Detecting Tape Media Errors

[monkeylizard]

Anyone know of a way to detect Media Errors before they bite you? I've had two tapes now that look fine in the logs (i.e. Backup was successful), but when I go to restore from that tape, I find that it has a E6096 Media Error and that I can't restore from that tape.

Does ArcServe have a TapeTest type utility that will search for errors on the media? Monkeylizard
-Isaiah 35-

 

[ARCserveGuru]

You may have to do a 'Compare backup media' or some other verification. Or you could just use the chgtest utility.

From Support Page:

Chgtest is a command line utility that comes with ARCserve, which gives users a way to access library related functions from the command line. It can be used to test a changer, its tape drives, and media for problems, where to troubleshoot the problem, to control a changer without using the device manager, and it can be used with pre/post commands from within ARCserve or a batch file. (i.e. Mount a magazine automatically before a backup).

Please note the "and media for problems".

Hope this helps,

guru