/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTn: No such device or address

[smg_atlas]

Hi

We run ignite backups in the night.
Last night the backup failed and I got this error message:
/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTn: No such device or address
But I can see the c5t3d0BESTn under /dev/rmt.
I can also check the status:

[assrvsapa1:/dev/rmt]# mt -f /dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTn status
Drive: HP C5683A
Format:
Status: [41112600] BOT online compression immediate-report-mode
File: 0
Block: 0

even I can run the dd command:

[assrvsapa1:/dev/rmt]# dd if=/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTn count=1
ISL10©0ø1+0 records in
1+0 records out

Can someone pls explain to me why it failed.
Could it be the possibility of the tape being inserted late by the NOC team, any suggestions will be welcomed.

regards,

[OldSchool · Accepted solution]

i would have expected a write error had there been no tape..

Output of your status command seems to indicate that a tape isn't in the drive however.

the original error message (no device) I would expect if there were hardware issues.

please post the results of an:

ioscan -fnC tape

I take it that the ignite has been working w/ this device and that this issue just started...

[smg_atlas]

Hi,

The ioscan is:
[assrvsapa1:/var]# ioscan -fnC tape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
==========================================================================
tape 2 1/0/1/1/0/1/0.2.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP Ultrium 2-SCSI
/dev/rmt/2m /dev/rmt/c2t2d0BEST
/dev/rmt/2mb /dev/rmt/c2t2d0BESTb
/dev/rmt/2mn /dev/rmt/c2t2d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/2mnb /dev/rmt/c2t2d0BESTnb
tape 1 1/0/4/1/0.3.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C5683A
/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BEST /dev/rmt/c5t3d0DDS
/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c5t3d0DDSb
/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTn /dev/rmt/c5t3d0DDSn
/dev/rmt/c5t3d0BESTnb /dev/rmt/c5t3d0DDSnb

[Scott Lindstrom_2]

I know when we are missing the tape in the drive a "mt -f /dev/rmt/xxx rew" command will give the misleading error message "No such device or address ", so perhaps Ignite does also.

Scott

[kggj]

I would think your tape operator inserted the tape aftere the backups kicked off !!!

rgds
KGG

[Bill Hassell]

If you have to trust the backup to an operator, I would rewrite your script in paranoia style. From the start, assume that everything is wrong:

- check that the device file exists and has rw permissions for your script
- check that the device is a tape (hint: lssf)
- mt status, check for a tape at BOT. If not, mt rewind and recheck status
- finally, check that the tape is write-enabled

Then proceed with the backup, but look for a return code from the backup.

[smg_atlas]

Even when I used cleaning tape and put new data tape I still get the message:

#mt -f /dev/rmt/4mn rew
/dev/rmt/4mn: No such device or address

But when I do ioscan -fnC tape I get the following:
Which means that the tape unit is claimed?
Can some guru pls explain,
could it be time to replace the tape unit?

regards

[assrvsapb1:/]# ioscan -fnCtape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
==========================================================================
tape 4 0/0/4/1/0.5.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C5683A
/dev/rmt/4m /dev/rmt/c13t5d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/4mb /dev/rmt/c13t5d0BESTnb
/dev/rmt/4mn /dev/rmt/c13t5d0DDS
/dev/rmt/4mnb /dev/rmt/c13t5d0DDSb
/dev/rmt/c13t5d0BEST /dev/rmt/c13t5d0DDSn
/dev/rmt/c13t5d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c13t5d0DDSnb
tape 6 0/0/8/1/0/1/0.4.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP Ultrium 2-SCSI
/dev/rmt/6m /dev/rmt/c6t4d0BEST
/dev/rmt/6mb /dev/rmt/c6t4d0BESTb
/dev/rmt/6mn /dev/rmt/c6t4d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/6mnb /dev/rmt/c6t4d0BESTnb

[smg_atlas]

Hi All

Thanks for everyone who participated and gave their views.
I got the tape drive replaced and I can now use ignite backup.