How to read DAT tapes backed up with TAPEWARE ?

[AngelTcho]

Hello,
I really hope someone can help me here.
Further to Hard Disks crashes on my old W2000 Compaq Proliant ML350 G3 server , I need to restore some datas which were backed up on a HP DAT72 with a very old version of TAPEWARE. We unfortunately lost the CD Media which would have enabled us to re-install TAPEWARE and do the restore tasks comfortably...
So I've downloaded and installed Yosemite Server Backup software (v8.9 evaluation), ran the Import Media task with our DAT Tape loaded. Results : DAT Tape is identified, is imported (DAT capacity is detected, and some capacity-left are detected which should lead me to think that there are really some data on my tape !!!) BUT, I can’t see any content on the tape. The Restoring Task gives no results. No data or folders were found. Then, I installed Data Protector Express v3.5 and performed the same tasks. Same results.
Did I miss something ??? Can someone give me a solution ? I really thought YSB or Data Protector could read and restore any tapes backed up with tapeware !

[Johan Guldmyr]

Have you checked that the tape drive is OK?
With HP's Library and Tape Tools?

[AngelTcho]

Hi Johan and thank you for your reply.
I've already tested the Tape Drive with an other DAT tape.
1. backup specific files => success
2. Restore these files => success
3. import the media after deleting it in DP => success
4. show content in tape => only the catalog was shown
5. Restoring task from the imported DAT tape => success

Regards

[AngelTcho]

Well, I suppose de Tape drive is correctly installed, as I can currently backup/restore from Data Protector.
Question : Do I need to format the media before importing it ?
Thanks. Regards.

[Johan Guldmyr]

ouch, then I do not know what to do - sounds like there is a problem with the tape or the data on the tape. There aren't any physical problems with the tape right?

[AngelTcho]

I've just performed a drive test with HP LTT 4.12 = no problem

[AngelTcho]

Dear Johan,
No physical problem with the tape.
Can you please confirm it is actually possible to restore data from Data Protector even if they were backed up with Tapeware ?
Thanks

[Michael A. McKenney]

You don't want to format the tape. it erases it. Your data will be gone.

You need to import the catalog before reading the catalog for restore. Did you try this first.

[AngelTcho]

there is no catalog on the tape that I can restore.
by the way, if I could find one somewhere, do you think it can be restored even if I use Data Protector ?

[Michael A. McKenney]

I would try to use tapeware first. Then Windows backup. On-track can recover tapes.

[Marino Meloni_1]

goes here: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/information_storage/software/
download the Tapeware, for example:twwineng.exe is english version for windows
install a virtual machine with w2k, and install tapeware, and see if you can restore your data

Hope that help

[AngelTcho]

OMG !!! It's been 10 days I've looked for this file ! Thank you ! I'll try it tomorrow and get back to you. Regards

[AngelTcho]

Hello,
So, this morning, I uninstalled Data Protector and installed TapeWare v6.2 sp3c.
But now, the Tape drive is not recognized by TapeWare => Dev-2.0.4.0:Unrecognized Device

The tape drive is a HP DAT72 Internal SCSI drive (P/N : C7438A)

Did I miss something ?

[Marino Meloni_1]

I do not know, it has been long time I didn't work with tapeware
you may have more success with it successor: http://www.barracudaware.com/downloads

[AngelTcho]

Firstly, thank you again to all of you.

I already tried to contact barracudaware, and still I get no answer from them.

It looks like tapeware v6.3 or 6.2 doesn't provide any driver for my DAT Tape Drive.
I'm currently downloading the v7.x, maybe I'll be luckier...

[Michael A. McKenney]

Try the HP Windows driver and use Windows backup.

[AngelTcho]

Good news !!!
After many searches on Google, I've found a fully functionnal version 7_7C of Tapeware. I Installed it, imported the media and it's now restoring all my tapes ! Thank you for your help guys !