Problems with DLT7000 and SDLT

[David_246]

Hi,

We have an issue that we made a backup on a DLT7000 tape using tar. Ones we check using : tar tvf /dev/rmt/0
It all works great on the same server.

Now ejecting the tape and putting it into server 2 with an SDLT unit we try to do the same but get an error. However mt stat -f /dev/rmt/0 shows :

Quantum Super DLT 320 tape drive:
sense key(0x6)= Unit Attention residual= 0 retries= 0
file no= 0 block no= 0


The DLT7000 would be read only compatible to the SDLT, right?

I know it's (by default) not the other way arround and you can't append, but is there something else we should look at ?


Best Regs David

[Stefan Farrelly]

I dont believe tapes written on a non SDLT drive (eg. DLT7000) can be read (or written) in an SDLT drive. The tapes the SDLT's use are completely different to those of a DLT7000/8000/4000. We havent been able to do so.

[Stefan Farrelly]

One thing to try - use mksf to create a special deive file on your server with the SDLT to see if you can get the right bpi for the 7000 tape you are trying to read, it may work. See the -b option for mksf. Ive used this option before on non SDLT and DDS drives successfully.

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,

Yes, DLT 7000 medias should be read compatible with SDLT 320 drives.

http://www.quantum.com/am/service_support/compatibility/dlttape_media_compatibility_matrix.htm

But, I remember there has been some questions in the Storage forum about problems with reading DLT medias in SDLT drives. If you do a search in the Storage forum you may find some threads.

[Volker Borowski]

Hi,

Any chance to manually overide the density on the SDLT ?

If it is not so much data, try to use an old DLT III cartridge. Both tapes should detect the downgraded media an react correspondingly.

Worked for me to read a DLT 8000 written tape on a DLT 7000 drive (on Tru64) !

Volker