ignite writetapedb error

[George Barbitsas]

Hi folks,

im trying to figure out why my backup fails with the following error...any of you seen this message before?


root@hsapw3 [/hq/applprod_nfs/log/or]# /opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery -x inc_entire=vg00 -x exclude=/var/adm/sw -x exclude=/oracle -x exclude=/tmp -x exclude=/usr/sap -P s -d /dev/rmt/0mn -I -v
* Creating local directories for configuration files and archive.

======= 11/05/08 11:10:37 EST Started /opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery.
(Wed Nov 05 11:10:37 EST 2008)
@(#)Ignite-UX Revision C.7.3.148
@(#)ignite/net_recovery (opt) Revision:
/branches/IUX_RA0709w/ignite/src@71360 Last Modified: 2007-08-24
09:42:50 -0600 (Fri, 24 Aug 2007)

* Testing for necessary pax patch.
* Recovery Archive Description = /dev/rmt/0mn

* Recovery Archive Location = /dev/rmt/0mn

* Number of Archives to Save = 2

* Pax type = tar


In? dsk/vg name minor# Associated disks/mountpoints
1 v /dev/vg00 0x00 /dev/disk/disk3_p2 /dev/disk/disk5_p2
/dev/vg00/lvol1 /stand 2
/dev/vg00/lvol2
/dev/vg00/lvol3 / 2
/dev/vg00/lvol4 /tmp 0
/dev/vg00/lvol5 /home_local 2
/dev/vg00/lvol6 /opt 2
/dev/vg00/lvol7 /usr 2
/dev/vg00/lvol8 /var 1
/dev/vg00/lvolswap1
/dev/vg00/lvolswap2
/dev/vg00/lvolswap3
/dev/vg00/lvoldump1
/dev/vg00/lvol9 /hq 2
/dev/vg00/lvoracle /oracle 0
/dev/vg00/lvsapmnt /sapmnt 2
/dev/vg00/lvusrsap /usr/sap 0
/dev/vg00/lvauditpri /.secure/pri 2
/dev/vg00/lvauditaux /.secure/aux 2
/dev/vg00/lvexporthome /export/home 2
0 v /dev/vgPW7 0x02 /dev/disk/disk54 /dev/disk/disk58 /dev/disk/disk62 /dev/disk/disk65 /dev/disk/disk51 /dev/disk/disk61 /dev/disk/disk63 /dev/disk/disk64 /dev/disk/disk55 /dev/disk/disk57 /dev/disk/disk59 /dev/disk/disk60 /dev/disk/disk53 /dev/disk/disk50 /dev/disk/disk69 /dev/disk/disk78 /dev/disk/disk79 /dev/disk/disk81 /dev/disk/disk84 /dev/disk/disk96 /dev/disk/disk116 /dev/disk/disk118 /dev/disk/disk120 /dev/disk/disk121 /dev/disk/disk123 /dev/disk/disk122 /dev/disk/disk117 /dev/disk/disk119 /dev/dsk/c30t0d6 /dev/dsk/c18t0d6 /dev/dsk/c20t1d0 /dev/dsk/c14t1d0 /dev/dsk/c28t1d0 /dev/dsk/c16t1d0 /dev/dsk/c24t1d1 /dev/dsk/c12t1d1 /dev/dsk/c22t0d7 /dev/dsk/c10t0d7 /dev/dsk/c26t0d5 /dev/dsk/c48t0d5
/dev/vgPW7/lvoriglogA /oracle/PW7/origlogA 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvoriglogB /oracle/PW7/origlogB 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvmirrlogA /oracle/PW7/mirrlogA 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvmirrlogB /oracle/PW7/mirrlogB 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata1 /oracle/PW7/sapdata1 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata2 /oracle/PW7/sapdata2 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata3 /oracle/PW7/sapdata3 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata4 /oracle/PW7/sapdata4 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata5 /oracle/PW7/sapdata5 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdatatemp /oracle/PW7/sapdatatemp 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata6 /oracle/PW7/sapdata6 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata7 /oracle/PW7/sapdata7 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata8 /oracle/PW7/sapdata8 0
/dev/vgPW7/lvsapdata9 /oracle/PW7/sapdata9 0
0 v /dev/vgPW7FIXE 0x01 /dev/disk/disk56 /dev/disk/disk67 /dev/disk/disk68 /dev/disk/disk72 /dev/disk/disk87 /dev/disk/disk90 /dev/disk/disk93
/dev/vgPW7FIXE/lvsapmnt /sapmnt/PW7 0
/dev/vgPW7FIXE/lvusrsap /usr/sap/PW7 0
/dev/vgPW7FIXE/lvoracle /oracle/PW7 0
/dev/vgPW7FIXE/lvoraarch /oracle/PW7/oraarch 0
/dev/vgPW7FIXE/lvsaparch /oracle/PW7/saparch 0
/dev/vgPW7FIXE/lvsapreorg /oracle/PW7/sapreorg 0

** 0 - The Volume Group or Filesystem is Not included in the
System Recovery Archive
** 1 - The Volume Group or Filesystem is Partially included in the
System Recovery Archive
** 2 - The Volume Group or Filesystem is Fully included in the
System Recovery Archive

* Checking Versions of Ignite-UX filesets
* Creating System Configuration.
* /opt/ignite/bin/save_config -f
/var/opt/ignite/recovery/2008-11-05,11:10/system_cfg vg00
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
/opt/ignite/bin/save_config[20]: 12 + 4^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21^J21 - 1: Syntax error
* Backing Up Volume Group /dev/vg00
* /usr/sbin/vgcfgbackup /dev/vg00
* Creating Map Files for Volume Group /dev/vg00
* /usr/sbin/vgexport -s -p -m /etc/lvmconf/vg00.mapfile /dev/vg00

* Backing Up Volume Group /dev/vgPW7
* /usr/sbin/vgcfgbackup /dev/vgPW7
* Creating Map Files for Volume Group /dev/vgPW7
* /usr/sbin/vgexport -s -p -m /etc/lvmconf/vgPW7.mapfile /dev/vgPW7

* Backing Up Volume Group /dev/vgPW7FIXE
* /usr/sbin/vgcfgbackup /dev/vgPW7FIXE
* Creating Map Files for Volume Group /dev/vgPW7FIXE
* /usr/sbin/vgexport -s -p -m /etc/lvmconf/vgPW7FIXE.mapfile
/dev/vgPW7FIXE

* Creating Control Configuration.
* Creating Archive File List
* Creating Archive Configuration

* /opt/ignite/lbin/make_arch_config -c
/var/opt/ignite/recovery/2008-11-05,11:10/archive_cfg -g
/var/opt/ignite/recovery/2008-11-05,11:10/flist -n 2008-11-05,11:10 -r
ipf -b 64 -d /dev/rmt/0mn -t 22 -i 2 -m t
* Saving the information about archive to
/var/opt/ignite/recovery/previews
* Creating The Tape Archive
* Checking configuration file for Syntax
WARNING: You are about to create an Itanium-based recovery tape. If this
system does NOT support direct tape boot, you will need to perform
"two-step media recovery" where the boot media (CD or DVD) has the
same version of Ignite-UX as the version on this tape.
ERROR: "writetapedb" command failed to create boot tape descriptor block.
ERROR: System Error, /opt/ignite/bin/make_ipf_tape failed creating IPF boot
tape.
ERROR: Failed to generate LIF on tape.


======= 11/05/08 11:11:28 EST make_tape_recovery completed unsuccessfully

thx

[TTr]

It looks like a tape write error. Check the tape for write protect and good condition. ALso check the drive itself. Have you tried a different tape or tried to write something to this tape using a simple tar?
On another note see if there are upgrades to your ignite version. There is something wrong in the /opt/ignite/bin/save_config file in line 20 where those syntax errors occur.

[Ganesan R]

Hi,

My first suspect would be media. Have you tried change the media?

[George Barbitsas]

I updated my system on the 19 oct 2008, when I checked the logs, those errors @ line 20 were present but the backup seemed to complete without any errors.....I tried to tar /var on to tape without any problems either....

[George Barbitsas]

yes, I will try to change the tape and see what gives.

[Al Miller_1 · Accepted solution]

George,

The problem is not your tape drive or media. What you are seeing are two separate defects in the make_tape_recovery infrastructure, one in save_config (the syntax errors) and another in writetapedb. Both have been fixed, and you can download the latest version of Ignite from http://docs.hp.com/en/IUX.

Best Regards,

Al

[George Barbitsas]

Hey Al,

the thing that bothers me is that it worked before the patch with the errors reagding save_config.....

[Al Miller_1]

George,

Which patch are you referring to? The writetapedb ERROR was caused by an uninitialized variable coding defect involving the "errno" variable. There was a patch, I have forgotten which one, that when applied caused errno to be non-zero at program startup, and this exposed the defect in writetapedb.

The bottom line is that if you install Ignite-UX C.7.4 or later (current is C.7.7) this problem should go away.

Al

[Torsten.]

Hi George,

I noticed this option:

-x exclude=/var/adm/sw

This is IMHO a very bad idea, because without the sw database you are no longer able to install/change/remove **any** software!

[George Barbitsas]

let me clarify the previous statement....backups were doing fine until I installed patches on the server....when I look at the old logs the errors regarding the syntax errors were present but nonetheless the backup would still complete successfully

[George Barbitsas]

regarding the /var/adm/sw, we back it up via dataprotector....if we need to recover something after recovery would could always restore....

[George Barbitsas]

I removed previous versions of ignite and installed the latest one...Everything seems to work well now.

thx

[George Barbitsas]

suggestion by Al fixed my issue