cannot open /dev/rmt/3m

[lawrenzo_1]

Hi all,

I am trying to run an ignite to a HP store tape library, ioscan displays both devices and when I run mt -t /dev/rmt/3m status I get the status however when I run make_tape_recovery or even tar cvf /dev/rmt/3m I get:

tar:cannot open /dev/rmt/3m

nb: the server is an rx4640 and just been installed, the tape library driver is stape.

any idea's guys?

Thanks

[Patrick Wallek]

Since this is a library, have you manually moved a tape into the drive before starting the make_tape_recovery?

Even though this is a library, a m_t_r or a tar will NOT automatically load a tape. You have to have other software, like data protector or other backup software, that will automatically laod tapes.

For m_t_r, tar, cpio, pax and other utilities you must manually move a tape from a slot into a tape drive before running the commands.

[lawrenzo_1]

Thanks Patrick,

The tape has been loaded and is not write protected.

if i do mt -t /dev/rmt/3m status i get:

Drive: HP Ultrium 2-SCSI
Format
Status: [0]
File: 0
Block: 0

so to me this means there is a tape in the drive?

I run on 2m and get and error.

cheers

[Sandman!]

Run ioscan without any arguments and then execute make_tape_recovery i.e.

# ioscan
# make_tape_recovery

~cheers

[lawrenzo_1]

failed again - no such device /dev/rmt/0mn

I have recreated the device drivers still with no luck.

any more ideas?

Thanks

[Patrick Wallek]

It sounds like you are just not able to see the tape drive correctly. The status from 'mt' indicates that the drive is there, but it is just not sensing the tape.

[Sandman!]

Could you post the output of...

# lssf /dev/rmt/3m

[lawrenzo_1]

here it is sandman:


# lssf /dev/rmt/3m
stape card instance 9 SCSI target 2 SCSI LUN 0 at&t best density available at ad
dress 0/2/1/1.2.0 /dev/rmt/3m

and

# lssf /dev/rmt/2m
stape card instance 11 SCSI target 1 SCSI LUN 0 at&t best density available at a
ddress 0/5/1/1.1.0 /dev/rmt/2m

[Sandman!]

And you get the same error while accessing the tape drive through other device files like 1m|2m etc???

Check for patches and make sure the tape driver is upto date on them.

~hope it helps

[Sandman!]

BTW...seems like you have multiple paths to the tape drive?

> stape card instance 9...at address 0/2/1/1.2.0 /dev/rmt/3m
> stape card instance 11...at address 0/5/1/1.1.0 /dev/rmt/2m

...could you post the output of "ioscan -funC tape"

~thanks

[lawrenzo_1]

here it is, also there are two paths to the device because scsi on two channels - couldthis be my issue?

# ioscan -fnuC tape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=====================================================================
tape 3 0/2/1/1.2.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP Ultrium
/dev/rmt/3m /dev/rmt/c9t2d0BEST
/dev/rmt/3mb /dev/rmt/c9t2d0BESTb
/dev/rmt/3mn /dev/rmt/c9t2d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/3mnb /dev/rmt/c9t2d0BESTnb
tape 2 0/5/1/1.1.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP Ultrium
/dev/rmt/2m /dev/rmt/c11t1d0BEST
/dev/rmt/2mb /dev/rmt/c11t1d0BESTb
/dev/rmt/2mn /dev/rmt/c11t1d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/2mnb /dev/rmt/c11t1d0BESTnb

[Mridul Shrivastava]

I would suggest you to run rmsf and remove all the device file related tothis tape and then execute insf -e to rebuild it then try.

[lawrenzo_1]

yes this has been done - could it be we are using IBM Ultrium tapes in a HP device?

[Mridul Shrivastava]

No it won't be an issue because of IBM ultrium drives. I request you to check it with dd, fbackup and cpio as well and if all fails then hardware is suspected.

[JASH_2]

Lawrenzo,

When you use a tape drive for a make_tape_recovery, the first part it puts to tape is all the LIF information, then the archive itself. This is why you need to use the 3mn and not the 3m device name. If you use the 3m, it will put the LIF to tape, then rewind and offline the tape, every time, so it will think it is not there.

Try it again, using the 3mn tape device and it will probably work ok.

Regards,

JASH

[lawrenzo_1]

have done this JASH, I understand what your saying and this was my fiirst issue.

Thanks

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi lawrenzo,

did you try to put some files to the tape drive directly via tar - I mean just:

cd /etc
tar cvf /dev/rmt/3m passwd group hosts

Or try
mt -f /dev/rmt/3mn rewind

What is its outout?

mfG Peter

[lawrenzo_1]

sorted!

Thanks all for the suggestions,


the issue as that the engineer who installed the library had not terminated the scsi connection.


I was at home yesterday working on this and checked this morning and is now working.