version BOOTER 4.11
- CPU PLD Version 0x4
- Part/Serial # 262673-002_3F39LV61545S
- HW ID C01FWW

Servers:
- 5 HP PL380G3 (3 "single" - 2 in cluster MS W2K3)
- all the server W2K SP4
- all the server 2 HBA FC2101 (driver: 5-4.82a16) (fw/BIOS RB1.63A1 RS3.91A1)
- all the server SecurePath 4.0c

Management Agent:
- 7.10
- "subagent" Fiber Array Information disabled on all servers (for debugging this problem)

Storage & SAN:
- MSA1000 (2 controllers)
- 2 x switch 2/8 integrated in MSA 1000

In attach a survey of one of the servers.

Many thanks and best regards
Armando

[Lars Floden]

Have you tried using the HP driver for the tapes?

I ran the 4.21 firmware on those with only a few issues, but not this one. Of course I'm running Netbackup 5, but it definately sounds like a driver/firmware issue.

Try upgrading the HBA driver, I had a ton of problems with the earlier versions, currently at 3.92a2 and it works great. Plus there are upgrades for the NSR1200 and the library and drives. Just be careful on the router, when you upgrade it wipes the config and you have to redo the settings, took me half a day to figure it out, check your settings first.

Does your library have 2 drives? If so does it happen on both of them?

First thing to try though would be the tape driver, thats the easiest thing to go back on if something happens or it doesn't fix it.

[Astro2]

Thanks Lars

Veritas documentation advices to install Veritas driver.
Yesterday I updated the Veritas driver with the last version, but today the problem still remains.

The problem happens on both the drives.

HBA driver: I will try.

Best regards
Armando

[Bostjan Kosi]

Hi,

I'm not shure for veritas, but with DP I always disable Removable Storage service. Since DP is using also his own drivers I tend to disable also devices in Device Manager, so windows do not influence my setup...

[Lars Floden]

Veritas does recommend disabling the Removable storage service. But I believe Backup Exec works the same as Netbackup, it reads its device list from the device manager.

Still think it is a driver or firmware version and they need to be upgraded.

[Bostjan Kosi]

It would be certainly advisable to follow the latest EBS compatibility matrix, containing all supported current driver and firmware listings from:
http://h18006.www1.hp.com/products/storageworks/tapecompatibility.html

BR
B.

[Astro2]

Hi
Thanks for the suggestions.

The Removable storage service is disabled.

Driver / firmware: today I'll try to update:
- HP PSP (from 7.00 to 7.10)
- HBA FC2101 driver (5-5.10a10)
- HBA FC2101 FW (FCA2101_hpq_rc392a2)
- MSL 6030
- robot firmware 4.30
- driver firmware F59W
- firmware NSR 5.6.0.6

Many thanks
Armando

[Astro2]

Hi

Last friday I updated all driver / firmware (except NSR 1200-160), but friday night, during one job on one server in the System log:
Event ID 7, Source halfinchVRTS, The device, \Device\Tape0, has a bad block.

All the others server/jobs was OK.

I cannot update the firmware of NSR, because using LTT 3.51SR1 the software don't "sees" the NSR. How can I update this device ? There's a driver ?

Actual configuration:
- Proliant Support Pack 7.10
- HBA: driver 5-5.10a10, fw 392a2
- MSL6030: robot 0430, drivers F59W
- NSR 1200-160: fw 5.3.0b

I'll try to change one MSL drive ?

Many thanks
Armando