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Backup Exec 12.5 and HP Autoloader communications

I need some help with an HP 1/8 G2 Robotic Tape Library, regarding communications between this device and Backup Exec 12.5. This is running on a single server, an HP ML350.

Originally there was a major robotic library failure which also resulted in a loss of the drive and the SCSI cable. This was reported on the autoloader's display and via HP Library and Tape Tools. Under our service contract with HP, the autoloader including tape drive and SCSI cable has been replaced. The HP Library and Tape Tools report is now showing that the drive is passing all tests, and internal drive operations via its direct Ethernet connection are now successful. This indicates the robotic library is working correctly once again.

However, Symantec Backup Exec 12.5 continues to refuse to connect to the tape drive. We *can* perform a 'Scan' of the drive; if tapes have been moved to different bays in the drive, this does update the listing of tapes listed under 'Slots' in Backup Exec. However, any other form of job - including an Inventory, Tape Erase or indeed a backup or restore simply changes to 'Queued' in Backup Exec, and remains on this status indefinitely. Canceling the job is not successful, and the Backup Exec services must be restarted to clear the job from the queue.

I have removed both the library and drive devices in Backup Exec and reinstalled using the tapeinst.exe tool, and the server has been restarted numerous times without avail. I can envisage HP/Symantec playing the blame game, so if you have any suggestions as to further tests/steps I can take, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Matt

Just make sure that you get the latest SW and firmware updates from Both HP and Symantec and try once more, then call Symantec first.

I hope this helps !

ASKER

As stated, we are reluctant to contact Symantec because we suspect they will play the "blame game". This is the reason I posted this question on the site.

I will look at the firmware.

Member_2_231077

Was the original autoloader a 1/8 G2 or was it the G1?

ASKER

I've upgraded the firmware for both the robotic library and the tape drive with no success.

Does anybody have any other suggestions? I'd appreciate it if you posted them if you do!

Thanks

ASKER

Oops - refresh Matt refresh :)

Andy,

It has always been the same style of unit since we bought it, so I'd say it's always been a 1/8 G2.

I'm not familiar with tapeinst, but wonder if it's somehow grabbing old drive serial numbers. Is it possible to delete the library and drive, and rediscover through the GUI?

Let's suppose that Symantec still isn't able to use the autoloader -- would you be willing to download an eval copy of some other backup software to see if it works (say, HP's Data Protector)?

castellansolutions

Are you getting any event vwr errors? Such as scsi errors? Does you scsi card have the latest firmware? if its an adaptec card its probably the 39160 the latest firmware is 3.10.0...

Let me know...

Robert

ASKER

I think SelfGovern may have hit the nail on the head. I was a little reluctant to download HP Data Protector Express but then discovered it had been installed already on the server. Looking under 'Devices', I am able to see both the new library which is currently installed and active, but the old library and tape drive (with different serial numbers) are still listed.

Does this indicate the OS is at fault, or this is simply old info being left behind in Data Protector Express, bearing in mind it has probably never been run since the server was installed?

-Matt

ASKER

I went into device manager, enabled the view to show non-present devices, and removed every instance of an autoloader or tape drive which I could find. I also removed the devices from Backup Exec.

I then rebooted the server to allow it to discover the devices on its own. It now only has the one device listed (presumably the correct one which is currently connected to the server) and I have allowed Backup Exec to discover the device by itself. However, I am still getting jobs queuing.

I wonder if there is some sort of registry location where these devices need to be removed?

-Matt

ASKER

I've moved a bit further again. It would seem it is detecting the correct auto-loader but is not detecting the correct tape drive inside the device. I just manually moved a tape into the drive using the Autoloader's web interface. Backup Exec detects that the tape is no longer in any of the autoloader's media bays, but does not display the tape as being loaded into the tape drive.

Definitely looks like the wrong or an old drive is being detected here.

-Matt

ASKER

I am now absolutely certain the wrong drive has been detected. The tape properties in Backup Exec list the correct serial number, but after running a BE Diagnostics report, it would seem Windows is detecting the wrong tape drive as the serial numbers do not match up.

Since it looks like this is the problem, how do I go about removing this orphan tape drive and getting the correct one detected?

-Matt

Member_2_231077

Check Windows removable media service is disabled and that in BE the device is enabled.

ASKER

Andy,

The only 'Removable' service I have is 'Removable Storage' and that is stopped and disabled.

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BTW, make sure HP Data Protector Express's service is stopped and disabled again and that its GUI is not running.

ASKER

Hi honmapog,

I re-ran TapeInst and there was only one tape drive listed. It had 'Replace' next to it in the action it was going to take. This was after deleting both the robotic library and the drive out of the console; when I next started the services the two had re-appeared as expected.

I did check the Data Protector Express service and found it was Started; that has now been stopped and disabled, so it is no longer running.

However, when I run an Inventory or any other job to the tape drive it still Queues.

Any further ideas?

-Matt

ASKER

If it helps, I've attached the first few sections of the Backup Exec Diagnostics Log.

In the log file you will notice the serial number of the Robot is MXA8021013, which matches up with the information displayed in its web interface. However, the serial number for the drive is wrong. The web interface displays HUE0904D9M as being the Serial Number, yet the diagnostics log claims it is HUE0833781.

Let me know if I can give you any more information to assist.

-Matt
backup-exec-diagnostics-log-1005.txt

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Send the rest of the diagnostics log, or send the adamm.log file (logs subfolder), which is the part of bediag.txt that shows information about devices.
adamm.log contains a lot of historic information. When you look into bediag you really need to go to the end of the adamm log to find relevant information. The part you posted only shows info up to April 21.

ASKER

Here is the adamm.log and the full Diagnostics Log. I had a quick look and it does seem that the logging cuts off before April 20th, however you may be able to see something I cannot.

SelfGovern,

I will remove Data Protector Express now. I will be on site tomorrow (Monday) and will take a look at the drive Serial Number then.

Thanks for the help so far!

-Matt
BEDiag-ServerB.txt
Copy-of-adamm.log

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ASKER

Hi honmapog,

I've attached the output of the Debug Monitoring tool. Hopefully it is what you were after.

I'm going to remove the Data Protector Express now.

Thank you!

-Matt
SERVERB-SGMon.log

ASKER

Just removing Data Protector Express. Should I remove the application 'HP Protect Your Data' too? From what I gather this is a tool to help with interfacing with tape drives and so on, but I can't tell if it's an OS-level tool which Backup Exec and/or the tape drive drivers will depend on, or if it's something specific to the HP tools which I can remove.

ASKER

I've removed Data Protector Express and I also took off the Protect Your Server package. Backup Exec now seems to be reporting the correct Serial # for the drive in the GUI, but jobs are still queueing.

This isn't the easiest of things to resolve, and since we've had all the hardware changed the only point I can put this down to is an issue with the controller card.

However, I will await honmapog's response regarding the SGMon log file I posted earlier.

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ASKER

honmapog,

Thank you! It looks like there is some form of database corruption. The inventory is running perfectly fine using a clean database.

Where do we go from here? Is there any way of analysing the existing database to locate the problem and remove it, or is the only way to start using a new database from scratch?

-Matt

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ASKER

I gave the Repair Option a go, but it was a no go.

Starting out with a new database. This will be fun.

Thanks once again honmapog for saving the day!

-Matt

ASKER

Both SelfGovern and honmapog have been truly wonderful in helping to resolve this problem. You guys are an ASSET to Experts Exchange. Thank you so much!

ASKER

Hi honmapog,

Once again, I would truly appreciate your assistance with another Backup Exec problem I'm facing, only this one isn't to do with hardware thankfully! https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/24434126/Exchange-2007-in-Backup-Exec-12-5.html

-Matt