Backup Exec 9 and Super DLT

[Mrmark68]

Is anyone out there using Backup Exec 9 and a Super DLT tape Library.

I'm wondering why I'm only seeing the following info when you highlight the tape and I'm only seeing 99.1 GB Total Capacity. I'm thinking I should see more then 99.1 GB.

General

Media label: DLT000004
Media description:
Used capacity: 651 MB
Available capacity: 98.5 GB
Total capacity: 99.1 GB
Bytes written: 1.64 GB
Compression ratio: 2.58:1

We are using a HP/Compaq MSL5026 tape library that is rated for 160GB / 320GB.

Any ideas here,

Thanks

 

[comtec17]

SDLT is only 100GB uncompress and 200GB compressed. In your case do you have hardware compression turned on?

 

[SQLBill]

Your "tape library ... is rated for 160GB / 320GB" but what are the TAPES rated for?

-SQLBill

 

[Mrmark68]

Yes I do Comtec17. If you see the Compression ratio is 2.58:1 so Compression is on. This tape library is rated for 160 uncompress and 320 compress.

Just confused on why backup exec is only saying 99.1 GB total capcity.

 

[Mrmark68]

SQLBill:

I'm using the following tapes for this library:

hp super DLTtape I data cartridge, 220-320 GB

Up to 320 GB compressed capacity

540 m tape length

Recommended for all 110/220 GB and 160/320 GB SDLT compliant drives (Not Compatible with DLT III, DLT IV, DLT1 or DLT VS drives)

So I'm not sure why i'm only seeing 99.1 GB. Is anyone that uses superDLT seeing more then 99.1 GB??

 

[Chopard]

I use exactly the same setup here. (Same tapes/changer/version of BE)

Some of our tapes have the same issue but it seems that it is only the tapes that have only backed up less than 100GB of data that show incorrect capacity. Once we've gone over the 100GB capacity it seems to show the correct total capacity.

 

[Qdog]

Unless your tape drive's firmware supports the media capacity feature in Backup Exec 9; then BE is giving an estimate based upon raw capacity, not compressed. And when it estimates these statistics, it is basing the info on past experience. So it has to completely overwrite the tape from start to finish before it has any past experience to base the statistics on. Once more HW vendors start supporting this feature, then BE will get these statistics from the firmware of the device.

Try a long erase or just completely overwrite the entire tape by appending data to the tape until it is full. But remember, when it is going on past experience, it is all raw capacity, not compressed.

 

[Mrmark68]

Chopard

Do you get alot of soft write errors with your setup. I'
m getting about 200 to 400 soft write errors per job. Each job is using a brand new tape.

Thanks again,

Mark

 

[Chopard]

Yes, we're having the same problems as well.

We've also found that there are quite a few tapes (atleast 2 so far out of about 10 tapes used) that seem to be bad even though they are all brand new tapes.

We have only recently setup the new jobs on the new hardware so we haven't had the jobs running for long (about 2 weeks).

Checking Veritas it says that the software errors are usually caused by outdated device drivers however I think that it would be very unlikely since this is only recently been implemented....

Have you managed to resolve it?

 

[jcullen]

Did you install the latest veritas driver for your device??