Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of high_sobo
high_soboFlag for United States of America

asked on

Dell LTO 3 external tape does not read media

I configured a Dell LTO 3 external Powervault 110T on a workstation with Windows 2003r2 service pack2.  Also, configured is a SCSI Adaptec 29160.  The drivers are installed and can see the scsi and dell Ultrium in device manager.
I am using NT Backup to retrieve the media.  When restoring I can see the name of the tape but no media is present.  I select catalog and it starts to mount then it stops responding, saying tape is use.  Then the tape is ejected from the Dell powervault 110T.  I need to retrieve this media asap..  Thanks.
Avatar of high_sobo
high_sobo
Flag of United States of America image

ASKER

The exact error message is the library is unable to load media at this time because the drive is in use.  I uploaded two files with the errors.
ScreenShot2.rtf
ScreenShot1.rtf
Avatar of Thomas Rush
Can you upload a screenshot of how the library and drive show up in Device Manager?

I've seen something like this when Removable Storage Manager service 'grabs' a device and doesn't let the backup application access to it.  Check in Services and ensure that RSM is not running; stop it if you have to at least to see if that is the problem.

What application was used to write the tapes?
Attached is the screenshot of how the library and drive show up in Device Manager.  NT backup was the application used to write the tapes.
ScreeShot-in-Device-Manager.rtf
Here is your user manual: ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_powervault/powervault-110t-lto3_User%27s%20Guide_en-us.pdf

Do you have the drive terminated?
And, do you have another tape you can test the drive with?
The drive is not terminated.  I tried another tape and still the same error message.
SCSI always needs a terminator!
What's terminated is the used to end a SCSI bus on the back of the external dell powervault 110T.
So yes it's terminated.
Huh?
So you do have a terminator plugged into the other connector on the back of the 110T?

If you do, you need to try a cleaning tape and hope it fixes the drive: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-1-2-3-4-UN353-01X024-1X024-LTO-Ultrium-Universal-Cleaning-Tape-Cartridge-/360759943074?pt=US_Computer_Tapes_Data_Cartridges&hash=item53fef7dfa2

The user manual I posted also lists the status indicators on the front of the drive and what they mean.
Yes, I do have the terminator plugged into the other connector on the back of the 110T.  

I have tried cleaning the tap with the LTO-Ultrium Universal Cleaning Tape Cartridge and still can not retrieve the data.
1) Are the indicators on the drive reporting an error? (read the manual!)
2) What you need to do is to create a small backup on the spare tape and then restore it to a junk folder so we know the drive is working.
Please use Device Manager (a few items up from the Storage Manager screen shot you posted), and give us a shot of that.   Please expand "medium changers" and "tape drives" if they are shown.

Which lights are on and/or blinking on the library?
Attached is the screen shot of device manager with tape drive expanded.

The tape is inserted to the powervault 110T.  The only light appear are on the power button and the light next to the tape for ejection.  The lights are green.  The indicator light comes on when you power up the powervault 110T then the lights go off.
ScreenShot-Device-Manager2.rtf
From the users manual I posted:
Color or Condition of Status Light
Off The tape drive has no power or is powered off.
Green/Solid The tape drive is powered on and in an idle state.
Green/Flashing
One of the following applies:
l If the light flashes less than once per second, the tape drive is in sleep mode.
l If the light flashes less than once per second, the tape drive contains a cartridge during the power-on cycle. In this case, the
tape drive completes its Power-On Self-Test (POST) and slowly rewinds the tape (the process may take up to 10 minutes). The
light stops flashing and becomes solid when the tape drive completes the recovery and is ready for a read or write operation.
To eject the cartridge, press the eject button.
l If the light flashes once per second, the tape drive is reading from the tape, writing to the tape, rewinding the tape, or locating
data on the tape.
Amber/Solid
One of the following applies:
l The tape drive is performing a selected operation.
l The tape drive is displaying the drive error code log.
l The tape drive is in maintenance mode or is exiting maintenance mode.
Amber/Flashing
One of the following applies:
l If the light flashes less than once per second, the tape drive is updating firmware through the field microcode replacement
(FMR) tape, or the SCSI, Fibre Channel, or RS-422 interface, or the drive has exceeded the recommended temperature.
l If the light flashes less than once per second, the tape drive has detected an error and is performing a firmware recovery. It
resets automatically.
l If the light flashes less than once per second, the tape drive is requesting a cartridge be loaded, or there is a drive dump in
flash memory.
l If the light flashes once per second, an error occurred and the tape drive or media may require service. Note the code on the
single-character display, then go to "Descriptions and Corrective Actions" to determine the action that is required.
l If the light flashes once per second and a displays in the character display, the tape drive needs to be cleaned.

So, what is that light doing?
There is no lights on the character display.
The status light is down by the eject button. (There's a picture of it in the manual (hint, hint))
Like I mention before the there is nothing light up on the status.
Unless the unit is turned off, there is always something indicated by the status light which is down by the eject button, not on the numeric display.
DavisMcCarn,

This thread pretty much sums up my problem:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Backup_Restore/Q_25641425.html

I backed up data on Server A using Tape Drive A - The tape drive is a Dell internal LTO 3.

Tape Drive A died.  So I purchased a refurbed Dell external LTO 3 with an Apdaptec 20160 SCSI adapter card, correct cable and terminator.  Used these components to build Server B using Tape Drive B.

Now my problem: When I insert the tape, it moved to NT Backup's pool and I see the name of the tape appear in NT Backup.  When I attempt to Catalog it so I can start a restore, drive ejects tape and asks for the same named tape to be loaded.

Further I have installed Backup Exec 12 & 2010 and attempted.  Received a block size error.  I adjusted Backup Exec's Tape Drive from 64k (default) to 32K, 16K & 8K - no luck same error.

SO I'm think at this point the tape may be corrupt - BUT - I've tried at least 15 other tapes - same results.

I tested the drive, I can create a backup and restore from it.  Also we have an older Dell server that is decommissioned that had an LTO 2 external drive running Windows 2000.  I hooked the tape drive up to this older server, installed the drive, and tried Cataloging ... same problem.  While hooked up to this older server, I tried some of my OLD LTO 2 tapes and believe it or not they work fine.

So not sure what is going one.  A Dell tech is coming in this weekend to see if he can fix / replace Tape Drive A.

I'm hoping the Tape Drive A will restore my tapes!

I will let you know how I make out.

Thank you
SOLUTION
Avatar of Thomas Rush
Thomas Rush
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
DavisMcCarn & SelfGovern,
The Dell tech came in and was unsuccessful in his attempts to get me a working tape drive.  Ironically we were working with the software publisher on the project that I'm attempting to restore.  They have the data! At this point IF and only if I absolutely need any data back from tape I'll have to try a recovery place like Ontrack.  I would like to award you both some point for your time and trouble, so I am going to close this case.

Thank you both!
You're welcome!
Sorry it was a no go.