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SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

 
BR666720
New Member

SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

My SureStore Dat24(HP C1537A) is in a Windows NT4 SP6a server. I've installed the latest HPDAT.SYS driver from HP's Website. I'm using NTBackup to back up local drives as well as a few mapped remote drives.

I'm trying to use the hardware compression feature of my tape drive. I've tried enabling it in the NTBackup GUI and from the command line. I've done several tests and the tape rewinds when it hits 12GB. The documentation for the tape drive says that it supports hardware compression. I've downloaded every manual, users guide, etc. from hp's website and I haven't found any info on enabling the hardware compression feature. I thought that there might be a jumper that needs to be set, but I can't find any info on the jumpers on the tape drive except those for setting the SCSI ID. Any help would be much appreciated.
10 REPLIES 10
BR662307
Frequent Advisor

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

Hi Alan

Hardware compression is factory set to be on so you should not need to change any settings - have you checked the type of files that you are backing up? If you use Exchange or have a lot of pre-compressed files e.g. *.zip, *.gif/tif/jpg/bmp etc then this will greatly effect the compression ratio.

If you have a lot of these type of files then this may be the fault if not try running HP Library and Tapetools compression test you can get this program from here http://www.hp.com/cposupport/information_storage/software/ltt_27_eng.exe.html

Hope this helps

Regards

Emma
CA749112
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

I am having the same problem. I ran the compression test and it failed. The message I received was:

[-] The test function encountered an unrecoverable error condition, the test failed.
[-] SCSIScript: auto abort triggered (Line: 157, Error: Auto abort triggered)
[-] I/O Exception (Error: 2408 - I/O: An unexpected Win32 error has been reported)
SCSI Cmd I/O at 2/0.1.0: Read

I am running Windows 2000. The SCSI adapter is an Adaptec AIC-7850. The Connectivity & Device Self Tests complete successfully. The backups are fine but not compressed. Any thoughts?

dave_68
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

l.s.

i've the same probleem with a dat 4/8Gb device
only this run on netware
the file i back up are mostly word and excel files
before the 4gb it askes for a new tape
compression is default on and the tapes are comressed formatted

What to do, by a new streamer with a higher capacity

the compression seems only to work with some rules in mind, but if to realy have to backup these files ?

With regards

Dave
CA713937
Honored Contributor

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

We've reproduced a problem with HP L&TT, when a DDS2 tape is used in a DDS3 drive. The compression test fails(but with a slightly different error code than listed above). We will be working to resolve this problem.

Were you using a DDS2 tape or a DDS3 tape?

The compression test worked fine for us on a DAT24 drive when we used a DDS3 tape.
The journey IS the reward.
CA759584
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

Add me to the list of hardware compression confusion.

I have a Surestore 40 hooked up to a mac and it too seems to be ignoring hardware compression.

What's worse, I can't seem to find any mac based diagnostic programs to test for unit failure.
Robert Drees
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

I have a similar problem:

HP SureStore DAT24i hardware compression does not work.

My Environment:
- Windows 2000 Professional SP2
- BackupExec 8.5 Rev. 3572
- Adaptec AIC-7899 Ultra160 SCSI controller

What I've done:
- I've updated the tape's firmware
- I've tried using the Windows 2000 tape drivers
- I've tried using the HP tape drivers
- I've tried using the BackupExec tape drivers
- I've tried Microsoft Windows Backup 5.0
- I've testet the tape using HP Library & Tape Tools 2.7 SR4 (all OK)
- I've checked the DIP switches (all default, 1 & 2 on)
- I'm using DDS3 tape with MRS

Whatever
Edward Vandeyck
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

Please add me to the list of problems.

I am running Win2K with BE 8.5 rev 3572 in a Compaq Proliant ML370.

The tapes are new DDS3's

All drivers and service packs are up to date.

Fustrated.
Martin Dugas
Occasional Contributor

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

I had a similar problem. Hardware compression was enabled on my surestore 40i but it wasn't compressing much so I disabled hardware compression by turning the switch #2 off underneath the drive and I activated compression within the backup software (I have arcserve 6.61) and the compression is now much better. I hope this helps a few of you.
What's up with that?
Patrik Jonsson
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

I also have this problem but with 2 DAT 40 drives.

As martin Duqas stated - He turned switch nr 2=off. I have switch number 2=on and HTT states that compression i diabled! Did Martin in fact turned compression=on?

This turnaround of switch settings have occured before.

//Patrik
Chris Fancher
New Member

Re: SureStore DAT24 Hardware Compression?

I was having a similar problem and came to the forum to find out if anyone else knew a solution. While waiting and trying different options, I found a HP C1537A manual that has the jumper settings for the jumpers ON THE BOTTOM of the Tape Drive (i.e not the back). I pulled out the drive and found the settings were NOT the recommended default for PC/INTEL servers. (everything but 3 should be on for this). After setting the jumper 3 to off and leaving the rest on, the Data compression tests ran fine from HP Storageworks @ 2.23 to 1. Give this a try and see if it helps....