DDS3 C1537-00485 / Compaq 12/24GB DDS3 DAT Media errors

[CA913734]

I'm now at a point where my latin runs out.
I have an as
Compaq 12/24GB DDS3 rebadged HP C1537
(HP tape tools identifies it as C1537A)
Tape drive, which I aquired 2nd-hand in 2000 and that operated well until about Nov 2002 (so 3 yrs).
Since then backups and media reads fail, with the internal brush cleaner "dancing polka" (excuse my language), continously operating after after 10-20 seconds of operation.
HP Tape Tools reported media errors:
I/O Exception (Sense Key:3, Sense code 0x1100 - 'Unrecovered read error')
I/O Exception (Sense Key:3, Sense code 0x0C00 - 'Unrecovered write error')

Re-calibration using latest ddsWriteRecal.ssc failed on unused (brand new) tape (DDS3 DGD125P):
reads failed at all possible write currents.

The 5-times cleaning process (also using brand new tapes - Sony DGD15CL) did not improve the situation (which by the way takes about 20-25 sec., 10 accord. to sony, and not 30-60 as of manuals).

After having little success with HP support (no response on submission of HP Tape Tools log on various ways) and time consuming research in the discussion groups I concluded drive head damage and had it serviced.
They, after discovering that it was a re-branded seagate drive, fixed it and assured me to have it tested successfully. there was supposedly a scratch on the head.

However after checking with HP Tape tools I'm now back at square one with the same errors.
Even after cleaning tapes (5-times and more) I receive errors in the media log.
I updated the AHA2940 drivers to the latest version (68kb filesize) and the tape driver.
Disabled/Enabled "SCSI Disconnect"...no difference.


Here the drive/scsi config
* model: C1537-00485 / C1537A
* firmware: L111
* Windows NT 4.0
* host adapter: adaptec AHA-2940, bios 1.23
* SCSI-ID: 6
* sync negotiation: on
* disconnect: disabled

Also I would really like to know in what position Dip switch 4-8 have to be under non-UNIX (Windows NT) platform, on a non-compaq system (std. PC) as this is hardly documented.

Any help would be REALLY appreciated as I cannot effort the $1,200+ for a new drive and already have payed $225 for a new head.

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Frank,
first of all you should try with new just unpacked HP tapes: C5708A (data) and C5709A (cleaning), http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/products/media/tapebackup_media/tape_dds/index.html .
Dip switches are all on except 3rd is off
Eugeny

[jon sellers_1]

Hi Frank,

I'm sorry to hear of all the troubles you've had with this tape drive. You bought this drive second-hand and then used it for 3 years so it may well be worn out. I can tell you that the drive is not a re-branded Seagate drive but is in fact an HP one. I'm concerned that the people who told you that then charged you $225 for a "new head". If you could attach a Library and Tape Tools support ticket for this drive to your next message I will have a look through it for you and let you know what I find.

[CA913734]

Eugene,
thank you for your answer, however it sounded like a real tech support one. As you might have noticed I stated to have had issues as well on brand new/shrinkwrapped tapes (media as well as cleaning).
And since these Sony tapes are on the offical compatibility list and are widely used in enterprises worldwide I do not consider this to be the solution.

Jon,
thank you for your assistance. Do you mind me attaching all logs and tickets together as zip file?
I have retained all of them, before and after service procedure.

[CA913734]

Additional info:
What I forgot to mention is that the AHA-2940 (ID7) supports successfully two IBM SCSI-3 drives (DNES-309170 on ID1&2, supporting an software based RAID0 config) and a JVC XR-W2010 CDR (ID4).

Is there a know issue with the AHA-2940 (without U, W or S*) as I have not seen any report about this?

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Thanks Frank,
I consider myself as a 'real tech supporter'. Do not know who is using Sony tapes, but I remember all accounts I dealed with are using HP tapes. You can not tell about is it solution or not without being tried HP tapes.
In addition, I would recommend to move this drive to exclusive (with no oher deivces) Adaptec 2940 card, make sure that it has SE terminator connected at the end of its bus.
This was not a good decision from the beggining to buy used tape device. DDS drives should be cleaned regularly (after every 5 full backups or 20 tape pulling hours) and failing to do it will shorten drive's lifecycle significantly. And not head assy only but whole DDS drive mech. Did you ask who sold device how it was cleaned? Do you have warranty for it?
Yes, please zip .ltt support ticket and attach to your next reply
Eugeny

[CA913734]

Eugene.....because you work for HP.
I also used to work for a vendor, IBM, and there goes the same

story "its not from us ... it does not exist".
I worked for major HP accounts, Schlumberger and ICL for

example, and we used all sorts of tape vendors...except HP.
Secondly, how much business do you think HP would make when

focussing on in-house compatibility only.
You might also find that HP, at times, rebrands OEM.
Anyway, I am actually interested to get this problem fixed and

not in political issues.

As you might know DDS drives are ....extremely...expensive and

not everyone has a couple of thousend bucks/hundred quid in the

pocket. And yes I got a limited warranty with it, the company

was Kartech Industries in Leeds/UK and I aquired it on a

Computer fair (Jon will know since he's from the UK).

Since the AHA-2940 has autotermination, a terminator as you

suggest should not be necessary.
What do you hope me to achieve by putting a tape drive on

exclusive since it was operating perfectly on a shared bus (in

conjunction with other scsi devices) for 3 years? Maybe you can

then provide me as well with enlighting configuration parameters

for hosts adapter and drive?

Also, obviously i am aware of regulare cleaning cycles. So...how

does now cleaning cycles and internal mechanics relate to

SCSI-bus configuration?

Sounds like an answer from the helpdesk database...sorry mate.


Attached the logs I. Hope that this will shed some light.

[CA913734]

since the system does not allow file > 1MB the second part to follow (feb 03 results).

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Frank,
I see you like to shoot? I will not go into private confrontation as you do, just tell you what do I think about your case and my point of view:
1. I do not ask you to buy 10 HP tapes. I asked you to try them (1 data and 1 cleaning, if you wish);
2. New drives are expensive, right. But stingy pays double;
3. 2940 has autotermination. Do you have another 2940 at another SCSI bus end? I would recommend to terminate bus from both ends to eliminate signal echoing and other signaling problems;
4. you're right, and if this device worked in _exact the same_ config for 3 years and now does not work then it's bad drive;
5. attached zip files are corrupt.
Good luck to you!
Eugeny

[Eugeny Brychkov]

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x1cabc8ecad09d6118ff40090279cd0f9,00.html

[CA913734]

I now understand why there is so much frustration in these discussion groups. I have seen it in multiple threads during my research.

--------------------
* I see you like to shoot? I will not go into private confrontation as you do, just tell

you what do I think about your case and my point of view:

not in the slightest, definitely not since I left the air force 13 years ago but back to

business.


1. I do not ask you to buy 10 HP tapes. I asked you to try them (1 data and 1 cleaning, if

you wish);

not having means buying....well or stealing.

2. New drives are expensive, right. But stingy pays double;

As I said ... having to afford...anyway.


3. 2940 has autotermination. Do you have another 2940 at another SCSI bus end? I would

recommend to terminate bus from both ends to eliminate signal echoing and other signaling

problems;

The report never mentioned another 2940 adapter. Very simple 1 host adapter, 4 devices, one

of them the tape drive.

4. you're right, and if this device worked in _exact the same_ config for 3 years and now

does not work then it's bad drive;

Well now we get to the point.

5. attached zip files are corrupt.

Not when i submitted them but thanks I noticed. Must be the way how the server works.
I now resubmit with normal compression and without folder structure.
Maybe it was due to the fact that i submitted from netscape 6. (Please don't tell me "we officially do not support netscape". Ever heard of customer focussed ?)

[CA913734]

and the second part

[CA913734]

Thanks for the link, mate.
Yes I have seen that case before and considered the options.

That's why I went to have it serviced.

Were you the chap working for czech tech support? ;-)

Is there actually a case known where the internal cleaning mechanism (the rotating brush) ever damaged the R/W head.

[CA913734]

just noticed. The first post did not submit the zip file.

*This post has been edited. Chel - Forum Moderator

[CA865788 · Accepted solution]

Frank,

Did you ever resolve this? I have the same model doing exactly what you describe as a "dancing Polka".

I could hear the noise before I inspected it internally and decided to replace it with a 2nd hand unit I purchased from an auction site.

In my opinion, this drive is defective. It's not in need of a cleaning or a different tape. Some component has failed.

I suspect the solenoid that controls the "internal brush cleaner".

So the real question - Can one purchase "components" for this unit?

[CA913734]

Micheal,

you are pretty close to the answer.
The problem was resolved in its own way.
The dealer (who is in fact a good friend of mine) found out that the drive after installing the new head (the old one had shown a scratch) only accepted DDS-2 tapes for RW. The supection was that the internal electronic did not operate as required.
He in any case refunded my money and after investigating all the options (including ridiculous service costs through vendor/US and customs fees) I went for a temp solution to backup to a cheaper ATA drive.

I also supected the rotating brush as potential root cause.

Nevertheless, I'm still hoping to find a well priced DDS-3 tape out there.