This is output from fbackup: br_backup: Invoking fbackup. See /var/sam/log/br_log for details. fbackup(1004): session begins on Mon Mar 6 03:05:01 2006 fbackup(3038): output file /dev/rmt/0mnb is not a valid device file for backup fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file? fbackup(3004): writer aborting fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
The job is scheduled like this : 05 3 * * 0,1,2,3,4,5 /usr/sam/lbin/br_backup TAPE_DEVICE FULL Y /dev/rmt/0mnb /var/sam/graphNCAa22660 root Y 1 N > /var/sam/SAM_br_msgs 2>&1 #sambackup
Here is some more info on the device file : # ioscan -fnkC tape Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description ===================================================================== tape 0 0/1/1/1.2.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C7438A /dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BESTn /dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BESTnb /dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDS /dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BEST /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSn /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSnb # ls -l /dev/rmt/0mnb crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x0320c0 Feb 19 03:05 /dev/rmt/0mnb # ls -l /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSnb crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x0320c1 Mar 24 2005 /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSnb # file /dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/0mnb: character special (205/204992) # mt -f /dev/rmt/0mnb rew /dev/rmt/0mnb: No such device or address #
I tried the 0m version but the result is the same :
br_backup: Invoking fbackup. See /var/sam/log/br_log for details. fbackup(1004): session begins on Mon Mar 6 18:03:25 2006 fbackup(3038): output file /dev/rmt/0m is not a valid device file for backup fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file? n fbackup(3022): would you like to continue this session? n fbackup(3004): writer aborting fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
I ran the suggested commands. # rmsf -H 0/1/1/1.2.0 # insfe -e
Still the same result : fbackup(1004): session begins on Mon Mar 6 18:43:04 2006 fbackup(3038): output file /dev/rmt/0mnb is not a valid device file for backup fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file? n fbackup(3022): would you like to continue this session? n fbackup(3004): writer aborting fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit You have mail in /var/mail/root
Yes, I'd expect the using '/dev/rmt/1m' would have created a regular file in your root filesystem. Your ioscan did not show any tape device for this path.
If the tape drive has worked before, and cleaning it does not help, you may have a defunct drive.
Another thing to check is to do the 'ioscan' but thusly (to probe the hardware and not the current kernel's view):
# ioscan -fnC tape
If the tape doen't show a CLAIMED software state you need to check the hardware -- cables and/or drive.
Thanks for enlightening me. I didn't know about the '1m' behaviour.
In the meantime I ran # ioscan -fnC tape Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description ===================================================================== tape 0 0/1/1/1.2.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C7438A /dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BESTn /dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BESTnb /dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDS /dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BEST /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSn /dev/rmt/c3t2d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c3t2d0DDSnb #
It looks claimed. My local contact confirms that a cleaning tape was run before the start of this thread.
Your latest attempt still shows "backup(3038): output file /dev/rmt/0mnb is not a valid device file for backup ", indicating that you are still using the no rewind device file. As James pointed out earlier, this is not valid. Please ensure that you are using /dev/rmt/0m.
When you load a tape, if the drive LED lights continue to flash, and/or the drive's cleaning light doesn't go off after cleaning, the tape drive is bad and needs replacement.
If the tape unit is particularly dirty, clean the drive 2-3 times in succession. Make sure too to try *different* tapes! You may just have a bad tape.
