[Veritas Backup Exec v9.1] - Labels new data tapes as Cleaning Media
Operating System: Windows 2000 Advance Server
I'm running Veritas Backup Exec v9.1 using a Dell 128T Tape Library with a single Dell 110T Tape Drive and recently, on my latest tape swap out, it has a two-fold problem:
1) Simple jobs such as inventorying a single tape take 9 minutes to perform. Consistently 9 minutes (whereas I recall them taking 2 minutes before)
2) Every data tape which I attempt to inventory and label is labeled as "Cleaning Media" and I can't seem to get around this issue.
What I've tried:
1) I've tried to update the drivers by right clicking on the drive and library and then doing a driver update in the windows system management console.
2)I've tried to swap out the tapes with another set
3)I've tried new media sets
4)I've tried re-running tapeinit.exe and rebooting
5)I've read that the cleaning media problem will appear when using Multi-drive auto-loaders which are not cabled correctly. However, this is only a single drive autoloader. Therefore I can't imagine this being the issue, and if it is, I'm not aware of a way to cable a single drive auto-loader differently.
I'm just not sure what else I can do. So your sage advice is requested.
I'm running Veritas Backup Exec v9.1 using a Dell 128T Tape Library with a single Dell 110T Tape Drive and recently, on my latest tape swap out, it has a two-fold problem:
1) Simple jobs such as inventorying a single tape take 9 minutes to perform. Consistently 9 minutes (whereas I recall them taking 2 minutes before)
2) Every data tape which I attempt to inventory and label is labeled as "Cleaning Media" and I can't seem to get around this issue.
What I've tried:
1) I've tried to update the drivers by right clicking on the drive and library and then doing a driver update in the windows system management console.
2)I've tried to swap out the tapes with another set
3)I've tried new media sets
4)I've tried re-running tapeinit.exe and rebooting
5)I've read that the cleaning media problem will appear when using Multi-drive auto-loaders which are not cabled correctly. However, this is only a single drive autoloader. Therefore I can't imagine this being the issue, and if it is, I'm not aware of a way to cable a single drive auto-loader differently.
I'm just not sure what else I can do. So your sage advice is requested.
Whenever we had the DLT drive repaired, the media came back as regular media and not cleaning media!
ASKER
I see,
So you had this problem and the issue was that the firmware on your tape library was the cause? I suspect the drivers are the cause in this case. I'm still not sure what you're suggesting though, could you be a bit more specific?
So you had this problem and the issue was that the firmware on your tape library was the cause? I suspect the drivers are the cause in this case. I'm still not sure what you're suggesting though, could you be a bit more specific?
Yes--firmware AND faulty tape drives were the issues.
To eliminate the problem, first upgrade the firmware to the latest version--all drives in the library must match.
Hopefully, that will do it.
To eliminate the problem, first upgrade the firmware to the latest version--all drives in the library must match.
Hopefully, that will do it.
Uninstall veritas.You may be prompted to restart your computer, so go ahead and do so. When reinstalling, you will come to a point in the installation, (as with most software installations) which indicates where you want the program installed. If should look something like this:
C:\Program Files\VERITAS Software\Backup Exec
What you want to do at this point is change the default directory, by taking out the path text for one of the directories. I will be removing the path to the ‘VERITAS Software’ directory. (You can remove any part of this directory, but I recommend keeping it in the ‘Program Files’ and do not remove the C:\ drive.) When you are finished, your path should look like this:
C:\Program Files\Backup Exec
What this does is refresh old DLL, (Dynamic Link Libraries) files within the software. These files are used by the program to interact with the operating system or possibly other programs. These can become corrupt and reinstalling the program to the same location does not always correct this. You can also add a new directory to relocate your installation as indicated below:
C:\Program Files\My Directory\Backup Exec
Both methods may indicate that the directory doesn’t exist and ask if you want to create it, say “Yes.” Nine times out of ten, this procedure will correct problems similar to what you are facing now.
C:\Program Files\VERITAS Software\Backup Exec
What you want to do at this point is change the default directory, by taking out the path text for one of the directories. I will be removing the path to the ‘VERITAS Software’ directory. (You can remove any part of this directory, but I recommend keeping it in the ‘Program Files’ and do not remove the C:\ drive.) When you are finished, your path should look like this:
C:\Program Files\Backup Exec
What this does is refresh old DLL, (Dynamic Link Libraries) files within the software. These files are used by the program to interact with the operating system or possibly other programs. These can become corrupt and reinstalling the program to the same location does not always correct this. You can also add a new directory to relocate your installation as indicated below:
C:\Program Files\My Directory\Backup Exec
Both methods may indicate that the directory doesn’t exist and ask if you want to create it, say “Yes.” Nine times out of ten, this procedure will correct problems similar to what you are facing now.
ASKER
After contacting Veritas, a helpful tech by the name of Steve was able to help me figure out the problem. Apparently the SCSI card was having difficulties on the channel I was using. I switched the tape library to a different SCSI card and ran a new cleaning tape through the tape library and the problem was resolved.
Thank you for your help and recommendations.
Thank you for your help and recommendations.
Hi. Is the card still stable?
ASKER
gpriceee,
Yes the card is stable and backups have resumed.
Yes the card is stable and backups have resumed.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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"What I've tried" I tried too.
I ended up moving all of my media to scratch media, creating a new media set, and changing the properties of the media from DLT CLN to DLT-IV.
Then, the jobs need to be reassigned to the new media set/s.
Some of the media needs to be erased.
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> The REAL PROBLEM WAS IN THE FIRMWARE OF THE DLT DRIVE! <
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We went through several HP drives in a very short span; I ended up dumping the library as the main unit and went with LTO drives, cut the backup time drastically, and paid for the LTO drives in tape savings alone.