ArcServe 11.1 Error Issue - NEED HELP -

[Meierst]

Hi all and thanks for reading,

I am using Arcserve 11.1 on Windows 2003 Server.
The Hardware is a hp DL380 g3 box.
We have a Adaptec scsi card 29160LP Ultra 160 which connects to an external ultrium 2 LTO device.

The Device is the only thing attached to the scsi card and the external device is not physically terminated but the Active termination light is Green an on.

We are getting this error in Arcserve.
E6300 Windows NT SCSI Port error ABSL:2030 CMD:0h


The windows event logs state that the card is reporting an inactivity timeout becase it has not had a reponse from the lto in a timely manner.

The backup ran for a couple of nights and then this error, again appears, we have replaced the device under warranty from hp 2 times now and also replaced the scsi card and cable and a bought a branf new LTO 2 (same make) but still get these errors.
We have also replaced Tapes many times but am at a loss as to why this error persistsafter a couple of nights.

Any help would be appricitated

 

[sandyboy]

Hi

Hope this Document would be of use

http://supportconnect.ca.com/sc/kb/...&docid=342813&bypass=yes&fromscreen=kbresults

In brief:

Check with the controller and tape drive vendors for firmware and driver updates

Use good quality cabling that follows the SCSI specification

For external cables, use heavy duty shielded cables

Under no circumstances should an external SCSI cable be detached from any connection
While power is still applied to any device on the bus

For single-ended internal cables, make sure there is at least one foot of cable between devices

Also, for single-ended buses, make sure the overall cable length from termination to termination does not exceed the maximum bus length of three meters (roughly 9 to 10 feet)

Use active termination on both ends of the SCSI bus

The last external device (if any) on the SCSI chain is terminated

The last internal device (if any)) on the SCSI chain is terminated

The internal termination of the SCSI host adapter is not set to Automatic, but to the appropriate setting for the hardware configuration (Refer to the Host Adapter documentation for the correct settings.)

All external devices should be set to supply termination power

Put the tape devices on a separate controller by itself or change the existing controller

Replace the tape drive

good Luck

Sandy

 

[vschumpy]

In addition to the document link, some other things to consider:

1 Overheating

2 Noise - is the server and the tape drive on UPS/clean power supply?

You should also try patching up to the latest levels:

http://supportconnect.ca.com/sc/redir.jsp?reqPage=search&searchID=TEC378656

 

[Meierst]

Thanks for the replies,

The devices are on UPS and are in an IP rated rack.

(RAck is sealed completely for enviromental reasons and has a heat/airflow exhanger on it to keep temperature at a constant 18 to 24 degress celcius.
The external cable is the one that comes from HP and is desgined for the lto 2(68Pin I believe).

The temination is a question if the deviceis shown a green active termination light on and the scsi card is configured to use this I shouldn't need a terminator, is this correct ???

We have this exact same setup at 9 other sites with no issue and all same hardware software, patch levels etc and no terminators on any of the devices , they have been in for a year and all working fine except this one site which for the last 3 weeks we have been replacing hardware etc and tapes like they are going out of fashion.

 

[vschumpy]

Did you go through all the recommendations in the linked document (it is very extensive), and patch up to the latest levels already? In particular, play close attention to the Drivers section.

If you have the same setup on other geographically close sites that are working, you could try swapping the drives/cables/SCSI cards from a working site to this one - all at once, or a piece at a time.

Ok, it's a pain to do, and may not be possible, but it may help you rule out a hardware issue per se.

 

[davidmichel]

disable the tape drives and library
configure the HP Management Agents to not collect SCSI information (found in control panel)
ck Event Viewer for a message from the SCSI controller
does it happen with other commands also? Command 0 is a Test Unit Ready and really does not much, just asks the device for a current status. Not what you would expect to cause a communication problem. Thats all a SCSI port error is, just a communication problem, the OS (yes its Windows that had the problem) lost communication with the device and so generates the "Windows NT" SCSI Port error and passes it on to ARCserve. So the goal is to find what is messing with it.
Also other devices on the same bus can cause a problem.

 

[Meierst]

Hi David and others again thansk for your posts.

David , just so I understand your post.

Disabling the device (stand alone) you are referring to in the windows device manager (right click, select disbale).

There are currently no drivers loaded against the device in windows as we are using arcserve, but I should still disable the device anyway, is this correct ???

 

[vschumpy]

It shows you how to do this in the document link which was in the second post of this thread.

 

[davidmichel]

thats right