Brightstor Problem with virtual library: Doesn't mount tape automatically
We have a problem since we updated our BrightStor ArcServce to Build 3200. (Installed Service Pack 2, because the agent wasn't installing Exchange Brick Level properly, but that's a different story --> working again).
Following settup.
We use HP StorageWorks D2D Backup System via Microsoft iSCSI initiator. The connection seems to work without problems. I can erase, format media without problems. I can it on the webinterface, that the tapes get mounted. Strange part follows now:
Firstly I have a full normal backup job. When I start the job, it tells me to insert the media in the "FULL-SAFE" group. I defined that group with just one slot of the library. I get following message:
W3831 14.07.2009 17:39:39 1306 Unable to find any media that can be used in this job.
If I use ths scan utitly from brightstor to scan the same slot, it works and the tape gets mounted properly.
If I then start the same job as above, the backup stars and everything works normally. Why doesn't the job find the correct slot by himself?!
The same problem we have with GFS rotation. Just here the problem gets worse.
I can even mount the media requested in the job (See screenshot: "please mount media.jpg") and screenshot("mounted media.jpg"), but the recurrent message then tells me to mount the right media, although everything is in place. My Media Pool has the tape in the Save Set where the data should be appended to AND I also have a blank tape in the scratch set (in case the first one gets full).
If I remount the Slots in the Device-Settings I get updated Info from my D2D-System. (see screenshot "updating slots while mounting.jpg".
I don't get it, why brightstor cannot find the correct media, although it is mounted obviously.
I tried reconfiguring the device using the Device Wizard, which didn't help.
My GFS job definition you can find in the other screenshot.
This problem is really bugging me, I cannot figure out anything else to try and I don't seem to see where the problem lies (D2D, iSCSI or Brightstor, although I think it's brightstor cause of the fact that it worked until the updated).
Maybe you guys have another idea.
Best Regards
Please-mount-media.jpg
mounted-media.jpg
updating-slots-while-mounting.jpg
jobs---gfs-rotation.jpg
jobs---gfs-rotation-settings.jpg
Following settup.
We use HP StorageWorks D2D Backup System via Microsoft iSCSI initiator. The connection seems to work without problems. I can erase, format media without problems. I can it on the webinterface, that the tapes get mounted. Strange part follows now:
Firstly I have a full normal backup job. When I start the job, it tells me to insert the media in the "FULL-SAFE" group. I defined that group with just one slot of the library. I get following message:
W3831 14.07.2009 17:39:39 1306 Unable to find any media that can be used in this job.
If I use ths scan utitly from brightstor to scan the same slot, it works and the tape gets mounted properly.
If I then start the same job as above, the backup stars and everything works normally. Why doesn't the job find the correct slot by himself?!
The same problem we have with GFS rotation. Just here the problem gets worse.
I can even mount the media requested in the job (See screenshot: "please mount media.jpg") and screenshot("mounted media.jpg"), but the recurrent message then tells me to mount the right media, although everything is in place. My Media Pool has the tape in the Save Set where the data should be appended to AND I also have a blank tape in the scratch set (in case the first one gets full).
If I remount the Slots in the Device-Settings I get updated Info from my D2D-System. (see screenshot "updating slots while mounting.jpg".
I don't get it, why brightstor cannot find the correct media, although it is mounted obviously.
I tried reconfiguring the device using the Device Wizard, which didn't help.
My GFS job definition you can find in the other screenshot.
This problem is really bugging me, I cannot figure out anything else to try and I don't seem to see where the problem lies (D2D, iSCSI or Brightstor, although I think it's brightstor cause of the fact that it worked until the updated).
Maybe you guys have another idea.
Best Regards
Please-mount-media.jpg
mounted-media.jpg
updating-slots-while-mounting.jpg
jobs---gfs-rotation.jpg
jobs---gfs-rotation-settings.jpg
ASKER
1. I have a full safe job which has a defined Slot. This works only if the virtual tape is already mounted (like by a scan job from Brightstor).
2. Created an identical job. Same Problem: It askes for a blank media in the specified group. Media is there and it's blank. If I then erase the media again, the job stars immediately.
3. I ran the maintenance on our SQL-Server, but this didn't help, when I restartet the job.
2. Created an identical job. Same Problem: It askes for a blank media in the specified group. Media is there and it's blank. If I then erase the media again, the job stars immediately.
3. I ran the maintenance on our SQL-Server, but this didn't help, when I restartet the job.
Perhaps this will help.
TEC424528 Title: How to clear the Tape Engine configuration for a tape library.
https://support.ca.com/irj/portal/anonymous/kbtech?searchID=TEC424528&docid=424528&bypass=yes&fromscreen=kbresults
TEC424528 Title: How to clear the Tape Engine configuration for a tape library.
https://support.ca.com/irj/portal/anonymous/kbtech?searchID=TEC424528&docid=424528&bypass=yes&fromscreen=kbresults
You can also in fact rename the tepeengine key in the registry, to reset device configuration. If new key doesn't work, you an revert to old key.
ASKER
I tried to reconfigure the tape engine. Funny enough, after I did this my group configuration was a mess. So I changed the groups back to the way they should be.
Then again: The GFS-Backup still didn't work. It's still looking for the the media, which is actually already mounted in the virtual type library. See screenshot: It's looking the a media in group GFS, with the serial numbers given. In the screenshot you can see that the first tape matched the criteria needed.
I am still confused. Are there any settings inside the media pool I'm missing?
But still thank you for your comments.
example.jpg
Then again: The GFS-Backup still didn't work. It's still looking for the the media, which is actually already mounted in the virtual type library. See screenshot: It's looking the a media in group GFS, with the serial numbers given. In the screenshot you can see that the first tape matched the criteria needed.
I am still confused. Are there any settings inside the media pool I'm missing?
But still thank you for your comments.
example.jpg
It looks problem with ARCserve database. Try fourth steps mentioned in my previous comment.
ASKER
Forgot to mention this. We use the MSSQL Database. The "initialize Database Option" ist only available when using the VLDB Database.
If you don't have this installed, install it
QO77072 100.0 MB 03/08/06 NT - BAB R11.1 WINDOWS - SP 2
https://support.ca.com/irj/portal/anonymous/phpdocs?filePath=0/4536/111/4536_111-patchindex.html
Check the database media view for two entries for the same tape, each with a different serial # or one with and one without a serial #.
If you find any like that delete the incorrect one from the database.
If none of the above helps consider setting up only one group and a new job. If that works then we know there was a problem relating to the old groups, and or the database tie in to them.
The CA support site has a tech doc on how to handle the above when using MS SQL as the database. Don't have time to look for it now but the one thing I do remember is the importance of re-indexing.
QO77072 100.0 MB 03/08/06 NT - BAB R11.1 WINDOWS - SP 2
https://support.ca.com/irj/portal/anonymous/phpdocs?filePath=0/4536/111/4536_111-patchindex.html
Check the database media view for two entries for the same tape, each with a different serial # or one with and one without a serial #.
If you find any like that delete the incorrect one from the database.
If none of the above helps consider setting up only one group and a new job. If that works then we know there was a problem relating to the old groups, and or the database tie in to them.
The CA support site has a tech doc on how to handle the above when using MS SQL as the database. Don't have time to look for it now but the one thing I do remember is the importance of re-indexing.
You can run bconfig.exe wizard to overwrite ARCserve (ASDB) and make it a new one. Once you run inventory and resbumitt the job. Database will be updated with new information.
ASKER
I already had the SP2 installed.
I checked the database view. It had some funny entries in there, which I then deleted, so that I actually only had the entries which complied to the cartridges in the virtual D2D system.
Setting up a new group and a completely new job making a new media pool still brought the same problem, that the tapes were not found.
I then set up a new Virtual Library in my D2D setting up a new Virtual Tape Library with 8 Slots. Configured the Tape Libaray as new Tapeloader in Brightstor, setting up new groups. Now the backup worked again, which should actually tell me, that there's either a problem with the iscsi or the virtual tape library itsself.
it's now working, but I am not really happy with my solution. Data from a week ago and back (few months) are on one library, the new data from now on are on the new tape library...
I checked the database view. It had some funny entries in there, which I then deleted, so that I actually only had the entries which complied to the cartridges in the virtual D2D system.
Setting up a new group and a completely new job making a new media pool still brought the same problem, that the tapes were not found.
I then set up a new Virtual Library in my D2D setting up a new Virtual Tape Library with 8 Slots. Configured the Tape Libaray as new Tapeloader in Brightstor, setting up new groups. Now the backup worked again, which should actually tell me, that there's either a problem with the iscsi or the virtual tape library itsself.
it's now working, but I am not really happy with my solution. Data from a week ago and back (few months) are on one library, the new data from now on are on the new tape library...
Going forward if it happens again check the Tape Engine tape log for errors at the point in time of the failure.
ASKER
Okay... Now the same problem come up again. Everything was configured newly. It seems the Option "Append Media" gets thrown out.
I check this option and submit the job. When I go back into the job the same checkbox is unchecked again. Of course, the job doesn't get appended. I think this problem could be connected.
I've added the screenshot for clarification.
append-media.jpg
I check this option and submit the job. When I go back into the job the same checkbox is unchecked again. Of course, the job doesn't get appended. I think this problem could be connected.
I've added the screenshot for clarification.
append-media.jpg
You can also use pre-defined schemes with GFS and append option. Try if that works.
To check the way the job is configured select the job from the queue and then review the Job Details to see if it is set for append or not.
ASKER
Those are pretty good ideas.
I actually saw, that in the Job details the Option "Append to media" is not set.
Chosing a predefined scheme also didn't to the job. So i chose a scheme, clicked on the append option and tried to save it as a custom scheme. While saving it, Brightstor just closes with no error message. I can repeat this, Brightstor just closes.
I actually saw, that in the Job details the Option "Append to media" is not set.
Chosing a predefined scheme also didn't to the job. So i chose a scheme, clicked on the append option and tried to save it as a custom scheme. While saving it, Brightstor just closes with no error message. I can repeat this, Brightstor just closes.
Are you resubmitting the job or saving the script as an .asx format.
make the changes that you want to on job the , first click on start button to resubmit the job and then modify the same job to see if the changes made still exists. If you find them still existing, then save them as an .asx file.
make the changes that you want to on job the , first click on start button to resubmit the job and then modify the same job to see if the changes made still exists. If you find them still existing, then save them as an .asx file.
ASKER
I've tried that in several ways.
I tried both versions: Firstly I submitted the job and I then check the job by reviewing it in the Job Log or by modifying the same job. In both cases "Append Media" is not checked or shown. The same happens if I save the job as .asx - file before submitting and than trying to reopen it.
I even tried to add a new job with the same options. Am I missing a configuration at some point. Is the Append Media option dependant on something else or may I need to reinstall the whole application, because of a bug?
I tried both versions: Firstly I submitted the job and I then check the job by reviewing it in the Job Log or by modifying the same job. In both cases "Append Media" is not checked or shown. The same happens if I save the job as .asx - file before submitting and than trying to reopen it.
I even tried to add a new job with the same options. Am I missing a configuration at some point. Is the Append Media option dependant on something else or may I need to reinstall the whole application, because of a bug?
"
While saving it, Brightstor just closes with no error message. I can repeat this, Brightstor just closes.
"
this can be caused by a corrupt queue or a corrupt job in the queue.
Try creating a new queue.
run cstop
close the manager
rename 00000001.qsd
run cstart
open the manager
try creating a new job, it should now submit correctly.
While saving it, Brightstor just closes with no error message. I can repeat this, Brightstor just closes.
"
this can be caused by a corrupt queue or a corrupt job in the queue.
Try creating a new queue.
run cstop
close the manager
rename 00000001.qsd
run cstart
open the manager
try creating a new job, it should now submit correctly.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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What ever product you use is should be kept current.
NetWare 3.12 was a set it up and forget it OS. Windows on the other hand is dynamic, constantly changing and modified every time there is a update to the OS or any application. Because of that it is not practical to use a six year old backup product.
Point in case, consider that the original problem of this question was with an iSCSI VTL and this version of ARCserve was developed years before iSCSI existed on Windows.
NetWare 3.12 was a set it up and forget it OS. Windows on the other hand is dynamic, constantly changing and modified every time there is a update to the OS or any application. Because of that it is not practical to use a six year old backup product.
Point in case, consider that the original problem of this question was with an iSCSI VTL and this version of ARCserve was developed years before iSCSI existed on Windows.
1.Try to resubmitt the job with proper selection in source and destination.
2. Create an identical test job and see if it's taking tapes from media pool
3. Run maintenance on DB (VLDB / SQL)
4. Nothing works ? ...initialize DB.