Error 1401: Alert - ( with Error 4008: Media full )

[Thejendra K Naidu]

Hi, we've been having an issue with our back ups.

I have tried new tapes, cleaning the back up drive, nothing helps.

                              Job name    DAILY
                              Job Type  Backup
                               Product  Data Protector Express 3.10-sp2 - 20357
                                       
                          Logging Mode  Failed Objects Only
                           Backup mode  Full
                      Auto verify mode  Full verify
                            Write mode  Overwrite all media
                             Span mode  Restart file
                           Change mode  Prompt for another media
                                       
                           Task failed  Error 66: Operator cancelled
                             Selected:  214599 objects, 250.17 GB
                            Completed:  138573 objects, 149.49 GB (59%)
                               Failed:  44 objects, 33 MB (0%)
                        Not attempted:  75982 objects, 100.64 GB (40%)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Start Backup Time:  14-Feb-2011 11:00 PM
                      End Backup Time:  15-Feb-2011 08:49 AM
                                       
            Start Backup Objects Time:  14-Feb-2011 11:08 PM
          Elapsed Backup Objects Time:  9 hours,41 minutes,30 seconds
              End Backup Objects Time:  15-Feb-2011 08:49 AM
                                       
                      Start Task Time:  14-Feb-2011 11:00 PM
                    Elapsed Task Time:  9 hours,51 minutes,15 seconds
                        End Task Time:  15-Feb-2011 08:51 AM

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devices
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        HP Ultrium 2-SCSI (Serial Number HU106169N7)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       
Home\Admin\Media test:17
                            Completed:  138573 objects, 149.49 GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hosts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       
DBNDATA
            Start Backup Objects Time:  14-Feb-2011 11:08 PM
          Elapsed Backup Objects Time:  9 hours,41 minutes,30 seconds
              End Backup Objects Time:  15-Feb-2011 08:49 AM
                                       
                             Selected:  214599 objects, 250.17 GB
                            Completed:  138573 objects, 149.49 GB (59%)
                               Failed:  44 objects, 33 MB (0%)
                        Not attempted:  75982 objects, 100.64 GB (40%)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Objects
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       
Network\....-GANTRIES
              Error 16: File not found  Bkp: gnfaces.pdf
                                        
                                       
Network\.......Savannah 1
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00310.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00311.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00312.JPG
                                       
Network\.......Savannah 2
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00298.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00300.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00301.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00302.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00303.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00304.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: Thumbs.db
                                        
                                       
Network\........Avenue
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00380.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00381.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00382.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00383.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00385.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00386.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00387.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00388.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00390.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: DSC00391.JPG
                Error 4008: Media full  Bkp: Thumbs.db
                                       

All help would be great.

[thomasr]

1) Data Protector Express 3 is Way Old.   If there's a way you can update to the newest version (5), it would probably be a good idea.

2) Can you look at the properties for one of the tapes and see if it reports error conditions?  I'd guess that the most likely reason you're only getting 150GB of 'stuff' on a 20GB tape is that the head is getting worn out.   A worn head will generate many write errors; with each error, that block of tape is skipped and the next block used for a write retry -- so you're using up at least twice as much space as you'd expect for those data blocks.  And of course, the tape fills up way before you'd expect it to were there no errors.

3) You can also run tape drive diagnostics from HP's free Library and Tape Tools ( http://www.hp.com/support/tapetools ) -- that will let you know if the tape head has been used up.

4) If it turns out that you need to replace your drive (and you replace it with an LTO-2, LTO-3, or LTO-4), I will suggest that you do some trial restores with tapes that were recently written with the old drive.   It's possible that a new drive will have trouble reading them, and you'll need to know.  Any of the drives I list above will be able to read LTO-2 tapes.   LTO-3 drivs will be able to both read and write to LTO-2 media.

[Thejendra K Naidu]

Hi, I ran that HP tool test and received the following error:

|__ Test 'LTO Drive Assessment test' started on device 'HP Ultrium 2-SCSI' at address '3/0.5.0'

    |__ This test will overwrite all the data on this tape. Would you like to continue the test?

    |__ Operations Log

    |    |__ executing LTO Drive Assessment Test...

    |    |__ checking tape load ...

    |    |__ Test Incomplete

    |__ Analysis Results

    |    |__ LTO Drive Assessment Test, version V01.09.2010

    |    |__ Test run: Wed Feb 16 09:03:19 2011

    |    |__ Drive serial number: HU106169N7

    |    |__ The drive is currently reporting that it is attempting to load a data cartridge,

    |    |__ but this has not completed within the allowed time limit of the test.

    |    |__ Please check the drive, and try to reload the data cartridge before re-running the test.

    |    |__ The LTO Drive Assessment Test has checked the history and/or operation of the selected drive, and

    |    |__ problems have been reported.

    |    |__ The drive is no longer recommended for use.

    |    |__ Please contact hp support for further assistance.

    |__ Test Incomplete

The odd thing tho is that, when i create a backup to backup infomation from another hard drive it runs 100% perfect.

I run 2 daily backups... 1 for all data on the E:\ drive and 1 for all the data on the F:\ drive.

I've tried using different tapes for each backup but the 2nd back up only works.

I receive the bellow mentioned errors when I try to back up information from hard drive e:\  but when I backup information from hard drive F:\  the back up runs 100%, no errors what so ever.

If that's the case, how is it possible that my tape drive is faulty? ... Or is it that my 2nd backup didn't run all 100% as I'm thinking it to be?

Thanks

[thomasr]

You are certainly reporting an odd combination of symptoms!

Was there actually a fully mounted tape in the drive when you tried to run the L&TT test?

Have you looked at the properties for a piece of media (preferrably two, one from each job) in Data Protector Express?

Note that L&TT says that it sees errors in the tape drive's logs; I think you can capture those if you generate a support ticket from L&TT.    Since L&TT says that "the tape drive is no longer recommended for use", I think you'll find you've got enough HW problems with the drive that you're best off getting a replacement.

[Thejendra K Naidu]

Hi Thomas sorry for late reply... works been a bit hectic. 

Yes there was a tape loaded into the tape drive.

I decided to run a small test just to o see what would happen. I ran the backup just as I normally would but I dropped the size to under 100 GB. And guess what? the backup ran 100%!

Very odd indeed, it seems if you try and backup any more it gives errors.

Anyway I've been asked by management to look into getting a replacement drive.

I'm thinking about the following tape drive:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06b/12169-304612-3446236-3446236-3446236-4150338-3239096-3239097.html?jumpid=oc_R1002_USENC-001_HP%20StorageWorks%20Ultrium%20920%20SCSI%20External%20Tape%20Drive&lang=en&cc=us

I have a few questions, 

1. would our current tapes work on this drive?  (HP LTO 2 Ultrium 400GB)

2. Would I need any further software or hardware?

3. and what are your opinions on this tape drive? or would you suggest another?

Thank you for all your help.

[thomasr]

In answer to your questions:

1. would our current tapes work on this drive?  (HP LTO 2 Ultrium 400GB)

A: This is an LTO-3 tape drive, which will both read and write LTO-2 tapes (what you have currently).  So: yes.  You should be able to reuse your current tapes.

2. Would I need any further software or hardware?

A: One big benefit is that you'll get the upgrade to Data Protector Express Single Server Edition 5.0 with the drive; that will be a nice upgrade for you.  You can download the latest drivers and firmware from the http://www.hp.com/go/support if needed.      As for hardware, the only other thing I can think of is the cable; if you're SCSI now, there's a 68-pin HD to 68-pin VHDCI multi-mode SCSI cable that comes with the drive, so if you have a supported SCSI HBA, you're golden.

3. and what are your opinions on this tape drive? or would you suggest another?

A: That's a fine tape drive.  It's not the latest (we're now on LTO-5), so you're buying the technology at the cheap end of the price curve.  If the capacity meets your needs, then you have the benefit of being able to re-use your current media, which could also save a decent amount of money.  It also gives you the option of using WORM tapes, which can be written to and appended to, but once written, the data cannot be changed or deleted without destroying the tape -- this is important in some businesses. And you get a 3-year warranty.

If you stepped up to LTO-4, you'd gain a bit of performance (50%, but whether your servers or storage are fast enough to use that is not clear), double the cartridge capacity, and the ability to use hardware encryption when writing the data to tape.   HW encryption is a huge benefit to some people, but of no value to others.    If you went to LTO-4, you would lose the ability to write to -- but could still read from -- your LTO-2 tapes.

[Thejendra K Naidu]

Hi thomasr thank you for your reply.

My company eventually went with the LTO 3 tape drive (LTO 920).

 Its much faster then our pervious model. The install of the new drive was perfect, no issues. Even restored previously backed up files with no issue.

 All seemed well until I started receiving the "Error 4008: Media full" again. Another IT administrator  was still running the backups with the old data protector express so I suggested first thing, lets try the new software and see what happens.

 Now it tell us that the tape is full And I’ve just read some where that a 400GB Lto 2 tape is actually 200 GB natively and 400GB when using a compression of 2:1.

So my question is how do i set up a backup with that compression ratio?

Thanks for the help.

[thomasr · Accepted solution]

>  Its much faster then our pervious model. The install of the new drive was perfect, no issues.

> Even restored previously backed up files with no issue.

Good -- that's what I expected.

>  All seemed well until I started receiving the "Error 4008: Media full" again. Another IT administrator  

> was still running the backups with the old data protector express so I suggested first thing, lets try

> the new software and see what happens.

>  Now it tell us that the tape is full And I’ve just read some where that a 400GB Lto 2 tape is actually

> 200 GB natively and 400GB when using a compression of 2:1.

> So my question is how do i set up a backup with that compression ratio?

You are correct that LTO media is 200GB native (that is, without compression, or with uncompressible data).  The 400GB capacity is achieved only if your data is actually that compressible.  Customers I talk with usually see compression ratios about 1.3:1 or 1.4:1, but I do see customers get up to 2:1.   How much data does Data Protector Express say it has backed up, when you get that error message?

You as a user have no control over how compressible your data is (other than, there are things you can do to it to make it *less* compressible, such as encrypting it, or compressing it beforehand).

Your tape drive will use LTO-3 tapes, which are 400GB native.  Perhaps it's time to start using LTO-3 tapes.

There are ways to get around single backups being too large; those include splitting your backup into two jobs, so that about half of the data is in full backup 1, and the other half in full backup 2, where you might run full1 and incremental 2 on Friday night, and full 2 and incremental 1 on Saturday night, with incremental 1 and incremental 2 all other nights.

Note that it's easier to restore from a differential backup if you have the space.

[Thejendra K Naidu]

Data Protector Express says it has backed up:

• Selected  224940 objects, 257.06 GB
•  Completed 199266 objects, 230.13 GB (90%)
•  Warnings or errors 44 objects, 33 MB (0%)
•  Not attempted 25630 objects, 26.89 GB (10%)
•  Streams  4

Also... I did a few tests on our media and Tape drive.

Our tapes are fine but our tape drive came back with an error:

The drive is experiencing polling (1.0 / second polling rate) on init...

This could be due to RSM or it could be due to another host.

Polling can interrupt the normal operation of the drive, and drastically reduce performance.

What could be causing this?

[thomasr]

RSM is Windows' Removable Storage Management.   Windows polls (or checks) attached devices through RSM to see if their status has changed.  Unless you know of a device that uses RSM, you can probably disable it without issue.  This polling can cause problems because it interrupts the normal smooth flow of data to the tape drive.

Your actual capacity used numbers look reasonable, and show that you're getting about 1.15:1 compression.   I saw earlier that you might be backing up a lot of jpg files -- since jpegs are pre-compressed, lots of jpegs will bring your total compression ratio down.

Note that things like polling that interrupt the transfer of data to a tape drive can both slow a backup, and cause blocks on tape to be skipped, leading to less data on a given tape.  I don't know how big this effect can be, but I would not expect it to be huge in a situation like this where the polling is every second.