Alert: Tape Drive is having problems reading data

[pixiepoet]

Hello all! Has anyone out there using Backup Exec, running on NetWare, encountered this error message?

BESRVR: TaperAlert!
BESRVR - WARNING: The tape drive is having problems reading data. No data has been lost, but there has been a reduction in the performance of the tape.
BESRVR - CRITICAL: Your data is at risk:
1. Copy any data you require from this tape
2. Do not use this tape again
3. Restart the operation with a different tape

We have Backup Exec 9 (version 4172) running on NetWare 6 on a Dell PowerEdge 1400SC. I have installed the patch to update it to Build 4172.2. I have also installed the patch to update the driver set dated 11/19/02. What else can I try?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Rols]

Have you tried replacing the tape like it suggests in the log?

Is the tape drive asking for cleaning constantly?

Just out of interest - What type of tape drive are you using??

 

[Grenage]

Aye, tapes don't last forever and we've even had a couple that lasted a day. If it's used regularly or is over a year old it probably is just the tape that needs replacing.

Else as said above ensure you clean the drive occasionally.

 

[pixiepoet]

I tried replacing the tapes, buying new tapes, etc... but I still get the same error message!

These tapes I am using are all relatively new tapes (the oldest is a couple of months old), I even tried from 2 different vendors. The tapes are Imation Travan 20 GB (TR-5). The tape drive is a Tapestor Travan NS20 SCSI 3.5 PCW/5.25 Rails Media and B/U (whatever that means).

I have not tried cleaning the tape drive, but that is a good suggestion and I will try it next. I don't think it will help because we've just started using the tape drive 2 months ago.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[pixiepoet]

Yikes! I just noticed the directions on the tape cleaning kit. It says that I should clean the drive after every 8 hours of tape movement. My backups take almost 4 hours each night, that means I should clean my drive every other day?

Does this make any sense? Does anybody out there clean their drive every other day?

This seems a bit excessive!

 

[Grenage]

That does seem rather excessive, probably not your problem

 

[SQLBill]

I wouldn't clean it that often, but I would clean it once a week.

-Bill

 

[pixiepoet]

I'm about to throw Backup Exec out the window!

I put the cleaner tape in and nothing happened. It turns out that the option to clean is grayed out. (Jobs>Utilities>Clean).

When I read the guidebook, it says I need to designate a cleaning slot. But When I select Devices/Drives>Robots (like the instructions say to do) there are NO robots to choose from.

Okay, fine, so I try to initialize a "robot" then. Following instructions, I select Jobs>Utilities>Initialize, except the fact that ALL the utilities are grayed out!

Does anyone out there know how to add a robot?

Thanks!