DLT7000 error messages

[kuan]

Lights on RHS of tape drive are flashing in sequence

ProLiant 5500 and 35/70 DLT

These are the symptoms:
Before changing the tape drive:
-Lights on RHS of tape drive are flashing in sequence
-Four quick short beeps continually beeping even in SCU (the beeps coincide with the four lights on the RHS)
-Compaq diags in SCU gave a tape drive test error code - 6706-09

On Changing tape drive:
-Changed scsi connector from the standard peripheral board scsi controller to a PCI scsi controller.

After changing the tape drive for another 35/70:
-Lights on RHS of tape drive are flashing in sequence
-Four quick short beeps continually beeping while in SCU and windows.

In addition the following information I have worked out so far...
-the beeping is coming form the DLT drive itself
-it seems to be running the initialisation sequence, but just over and over.
-i disconnected the scsi cable from the scsi controller and powered on and the dlt drive still was the same.

Any information or advice is much appreciated.

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Please check if interfaces of drive and HBA are compatible. Remember: FWD/HVD and SE/LVD are incompatible, LVD is backward compatible with SE, but if connecting SE device to LVD bus then whole bus becomes SE
Eugeny

[kuan]

Thanks for that prompt reply Eugeny, the server has a standard peripheral board with scsi controller.
Unfortunately I tried long and hard for some information on this but failed.
I must admit there was a PCI LVD SCSI Controller unattached to any SCSI peripherals. but this gave the same problem.

So the problem may occur even if the cable is not attached?
Has anyone come across a similar light/beep combination? I am pretty sure this drive does not want to initialise, but why? Because even if i change the drive (again) then it may happen again. (the first DLT7000 was connected to the standard peripheral board for some time).

Again thanks for any input.
KUAN

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Kuan,
I've heard about cases when connecting HVD device to LVD bus or vice versa both devices die. Physically. Did your DLT7000 drive was alive before you connected it somewhere? If yes, and after you connected to server it is not alive any more then something bad happened. Inspect server's user guide to check this interface type (LVD?) and drive's box/stickers to check its type (FWD?)
Eugeny

[kuan]

Thanks for the info Eugeny, i will certainly try checking that.

I will try a new SCSI controller to go with the replacement 35/70 that has just arrived. The controller is a WU3 SCSI Controller, though my colleague is convinced it should be fine.

Off the top of my head the PCI SCSI controller was a 2 channel LVD SCSI Controller, nothing was attached to it, but the DLT7000 is SE. Though not ideal it should work in theory and drop the whole bus, as you explained, to SE. At the moment I am interested in getting a backup of the system.

Regards,
KUAN

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Then should work. BTW, did you try to insert tape into new DLT7000? If yes, try to eject it (if it's still there) and look inside if there's a take-up leader on the hook. I can not decode symptoms you describe, but at least we can inspect for common issues
Eugeny

[Neil Ryan]

I agree with Eugeny, RHS flashing sounds like a dropped leader. When you power the drive on, it should beep 4 times and light up all LED's... this is just a device self test. If you have a dropped leader, listen carefully to the drive. After all the LED's go out, the Tape In Use LED should be flashing, you'll hear a loud grinding noise. Then you'll hear the take up reel turning inside. Right before the 3 lights on the RHS start to flash, you'll hear something like a slapping noise, then one long beep, then the three LED's on the RHS will start flashing and the Operate Handle LED will be on solid. The recommended HBA for this drive is an Adaptec AHA-2940UW. Check out this document on dropped leaders.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=lpg50027

If this is the case, then you will have to call the call centre to have the drive replaced.

[kuan]

Thanks Eugeny and Ryan for the help with the leader.

Since my last post i had been busy replacing the dlt. Which worked and better still it worked with arcserve 2000!
Eugeny's advice on looking at the problem in a different way helped me decide whether to put the SCSI cable on the SCSI card or Peripheral Board, thanks.

With the leader, I have seen that a few times before, even on a SDLT. But this one was fine...
Since then i have thought about it and have come to the conclusion that it is more likely than anything else that the dlt cable was SE only and not LVD and SE capable. Once attached to the LVD port perhaps this cause a problem, as it is not recommended by Compaq.

I will try out this theory if possible and let you know, but in the meantime it is working and thats the main thing.

Regards,
KUAN

[kuan]

Oh i forgot to say that the RHS lights dont flash at the same time (as in the case of a dropped leader) but in sequence - just the same as when it initialises.
Also the beeps come from the DLT drive itself and is part of its POST sequence, i noticed the beeps coincide with each flash of a light (i had to look this up on the quantum site).

This also happened when the DLT Drive was disconnected from SCSI controller.

I can only think of the LVD/SE situation and SE cable. But thanks again to Eugeny for focussing the different perpective on the new DLT.

If you find anything further then please let me know.

Regards,
KUAN

[Jack Pelly]

Hi Gentlemen,

I have a similar problem with a HP SureStore DLT70e - C5658A. Same light sequence and beeps. Also all lights flash on and stay lit on LHS of tape drive when lights flash in sequence on RHS of tape drive. This can occur at anytime during the backup process (most of the time right in the middle of backup) which leads me to believe it's not a tape leader problem. Am I wrong in this assumption? I am using ArcServe 2000. I get this error message in ArcServe; "E6300 Windows NT SCSI PORT Error[ABSL: 2050 CMD: Ah NT: 48Fh 1167]" I've run HP L&TT successfully without any errors. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jack

[kuan]

Hi Jack,

It does sound similar to the problem that i had. A few questions though, did the lights flash in rapid succession one after the other? Or is there a gap in between the sequences? Were there any DLT post beeps. Has the drive been changed and the cable, if so what difference did it make?

It seems that model is an external 35GB DLT using DLT7000 technology and is Single-Ended.

Unfortunately because the problem happens mid-way through a backup it isnt exactly the same, mine just didnt seem to want to initialise.

I have a few pointers though. Check if there is anything else on that SCSI bus and channel, do they have problems too? Also are they all single ended? and do they all have active termination?
Is the problem happening mid-way through the backup? Have a look at the tape drive and look to see where the leader should be, those error lights are very similar to the leader problem.

Regards,
Kuan

[Marino Meloni_1]

hi Kuan,
Just a suggestion, have you tryed to replace the power suppply? it looks like the DLT is resetting when he have to start the main motor.
If it is an internal one, try to connect it to another server.
If it is an external one, check for grounding or for bad power voltage
marino

[Jack Pelly]

Hi Kuan,

The answers to some of your questions.... Did the lights flash in succession? Yes, only the RHS. The LHS is lit constantly. The beeps follow the light sequence. I haven't changed cables or drive since this is the only DLT70e that I have in the office. The problem can occur at anytime whether there is a tape in the drive or not, at the beginning of backup or the middle or towards the end... It really doesn't make a difference. Originally I had the drive attached to the onboard scsi controller on the motherboard. Then I switched it to the other onboard controller since the motherboard had two controllers. Now I have it attached to an Adaptec 2940UW. No other devices have been attached at any time. The tape drive has it's own termination plug on it. I had the drive apart yesterday and the leader seems to be intact and functioning properly.

Thanks,
Jack

[Pete Simpson_1]

I had this same problem recently. An upgrade to the Adaptec SCSI driver fixed the problem. The driver on the system was the original Win2K driver that shipped with Windows 2000 Server. The new drivers, obtained from the Adaptec website, resolved the issue.

[Jeffrey Willemsen]

Left hand side LEDs all ON and right hand side LEDs all flashing in combination with the beeper going over and over again >> drive is resetting itself. Most likely candidate is indeed power supply. DLT drives are fairly critical to power supply voltages dropping below thresholds. The left hand side LEDs don't have a chance to go out (POST completed) before the drive is resetting again. Please check as well if there is any cable connected to the SCSI ID select connector, if so, remove and retest. Connect only power supply lead to diagnose, no need for SCSI cable to perform POST.

Succes!
Jeffre