scsi tape: i/o error during close

[Marcel Boon]

Hi all,

I have a strange problem on my hp d-class server. In the evening i use the next cmd to backup my system: /etc/fbackup -f /dev/rmt/c2t0d0BEST -0 -I /var/adm/fbackupfiles/backfiles -i / -e /cdrom >>/var/adm/fback
upfiles/backuplog 2>&1

Normally everiting works fine, but the last few days (4 days)i get the next output:
++++++
fbackup(1004): session begins on Thu May 31 02:13:02 2001
fbackup(3205): unable to read a volume header
fbackup(3024): writing volume 1 to the output file /dev/rmt/c2t0d0BEST
fbackup(9999): I/O error
fbackup(3120): write error on a record in the index
fbackup(3025): write error at the beginning of the volume
fbackup(3316): enter 'yes' when volume 1 is ready on /dev/rmt/c2t0d0BEST,
or 'no' to discontinue:
fbackup(3004): writer aborting
fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
+++++++

It seems to me an hardware failure, dmesg give me the next output: scsi tape: i/o error during close

But, when i manually create a backup from the
/tmp directory for testing,with fbackup, it works fine.
Also tar works fine.

What could be possible the problem ?

Regards,

Marcel

[Jim Smith]

Sounds like simply a problem reading the tape thats in the drive.

Either;

1. The tape drive needs cleaning - even if the cleaning light isnt on, try cleaning it.
2. The tape you are using needs initializing - dd /stand/vmunix to it first.
3. The tape you are using is bad - but only further along the tape, thus you can write a small backup from /tmp to it ok, but not a larger backup
4. Your tape drive needs a reset - power off/on. If its external you can do this online else a reboot.

[Marcel Boon]

Hi Jim,

I already cleaned the tape drive, and the past the last 4 days. so, I used 4 different tapes.

what does a reset do off a tape drive?

Marcel

[Stefan Farrelly]

Soemtimes tape drives get a little confused, so it cant hurt to power it off then on if youre having problems.

I would try a new tape and reinitializing the one you have first.

[Marcel Boon]

Hi all,

The last option is to reboot the system,
but Jim gives some other options.
What does it do ?
option:
initializing - dd /stand/vmunix

What is the exacactly syntax ?

Marcel

[boley janowski]

i had a simular problem, after i cleaned the tapedrive, and still found the same problem. i found that my operators were putting dds3 tapes into the dds2 drive at night (this is why it worked when i tested it manually and it failed at night when cron ran) just something to think about, I have also found that when i start getting stupid issues with my tape drives they clear themselve up after a reboot is schedualed. Good Luck!!

[Marcel Boon]

Hi,

I have a dds3 unit and dds3 tapes.

Marcel

[Mark Vollmers]

Marcel-

Is there anything odd in the syslog file? I assume not, since you have not mentioned it, but you should check to make sure. Personally, I've been having problems with my tape drive, and it seems like every time it spits out a bunch of scsi errors to the syslog. Might just want to check to make sure. Also, I know that tech support will ask if you use HP tapes with an HP drive. I've heard where it actually can screw stuff up to use other tapes, for whatever reason. Just a few thoughts.

Mark

[Marcel Boon]

Hi,

syslog.log:
vmunix: SCSI TAPE: dev = 0xcd020000 I/O error during close

(the same as "dmesg"

Marcel

[Carlos Fernandez Riera]

A broken device ?
Please see: http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,1150,0x298bee3e323bd5118fef0090279cd0f9,00.html

[Marcel Boon]

Hi,

I reset this morning my hpserver, but the problem is not over. I still get the errors.
some futher information:
(DDS 3 tape unit)
test commands:
tar cv /tmp/test with dds3 tape give me the errror.
tar cv /tmp/test with dd2 tape works fine.

The dds3 tape unit doesnot regocnize my dds3 tapes. It always works fine.
How can I initialize the dds3 tape ?

MB...

[Carlos Fernandez Riera]

can you attach an ioscan -f -C tape , Please?

[Marcel Boon]

Here it is:

Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=====================================================================
tape 0 8/16/5.0.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C1537A

Marcel

[Carlos Fernandez Riera]

Well, i was thinking it was DDS2... sorry.

If it posible that the tape were unloaded while the backup is running?

This could be a cause... but if you have try with new DDS3 tapes and get the same error i think the drives is broken.

I had attached a file, in the previuos link, that get a full statistics for dds3 drives...
i wrote that code because DDS2 driver faults usually and i needed known more about driver status ... Try it.

[Daniel Crow]

Marcel,

We have had that same problem on two different DDS3 drives. It actually happened to one of our backup drives this past week:
---------------------------
fbackup(1004): session begins on Tue Jun 25 23:00:02 2002
fbackup(3205): WARNING: unable to read a volume header
fbackup(3024): writing volume 1 to the output file /dev/rmt/0m
fbackup(9999): I/O error
fbackup(3120): write error on a record in the index
fbackup(3025): write error at the beginning of the volume
fbackup(3316): enter 'yes' when volume 1 is ready on /dev/rmt/0m,
or 'no' to discontinue:
fbackup(3004): writer aborting
fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit

---------------------------

Sadly I have no answers either. We have tried everything from using cleaning tapes to trasnferring the drives to new machines to actually disassembling them (not under warranty) and cleaning them with air.

Nothing has worked.

If anyone out there has an answer I would appreciate it as well!

[Rahul Mehta]

Sometimes , you can have that error ,if drive and tapes capacity do not match , i.e you have dds 3 tape in to dds2 tape drive.
Another possibility is your tape is getting full.

Try initializing your media .

try mt command first , before using fbackup.
if you can backup data to tape and restore using tar and mt , it's not a tape drive or tape issue.
If you still face same problem than it's only tape or tapedrive.

[Hartmut Lang]

Had the same problem and it was related to the tape we were using (depending on manufacturer).
Yes HP said there will be no difference if you use tapes from HP, EMTEC(BASF), Sony, Futji .... (of course they recommend HP tapes). But anyway, some tapes from specific manufactures (i think, but i'm not completly sure, it was EMTEC/BASF), did not work with our DDS3 tape device from HP. And it gave the exact output you posted:
scsi tape: i/o error during close

Using other tapes now, i don't have a problem any more.
So did you change the brand of your tape just before the error occured?

Hartmut