end of tape message

[Rosli Ahmad]

Hi,
I have an internal DLT tape on a K-class server running HP-UX 10.20. For the last few days, I have been encountering 'end of tape' message when running backup, even if using brand new tape and tar only less than 100MB files. I have cleaned the drive numerous times and using the same DLT tapes for years. Is my drive faulty or is there any other explaination for this?
Thank you.

[Michael Tully]

What type of backups are you running? Do they append to the tape?

Two things to try:
rewind the tape (scratch tape might be best)
# mt -t /dev/rmt/?m rew

Run a simple backup
# tar cvf /dev/rmt/?m /usr

This should backup quite a bit more than 100Mb. Then we can see if it is successful.

[Michael Steele_2]

Regarding "... and using the same DLT tapes for years..."

Well, that's your first problem.

Use these commands to obtain the status of your tape drive:

# mt -t /dev/rmt/#m status
# mt -t /dev/rmt/#m rewind
# mt -t /dev/rmt/#m offline (* ejects tape *)
# mt -t /dev/rmt/#m fsf 1 (* move forward one record, two records, etc. *)

##########################################
##
##########################################

Please attach the results of these commands:

# grep -i -e vmunix -e ems /var/adm/syslog/syslog.log
(* just the last day or so *)

STM > TOOLS > UTILITY > RUN > LOGTOOL > FILE > VIEW > RAW SUMMARY

(* most important is LOGTOOL *)

# ioscan -fnkC tape

[Rosli Ahmad]

My backup is using tar command and rewinding tapes everytime before starting backup. Rewinding the tape is fine, even the exit code is 0, but it just won't write the whole files to tape.
Thanks.

[Rajeev Shukla]

Hi,
If you have tried the simple backups like Michael has suggested and still experiencing problem. Then i am affraid that your drive has indeed gone bad. Also get the firmware upgraded on your DLT drive.
Log a call with HP and they'll do it for you.

Cheers
Rajeev

[T G Manikandan]

Is there any difference in the densities.

Just do a

#lssf /dev/rmt/0m

[Patrick Wallek]

If you have indeed used the same tapes over and over and over and over...... Try a brand new, never before used tape and see if that solves your problem. While tapes can and do last for a long time, they do go bad eventually and have to be replaced occasionally.

[John Adonis]

Hi,

This can be a problem with the DLT Drive, pls contact the hardware vendor and get the sensors cleaned.

[Rosli Ahmad]

What I meant by 'and using the same DLT tapes for years', was the same tape density not the same tape. Anyway, thank you for the feedback. I'll contact the vendor to have a look then.