Unnable to make backups to DDS in C8000/HP-UX

[Lucas Perez]

Hello, I'm having an issue while trying to do a complete backup of the system.
The DDS is OK (I put it in another c8000 with HP-UX and the same tape and it done it perfectly).

This is what I get when I try to do the backup:

-Backing up complete system on /dev/rmt/0m
-Using generated backup list /tmp/fbackup.graph.sc
-fbackup(1421): no history is available for graph file /tmp/fbackup.graph.sc (below level 0)
-fbackup(1004): session begins on Thu Jan 25 17:33:52 2007
-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


Please, I need help with that!

Thank you!

[Torsten.]

Hi,

add a "n" to your device file - /dev/rmt/0mn

[DCE]

do an

ioscan -fnC tape

to get a list of valid tape drivers

I have had good luck with fbackup using the
/dev/rmt/cxtxdxBEST drivers

[V. Nyga]

Hi,

these /dev/rmt files are created when you configure your tape.
It could be 0m od 1m or others. It depends - for example it could be the second drive connected to this ws. Or it's the first and not yet configured.
You can see it with the ioscan command from DCE.

HTH
Volkmar

[Lucas Perez]

Hello to everybody and thanks for the replies!

The same thing occurs when i switch to /0mn..
The ioscan -fnC tape lists all the devices, and in another server we always use /0m just for simplycity.

Anyhing else that I can do to solve the problem??

Thanks you very much!

[V. Nyga]

Hi again,

well '0mn' is for not rewinding the tape - so I don't know why Torsten said to use this one.

Can you give us your 'll /dev/rmt' and your ioscan?
Are you running the backup as root?

V.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Check mstm/cstm or xstm see that the tape drive is good.

Check the scsi connectors and such physically to make sure they are connected.

Does the indicator light flash at all.

See about running a cleaning tape through the thing if it works.

Check the write tab on the tape.

Try a different tape.

SEP

[Lucas Perez]

Here is what I get when I execute the ioscan -fnC tape:

Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=====================================================================
tape 0 0/2/1/1.3.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C7438A
/dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/c1t3d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/c1t3d0BESTnb
/dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c1t3d0DDS
/dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c1t3d0DDSb
/dev/rmt/c1t3d0BEST /dev/rmt/c1t3d0DDSn
/dev/rmt/c1t3d0BESTb /dev/rmt/c1t3d0DDSnb


The TAPE RW is flashing green (no blinking). The connectors are OK.
The ddstape is brand new (and I've tested with another ddstape in another TAPE RW and there work OK.
Should the problem is the TAPE RW?

THANKS!

[Lucas Perez]

It's me again.
Sorry for the double posting at first.

This is what I get when I try to do an fbackup: 3040.

Maybe that Helps to know what it's the problem.

Thanks again!

Lucas.

[V. Nyga]

Hi again,

are you running backup as root?
What scsi id is set at the tape?
Can you give us the listing of your /dev/rmt directory?

V.

[Lucas Perez]

Hello, thanks for your reply!

I'm loged in as root.
This is the listing of /dev/rmt ->

*#root# ls -l /dev/rmt
total 0
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x013000 Jan 26 12:01 0m
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x013080 Jan 26 12:01 0mb
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x013040 Jan 26 12:01 0mn
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x0130c0 Jan 26 12:01 0mnb
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x013000 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0BEST
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x013080 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0BESTb
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x013040 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0BESTn
crw-rw-rw- 2 bin bin 205 0x0130c0 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0BESTnb
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x013001 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0DDS
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x013081 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0DDSb
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x013041 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0DDSn
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x0130c1 Jan 26 12:01 c1t3d0DDSnb
crw-r--r-- 1 bin bin 205 0xfffffe Jan 22 15:28 stape_config

And, what do you mean with scsi tape id?

THANKS!

[V. Nyga]

Hi again,

at your tape you have to set a scsi id.
It has to be different from your hard disks.
What type of tape drive do you have?

V.

[Torsten.]

Sorry for the "0mn" hint, I was working with ignite all the day.

This is a DDS5 drive, what OS are you running?

In case of 11.11 you need the enablement patch:

"Enables stape driver support for HP DAT72 (C7438A) tape drives. Without this change, a user will not be able to use fbackup(1m) with HP DAT72 (C7438A) drives."

Sounds exactly like your problem, isn't it?

http://www5.itrc.hp.com/service/patch/patchDetail.do?patchid=PHKL_34552

[Torsten.]

Of course you are running HP-UX 11.11 ;-)

[Ted Buis]

If the tape has never worked with this workstation the driver might not be in the kernel. With workstations my experience is that if the tape drive was not attached when the OS was loaded then the tape driver did not get put in the kernel. Go to 'sam' and look and see if the scsi tape driver is "IN" or "OUT" of your kernel. If it is out, add it in and reboot. If it has worked before, and just isn't working now, then that will not be the solution.

Ted

[Torsten.]

@Ted: if "ioscan -fnCtape" gives a result like the one above, the driver is IN. But in general this is a good idea.
But in this case the driver needs to be updated by the patch, I'm sure.

Lucas, please post your results.

[Lucas Perez]

Hi, sorry for the delay on answering.

The tape drive is OK. We have several servers like this with the same tapes and the same drivers and SO versions.

But in this c8000 the tape doesn't work.

It's appear when I do the ioscan....

Should I install that driver? (again, this was not necesary with other c8000 with the SAME configuration)


Thanks to all, really!

Lucas.

[Torsten.]

Perhaps you have the updated driver installed on your other systems.

I would install the patch, it seems to be the solution (see the patch text again).

[Lucas Perez]

Hello,
As I said in my previously post, the patch was never installed in the others C8000.

I would try that (if the solution doesn't appears), but I'm scared about a possible failure in the hardware in the tape drive.

Thanks!
Lucas.

[Lucas Perez]

Hi people!
I found the cause of the problem:
There was a pin on the scsi connector that was twisted so it cann't work correctly.

I switched the cable with another of other tape drive and the tape drive now works OK.

Many thaks to all.

I will close the thread in a few days.

Cheers!