Backup Failed - Device I/O Error

[Big G_1]

My client has a DLT 20/40 Compaq tape drive.
It is quite old and has never been serviced. The use Veritas backup Exec V 9. Their backups has been running 100% until the other day when it started failing because of an device I/O error. I installed the tape drive in my pc in the workshop and cleaned it using a cleaning tape. I ran 2 backups without any problems. I could restore from it aswell. I installed it back into the server and even put the SCSI controller into a different PCI Slot.

The first night the backup completed 100% and I did a succesfull restore. And just as I thought it was sorted out, the same error occured again last night.

It is defintely not the tapes, could only be tape drive, SCSI controller or cable ???

If anyone has any input it will be much appreciated, otherwise my Job is on the line ......

Thanks,

Big G

[Hoefnix]

Hi,

Test with another cleaning tape. When it has run the clean. Try if you can backup succesfull If it fails again after 1, 2 or 3 backups I doubt the drive.

HTH,
Peter

[Naveej.K.A]

to the Big G

I have very often seen this problem with the backup devices. After a lot of usage, these guys really start going for frequent srikes.
You clean them with cleaning catridge, they work fine for some days before the backup at the night fails...

As the previous poster has told, as an initial measure, you can try with another cleaning tape...And if its still not working it could be your DLT drive only, which is creating you this trouble.

With best wishes
Naveej

[Robert-Jan Goossens]

Hi,

Same problem here, swapped it yesterday with an other tape drive, till now the problems disappeared.

Regards,
Robert-Jan

[I.Delic]

Hi Big,

I had the same probleem with my tape drive.
Afer cleaning device it works couple days but finaly i must change it.

You should do the same


success


Idriz

[Bill Hassell]

Unlike the old days of 1/2" reel-to-reel magtapes, today's DDS, DLT, Ultrium, etc tape drives wear out due to the incredibly tight tolerances required for the high densities on the tape. Once a tape drive starts to give write or read errors, servicing the drive means replacing the entire mechanism. If you haven't been regulalrly cleaning the drive, using the cleaning tape may extend the life of the drive a bit more.