How to perform a backup using a Back Exec 2

[pedrovasc]

Hello everybody!!!

I never had worked with the Backup Exec and I found some difficulties in how to use this program.
I did the follow
1. Create a job using the backup wizard and start it.
After some minutes the job failed, and it showed a "I/O device error".
2. Changed the tape and start the job again
After some minutes I got another "I/O device error"

I noticed that the errors occurred in different positions, sometimes when it had backuped 2.0gb and sometimes when it had only 400Mb of my all data.

The option 'format' is grey, so I can´t format my tape and the only option that I have is 'erase' and I tried it several times with four different tapes, but when I tried to backup I got the same error again.

I have a Sony tape drive and I have 4mm cartridge DGD125P

And a last question , this program will ask for another tape when it reach the end, because the data to be copied is very large .

Pedro Vasconcellos

 

[pedrovasc]

Here my log error:

======================================================================
Job server: servfe432xc21
Job name: Complete backup:Full
Job started: quarta-feira, 30 de julho de 2003 at 09:44:04
Job type: Backup
Job Log: BEX01.txt
======================================================================

Drive and media information from media mount:
Robotic Library Name:
Drive Name: SONY 1
Slot: 0
Media GUID:
Media Label: media 1
Overwrite Protection Time Left: < 1 Hour
Append Time Left: Infinite
Targeted Media Set Name: Rotation - Full

======================================================================
Job Operation - Backup
Media operation - overwrite.
Hardware compression enabled.
======================================================================

Media Name: &quot;Media created 30/7/2003 09:44:04 &quot;
Backup of &quot;C: 2000&quot;
Backup set #1 on storage media #1
Backup set description: &quot;Complete backup:Full&quot;
Backup Type: FULL - Back Up Files - Reset Archive Bit
Backup started on 30/7/2003 at 09:47:20 .
Directory arcldr.exe
arcsetup.exe
AUTOEXEC.BAT
boot.ini
.
.
.
files
files
files
files
.
.
.


Storage device &quot;SONY 1&quot; reported an error on a request to write data to media.

Error reported:
(The request could not be executed due I/O device error)
A solicitação não pôde ser executada devido a um erro do dispositivo de E/S.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^



Backup completed on 30/7/2003 at 09:52:47 .
Backed up 6172 files in 227 directories.
1 item was skipped.
Processed 427.875.263 bytes in 5 minutes and 27 seconds.
Throughput rate: 74,9 MB/min
----------------------------------------------------------------------

======================================================================
Job ended: quarta-feira, 30 de julho de 2003 at 09:52:47
Job completion status: Failed
======================================================================

 

[SQLBill]

Check that the Backup Exec services are started.

If they are stopped:
Restart the services
Run a backup

If they are started:
Stop the services
Reboot the tape device
Start the services.


Quote: And a last question , this program will ask for another tape when it reach the end, because the data to be copied is very large .

What is the question?

-SQLBill

 

[pedrovasc]

This is the question??

Does BE ask for another tape when it reaches the end of a tape??

You recommend me to stop the services and restart them.Thanks I´ll do it , I think in some minutes I´ll be answer you if I could to backup.
I really never had used this program and there are a lot of data to copied.

Thanks

 

[SQLBill]

Does BE ask for another tape when it reaches the end of a tape??


Yes, BE will ask for another tape. I don't know how long it will wait for the tape before failing the job.

-SQLBill

 

[pedrovasc]

Do I Have to setup the Back Exec program before I execute a backup job???
Because I ´m receveing a error messagem &quot;I/O device error&quot;
And I´m not founding how to make a backup.
thanks

 

[SQLBill]

Usually I/O Device Error means there's something wrong with:

1. Your SCSI cable
2. Your tape drives themselves
3. Your Drivers

1. Check to make sure there aren't any loose cables/wires.
2. Are the tape drives turned on? (Not the tape library, but the actual tape drives in the library).
3. Which drivers did you use when you installed BE? The hardware (tape drive) drivers or did you let Veritas install the drivers?

Other things to check:

Go to the Devices section in BE. Find your tape drives, are they off line?

Right click on the tape drive(s), select Properties, go to configuration tab....Is 'Enable Device for Backup Exec' checked? It should be.

Go to My Computer, right click and select Properties, go to Hardware tab, select Device Manager, expand Tape Devices, right click on a tape device, select Properties, select Driver. What does it say for Driver Provider? If it doesn't say Veritas, you may want to reinstall BE and there's an option for using Veritas' drivers.

-SQLBill

 

[pedrovasc]

Hi SQLBill!!!!

Can you help me in another question???

I open the Removable Storage(local) and noticed that the device Sony SDT-9000 is with a red signal(red ball with a middle white cross) indicating a off-line libary.
I tried to enable this libary by checking its properties but nothing changed.
Is this libary necessary to make backups??? because I'm still getting &quot;I/O device error&quot;


Note: these are the things I can do with my tape
1 - erase the tape
2 - retension

 

[SQLBill]

I find it hard to believe that you can do anything with an OFF-LINE library.

Inside the library are your tapes and tape drives. If the library is off-line it can't do anything with the tapes and tape drives. It can't move a tape to a drive, or anything else.

Try:
Stop Backup Exec services.
Check the cables to the tape library (not the drives), but the box the drives are inside of.
Reboot the library.
When it boots back up, restart BE services.

-SQLBill

 

[pedrovasc]

Did you see in that log I sent above there is a line &quot;Robotic Libary Name&quot;, is it common, because I don't have a robotic system , I need to manually change the tapes.


Answering the questions you did before:
&quot;Go to the Devices section in BE. Find your tape drives, are they off line?&quot;

-Yes, it is on line

'Enable Device for Backup Exec' checked? It should be.

-Yes it is enabled

&quot;Go to My Computer, right click and select Properties, go to Hardware tab, select Device Manager, expand Tape Devices, right click on a tape device, select Properties, select Driver. What does it say for Driver Provider? If it doesn't say Veritas, you may want to reinstall BE and there's an option for using Veritas' drivers.&quot;

-Yes, I checked and the driver provider is Veritas



Do you know another program that perform some tests in tape drivers???

 

[SQLBill]

All the errors you are reporting are indicating that Veritas can't communicate with the tape device.

At this point I would reinstall the drivers.

I don't know of any program that tests tape drives.

-SQLBill

 

[pedrovasc]

Do I have to keep the Removable Storage Manager (RSM) on in the 'Services'

 

[pedrovasc]

I would like to ask whether RMS service is necessary to be in 'runnig' status

 

[SQLBill]

I don't have RMS, but I do have Removable Storage which is probably the same thing. On my systems it's STARTED. But I also have a tape library. I don't know if that makes a difference.

-SQLBill

 

[terabytedxb]

Do you know another program that perform some tests in tape drivers???

Hi!there is a sony tape utility posted on

http://www.storagebysony.com

for testing the sony manufactured tape drives.It basically checks if its a connection problem(SCSI Cable,terminator,).

try to back with NTutility after stopping the Backup exec services .It will help you diagnose whether its veritas issue or h/w issue or may be MEDIA.

Manish

 

[pedrovasc]

Hi!!!

I´m evaluating the TapeWare program and until now it is working corretly.
It seems to me that Veritas Back Exec 8.6 is not compatible with Sony SDT9000.

Some of you have some information about compatibility of Veritas programs ?

Terabytedxb and SQLBill , thanks for your help!!!!

Terabytedxb, I found the tape drive tester in the Sony´s site, thanks

 

[SQLBill]

According to Veritas' web site, the SONY SDT9000 is compatible with BE 8.6.

See

http://support.veritas.com/dsl/dslselect_ddProduct_BEWNT.htm

-SQLBill