Quantum DLT2000 fbackup errors

[Jon Mattatall]

Looking for a little input....
I've got a K570 / 11.00 with an external Quantum DLT2000 tape drive.

The nightly fbackup is failing, but intermittently, and with various errors.
The most common is a 3011 media error.

Examples from 3 failures over the last 2 weeks (2 week tape cycle)...

fbackup(3026): ioctl error, can't query outfile
at media record 12800
fbackup(3102): attempting to make this volume salvagable
fbackup(3123): could not read the previous checkpoint record
fbackup(3105): writing 2 EOFs and rewinding the tape
fbackup(3106): please mount a good tape
fbackup(3040): output file /dev/rmt/1m encountered an I/O error
fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file?
fbackup(3022): would you like to continue this session?
fbackup(3004): writer aborting
fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
* fbackup reported a FAILURE

fbackup(3011): WRITE ERROR while writing a checkpoint EOF, at media record 7936
fbackup(3102): attempting to make this volume salvagable
fbackup(3123): could not read the previous checkpoint record
fbackup(3105): writing 2 EOFs and rewinding the tape
fbackup(3106): please mount a good tape
fbackup(3040): output file /dev/rmt/1m encountered an I/O error
fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file?
fbackup(3022): would you like to continue this session?
fbackup(3004): writer aborting
fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
* fbackup reported a FAILURE

fbackup(3011): WRITE ERROR while writing a checkpoint EOF, at media record 7936
fbackup(3102): attempting to make this volume salvagable
fbackup(3123): could not read the previous checkpoint record
fbackup(3105): writing 2 EOFs and rewinding the tape
fbackup(3106): please mount a good tape
fbackup(3040): output file /dev/rmt/1m encountered an I/O error
fbackup(3019): would you like to enter a new output file?
fbackup(3022): would you like to continue this session?
fbackup(3004): writer aborting
fbackup(1002): Backup did not complete : Reader or Writer process exit
* fbackup reported a FAILURE

I've replaced tapes (DLT III and IIIXT) with no change. The failures seem random, with the possible exception of three Tuesdays(Jan 29, Feb 12, Feb 26) which could just be fluke as I've had that tape replaced as well.

Could this be a:
Bad tape drive?
Bad interface?
Bad terminator? (and I'm looking for one to try)

Just looking for possible tests I could do to rule any of these in/out.

Jon

P.S. This thread has been moevd from Disk to Optical Jukeboxes & Drives. - Hp forum Moderator

[Vincent Farrugia]

Hello,

Do you clean the head of the tape drive as often as you should?

Vince

[Jon Mattatall]

Probably more often...the tape librarian runs the cleaning tape on a 2 week cycle as well..

[Michael Tully]

Hi,

The tape drive should tell you when it needs
cleaning. Tape drives cleaned too often actually have the reverse effect and wear more prematurely.

In your case it sounds as if the tape drive is
starting to wear out. You look at all of what
you've suggested.

Michael

[Vincent Farrugia]

Hi again,

If you got a DLT2000, it must be very old. Tape drives last just as much as you use them, really. The head then becomes too weared out for cleaning to be performed.

I think you should say a big thank you to your drive for her wonderful service and replace it. Everyone has to die sometime :-)

HTH,
Vince

[Jon Mattatall]

True, this may be cleaned too often, but I've noticed that some things are done here because they've always been done......

The drive was used as a stopgap measure until our enterprise backup system could be implemented.

~18 months later, the old girl is dying and no enterprise backup.

Nuts.

Off to purchasing.....