Compatible, recommended IGNITE tape device query

[eric lipede_1]

Easy points for accurate informed answers !
Does anyone know or have the latest working link to supported tape devices that support ignite boots (itanium 11v2+11v3).
Ok, I have read many answers and comments like:
Yes I use DLT drives and they work. Thats great but Im trying to find out what the supported recommended tape units are - not necessarily what happens to work. Are we still "officially" restricted to DAT-40's/ DDS-4's? Again, could I pls stress that its an easy 10 pointer but im not looking for "what works" rather what is supported. Also, to head off any "why dont you use an ignite server" question .....Im asking about supported tape drives. Many thks !

[kemo]

Your question is not about ignite, it is about tape drive's performance.
so you should choose the best tape performance which is also supported by HP systems.

check below link.
http://www.lascon.co.uk/d010003.htm

check your server HW computability with the highest performance tape, then use it.

thanks

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi,

if you like to know what is working, them i would recommend to contact HP people or just rent some demo and try.

we always do it this way.

mikap

[eric lipede_1]

Okay , so I have had 2 answers.
The 1st telling me that my questions isnt actually about ignite (really?) and the 2nd pointing to to a site.
A bit of advice:
When a person acts a question, there are typically 2 possible answers. The 1st is the answer, the 2nd is "I dont know". It is not helpful to turn a question into a "I dont know about that but Ill try and shine by talking about something else I might know"

So, addressing the 1st response. I have to correct your notion. Im not sure how long you have been working on HPUX systems but historically IGNITE has been very particular about the devices it rights to. With the advent of itanium and the 2 step recovery/ then 1 step with patches to the popularity of ignite servers and demise of dds drives, the supported and used tape devices are diverging. ...hence the question. The 2nd response is nice but I can point out the the 320's arent supported. So Whilst I appreciate the responses, I ask again - Does anyone know the answer. For the purpose of pragmatism, lets assume for a moment that I know what and why Im asking the question. Many thks in advance.

[eric lipede_1]

..pardon the typo -> ask not act

[kemo]

FYI, Not everyone seeking POINTS for replying with an answer, they are "trying" to help who ""needs help"" and "brainstorming" so we can contribute together for helping.
I do believe most of ITRC members are here to cooperate. please put this in your mind. and thanks for your nice words.

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi Eriic,


what do you exactly mena with this :

"but I can point out the the 320's arent supported."

could you please define which itanium based servers do you have ( rxXXXX, Superdome (SDXX SX1000/SX2000, BL860/870 BL860/870/890 ic2, SuperDome2 SX3000 ), because each product ( server ) have a different way hove to connect to the TAPE ( drive ). ( SCSI / USB / FC )


mikap

[Michal Kapalka (mikap) · Accepted solution]

hi Erric,

i just found this :

HP Integrity rx Servers

http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/compatibility/tapebackup/IPF/13-9999-0005.html#matrixtable

HP BladeSystem Integrity Server Blades

http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/compatibility/tapebackup/IPF/13-9999-0019.html#matrixtable

HP Integrity Superdome

http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/compatibility/tapebackup/IPF/13-9999-0006.html#matrixtable

mikap

[eric lipede_1]

Kemo - discussion is great, opinions are wonderful. However, before the point is lost lets not forget your response was to negate the validity of the question. I asked a very simply question and your answer, or discusion if you like was : "the question isnt about ignite" rather about drives ?. Surely you can see the problem with that? The response I gave was commensurate with your comments. Ill assign points to all answers, afterall a response is a response but my "kind" comments attempt to address comments that could be interpreted as "odd" at best (cause and effect). Anyway, lets not make etiquette and language a cruasadable point where nobody wants to admit to writing the wrong thing.

Anyway...lets move on !

...so the question still stands. What are the compatible tape devices for IGNITE.

[eric lipede_1]

Hi Michal
Matrix you supplied showes
http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/compatibility/tapebackup/IPF/Detail/16-0064-0093.html

Related Options & Support:


HP-UX Ignite-UX Boot From Tape Recovery
Write Once, Read Many (WORM) Technology
Tape Encryption (AES 256-bit)

Server: HP Integrity rx8640
Backup device: HP StorageWorks DAT 320 USB


USB tape devices arent supported as IGNITE boot devices.

....Interesting subject isnt it !


Ideally it would be great if we could have (for example)

DAT-320 (SCSI, model xxxx) supported for IGNITE booting
DDS-4 (SCSI, model xxxx) supported for IGNITE booting


etc

Thks again

All answers assigned points

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi Eriic,

USB tape devices arent supported as IGNITE boot devices.

....Interesting subject isnt it !

yes it is,but check this, very interesting also for me :

"Ignite-UX USB Memory Stick Boot"

http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01976113/c01976113.pdf


DDS-4 (SCSI, model xxxx) supported for IGNITE booting

yes we are using this type, with the combination of "hp storageworks tape array 5300"

mikap

[eric lipede_1]

Thks ...yes USB stick is great but its a 2 parter (much like the 2 part original IGNITE/ ITANIUM boot)

http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/compatibility/tapebackup/software/Detail/17-0039-0006.html
...so thats fine !
Note that the SAS version ISNT compatible with IGNITE booting !

Im getting the impression that HP wants to be all things to all men where their products are concerned. It seems that in an attempt to make every product as robust as possible, they have made them less available due to the 7 million documents associated with compatibility (and lets not talk about the broken links!!!!)

[Shane Seymour]

Why not use:

www.hp.com/go/ignite-ux

Then at the bottom in the white papers look for "Ignite-UX Installation Booting". In that white paper start on page 10 with "Booting from a tape". You'll soon find that only certain parallel SCSI interfaces support native tape boot.

The reason for that is that tape boot requires firmware support on the HBA to allow tape boot.

The white paper used to list specific tape drives but no longer does.

[eric lipede_1]

Hi Shane
thks, Ive seen that. The response centre engineers have on more than one occasion said that DLT's "can be used but that DDS should be used". Ive also read on this forum that you can use autoloaders. Of course, one should take a step back and ask the following...in the event of failure, whats the best way of a quick recovery.
Im old school and believe that simple, efficient and robust is always the way. IGNITE servers are great but they work as function of network availability. In my humble opinion, the best IGNITE solution would be using an IGNITE server + DDS4 tape creation less frequently than using the server. So far, I havent got a definitive answer.... or no one wants to commit to one. So, I can really only conclude the following (unless someone else has something endorsed by HP that says different)..
DDS tape drives we know are endorsed by HP, other "devices attached to supported interfaces may be used" and CAN work. Personally, until there is a clear statement , Ill stick to (from a device point of view) non usb/sas DDS tape drives for those guaranteed, oven fresh tested results.