DAT72 driver/compression question

[BRIAN FLUET]

I notice tape compression did not seem to be enabled on my internal Storageworks DAT72. I checked for new drivers and saw a Storageworks driver v1.2.0.0(a) which I installed. My existing driver was 1.5.3.1 which appears to be a non-Storageworks driver. Anyways, the TapeDrive Parameters of the driver properties shows Compression Enabled=False. All of the setting are greyed out so I'm wondering how these settings get changed, specifically enabling compression.

Tia for the help.

BrianG

[Kalidoss.Sankaran]

Hi Brian,

Inorder to turn on the Hardware compression, follow the instructions that i have mentioned below.

follow the link http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=US&swItem=co-56218-1&prodTypeId=12169&prodSeriesId=238671 to install L&TT 4.5.

Stop the Removable Storage and 3rd party Backup Software Servives in "services.msc" window.

- Go to Start > All Programs > HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools > HP L&TT
- Select Hardware and NT Miniport and select Continue.
- Select the Drive from the Product Category
- Go to Utility from the Top Pane and Select the Drive Configuration Utility from the Drop Down Box and Select Options.
- Select the Hardware Compression from the Drop Down Menu and open the option by double click on the item. and select Enable and Click OK.
- Once finished, go back to the Utility and run the Drive Configuration Utility to verify the Hardware Compression Settings.

Also ensure that the Compression Type in the Backup Software is set to "Hardware if not Software"

Also try running the Compression Test from the Test Utility Functions to check the Compression Ratio.

Please do revert for any clarifications.

[BRIAN FLUET]

Attempts to enable compression via the LT&T Utility function fails. The Analysis Results show "Mode Sense command (data compression page ) failed". Verified that Backup Exec services were stopped. The Removable Storage service is set to manual so was not running.

The LT&T compression test results say that the hardware compression algorithm is switched off which was probably set by my backup software (Backup Exec 10d). Backup Exec says that compression is enabled on the device. Interestingly enough, compression is reported at 2.22:1.

Compression type in Backup Exec is set to Hardware(if available,otherwise software).

I checked into a firmware upgrade but became confused there as well. The LT&T firmware utility finds a firmware version of V601 but HP support shows the firmware version as ZP76. Would hate to install the wrong firmware so I did nothing.

I don't know where to turn next. The tapes are full much closer to 36GB stored than the max. of 72GB. Any additional suggestions would be appreciated.

TIA

Brian

[Kalidoss.Sankaran · Accepted solution]

Hi Brian

If you would like to update the firmware, please find the attachment to use the L&TT to update the firmware.

Once updated, try to run the L&TT drive assessment, Device analysis and the compression test and attach the logs to check for errors.

Thanks
Kalidoss

[BRIAN FLUET]

Looks like the firmware update went without a hitch. I couldn't find menu access to the log files of the L&TT tests so have summarized the results below.

L&TT Drive assessment passed with warning about using non-compatible media. I use HP C8010A cartridges so perhaps this references some past cartridge use?

L&TT Device analysis passed with same warning as above.

L&TT compression test passed.

The real test now is to see if my next full backup fits on one tape. I'll know in the morning.

Thanks for the help.

Brian

[BRIAN FLUET]

OK, I'm still not getting the amount of data on a tape as I expect. The properties of the DAT72 tape used for last nights backup show the following:
Used capacity: 46.4 GB
Available capacity: 0 GB
Total capacity: 33.6 GB
Compression: 1.38:1

I would say the about 50% of the files making up this backup are .jpg and .dwg (AutoCad). The rest are a mix of .doc, .xls, and .ppt. Please advise as to whether these number are normal or if it appears that I still have a problem. Again, backup software is Backup Exec 10d with hardware compression enabled, OS is Server 2003 Std .

TIA

Brian

[Kalidoss.Sankaran]

Brian,

As you mentioned the 50% of the file are JPEG and CADD files, i would like to tell you that when you try to compress more CADD< JPEG and SQL files, the total file size after the compression will be incread since it has to assign a Header and Footer in all samples on those files.

Say that there are aroun 7 sample in one JPEG file then it will assign 2 bit (onebot for Header and one bit for Footer in all the Samples after compressed will inturn the the JPEG file size will high when comprared to the original file size.

It would be great if you select only the Docs, PPT and the Xls file to check the total backup capacity please?

Please find the link recd the compression questions.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=lpg50244

Thanks
Kalidoss