Problem fo mount LTO 8 in windows server

[TheOakley]

Please someone help me, I bought an HPE Ultrium 8 unit in the USA and brought it to be used in Brazil on a Windows server externally with an HP smart array P822 controller, but I cannot mount the tapes on the unit using LTFS, the software HPE library and tape tools recognizes the LTO8 drive, but I cannot mount the tape drive.

Please someone help me!

[Sahana_S]

Hello @TheOakley 

The logical connection between the tape drive and the Windows drive letter is called mapping. Clicking on the “Create mapping” button from the Windows StoreOpen configuration tool will check the drive, the HBA capabilities, and the state of the cartridge (if any) currently loaded in the tape drive before initiating the operations needed to mount the LTFS volume.

Please refer to the document below for best practice:

https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/4aa5-1230enw?jumpId=in_psnow_82729233-a5b3-44c7-82e0-72ad2d9a7ee6_gaiw

Thanks,

Sahana S.

[TheOakley]

@Sahana_S 

Yes, I understand how it works, but I can't map the tape drive. It asks to format, but the formatting shows an error.

LTFS15000I Starting mkltfs, HPE StoreOpen Software version 3.5.0, log level 2
LTFS15041I Launched by "mkltfs -f -c -s 000001 -d TAPE0"
LTFS15042I This binary is built for Windows
LTFS15043I GCC version is 4.6.3
LTFS17087I Kernel version: Windows
LTFS15003I Formatting device 'TAPE0'
LTFS15004I LTFS volume blocksize: 524288
LTFS15005I Index partition placement policy: None

LTFS17085I Plugin: Loading "ltotape_win" driver
LTFS20013I Drive type is HPE LTO8, serial number is HUJ146ECWT
LTFS17160I Maximum device block size is 524288
LTFS17235I Formatting the media will place drive in write-anywhere mode
LTFS17157I Changing the drive setting to write-anywhere mode
LTFS11093E Cannot format: failed to load the medium (-135)
LTFS15023I Formatting failed

[TheOakley]

Please someone help me.

[NarayanKK-SO]

@TheOakley

Is there an option to change the block size in LTFS before formatting the media ? Did you try that ?

If yes, did you try running a Drive assessment test and R/W test on the tape using LTT SW ?

If yes, kindly share the results. We will provide an update based on the outcome.

Hope this helps.

[TheOakley]

@NarayanKK-SO 

Below are the test results

|__ Test 'LTO Drive Assessment Test' started on device 'HPE Ultrium 8-SCSI' at address '1/0.3.0'
|__ Operations Log
| |__ LTO Drive Assessment Test Options
| |__ Allow Overwrite : False
| |__ executing LTO Drive Assessment Test...
| |__ checking tape load ...
| |__ unloading ...
| |__ loading ...
| |__ Performing diagnostic test Middle Wraps ....
| |__ unloading ...
| |__ loading ...
| |__ Read Margin is : 0.00
| |__ Write Margin is : 0.00
| |__ Drive Margin is : 0.00
| |__ Test failed
|__ This test will overwrite all the data on this tape. Would you like to continue the test?
|__ Analysis Results
| |__ LTO Drive Assessment Test, version V11.06.2015
| |__ Test run: Thu Nov 23 13:26:13 2023
| |__ Drive serial number: **confidential info erased**
| |__ Data Cartridge Information:
| |__ Vendor: HPE
| |__ Format: LTO-8
| |__ Serial Number: **Confidential info erased**
| |__ Barcode: Unknown
| |__ There was an unexpected error while writing to Middle Wraps.
| |__ Sense Key 0x02, Sense Code 0x0402 (Initialize command required: A tape is present in the drive, but it is not logically loaded.), Error Code: 0x1012 Device is in a not ready state and requires an initialization
| |__ It is recommended to clean the drive using an unexpired cleaning cartridge and retry the test
| |__ The LTO Drive Assessment Test has checked the history and operation of the selected drive, and
| |__ problems have been reported.
| |__ The drive is no longer recommended for use.
| |__ Please contact HPE support for further assistance.
| |__ Test time: 0:28
| |__ The writeback area has been updated
|__ Failed

|__ Test 'Read/Write Test' started on device 'HPE Ultrium 8-SCSI' at address '1/0.3.0'
|__ Operations Log
| |__ Read Write Test Options
| |__ Allow Overwrite : True
| |__ Read and compare after the write operation : True
| |__ Retry on read failure : off
| |__ Data Limit Type : size
| |__ Amount of data written/read in each phase (GB). : 4
| |__ Time allowed for each data test phase (mins). : 5
| |__ Block size for read/write (KB). : 64
| |__ Max data transfer limit per command (KB). : 64
| |__ Block Transfer Type : fixed
| |__ Compression Ratio : 2 to 1
| |__ Write filemarks after every : No Filemarks
| |__ Performing 1st write phase of read/write test
| |__ Drive reported unrecoverable I/O error condition, test phase cannot proceed.
| |__ Test failed
|__ Analysis Results
| |__ Read/Write Test version: V17.12.2019
|__ Failed

[NarayanKK-SO]

@TheOakley 

This looks like a Drive issue. 

| |__ There was an unexpected error while writing to Middle Wraps.
| |__ Sense Key 0x02, Sense Code 0x0402 (Initialize command required: A tape is present in the drive, but it is not logically loaded.), Error Code: 0x1012 Device is in a not ready state and requires an initialization
| |__ It is recommended to clean the drive using an unexpired cleaning cartridge and retry the test
| |__ The LTO Drive Assessment Test has checked the history and operation of the selected drive, and
| |__ problems have been reported.
| |__ The drive is no longer recommended for use.

| |__ Performing 1st write phase of read/write test
| |__ Drive reported unrecoverable I/O error condition, test phase cannot proceed.
| |__ Test failed

This drive requires replacement.

[TheOakley]

@NarayanKK-SO This drive is new, we just bought it and has never been used. I'm trying to use it on a Windows Server 2016 machine, do you think it's simpler to try installing it on a Linux machine?

[NarayanKK-SO]

@TheOakley 

You can try connecting it to a Linux machine and test it. LTT report about the drive condition is not good. So if the test on Linux machine turns out to be a failure. Then We suggest you to get this drive replaced ASAP as said this is a new drive. Log a call with the support team with the setial# and they can process a repalcement.

Hope this helps.