Disc on the way out?

[MarkSyder]

Hi everybody.

I've just tried to do a backup of a server. It failed with 82% of the filesystem having been successfully backed up.

/var/adm/syslog/syslog.log and elm indicate a fault on a disc on the same SCSI bus as the tape drive. Strangely enough, the tape drive was displaying an amber disturbance light earlier today. Cleaning the heads didn't get rid of the light, so I turned the tape drive off then back on.

Extract from the elm message:

Summary:
Disk at hardware path 8/16/5.5.0 : Software configuration error


Description of Error:

The device is in a condition where it requires action on the part of the
device driver or a human operator.

Extract from command /opt/resmon/bin/resdata -R 205586434 -r /storage/events/disks/default/8_16_5.5.0 -n 205586434 -a:

Probable Cause / Recommended Action:

The device has been reset by a Bus Device Reset message, a hard reset
condition, or a power-on reset.

If this is the case, no action is necessary.

Alternatively, a removable medium has been loaded or replaced.

If this is the case, no action is necessary.

Alternatively, the mode parameters, microcode, or inquiry data for the
device have been changed.

If this is the case, no action is necessary.

Alternatively, the installed version of the device driver does not match
that of the installed version of HP-UX. Install the correct version of the
driver.

Unfortunately, I have to go home soon (the gas man cometh) so I can't do anything with it this afternoon (or give anyone any points yet!).

I intend doing a full backup of the disc on Monday morning and then seeing if I can find a new driver via the internet.

Meanwhile, I would be very grateful for any suggestions that might be waiting for me on Monday morning. If anyone can help me to fix this without having to call out an engineer and negotiate downtime with the users they have a guaranteed 10 points!

Mark Syder (like the drink but spelt different)

[Joseph Loo · Accepted solution]

hi,

to check if the disk may be failing:

# dd if=/dev/rdsk/c#t#d# of=/dev/null bs=512
CTRL+C to break after 2 to 5 minutes. r the output, "records in" and "records out" the same? if so, the EMS mail may just be a warning.

also check /var/adm/syslog/syslog.log for any lbolts errors and dmesg output, please.

regards.

[Pete Randall]

Mark,

Sort of an enhancement to Joseph's dd recommendation:

dd if=/dev/rdsk/cXtXdX of=/dev/null bs=1024k

With the larger block size, you can let it scan the entire disk and then look for errors. If you get an I/O error during the dd run, you've got a bad disk!


Pete

[Naveej.K.A]

hi

/opt/resmon/bin/resdata -R 205586434 -r /storage/events/disks/default/8_16_5.5.0 -n 205586434 -a:

what did this give???

USE the STM to have a thorough check of your hard disk (ofcourse non-destructive) and see if it is logging any errors.

try the dd command as posted by other two three times..

the reocord in/out should also give a better picture of the status of the drive

with best wishes
Naveej

[MarkSyder]

10 points all round because I don't know whose suggestion fixed it!

I ran dd - no errors.

I ran STM on the disc - no errors, so I ran it on the tape drive - no errors.

I ran it on the other disc on the SCSI bus and also on the SCSI initiator - no errors.

I reformatted the tape and tried again - it worked!

Thanks for the help.

Mark