New DLT media won't backup, "unknown" tapes 2

[lpphiggp]

I'm probably missing something basic about DLT drives, but I just brought up a new Netware 6/SP2 server, installed ARCServe 7 on it, applied all the very latest AS patches and the tape library option. The tape drive is a Dell PV120T-DLT1, and it came with 7 DLT IV tapes.
I created a one time backup job to do a full backup of a couple of volumes, but it errored out because even after an inventory (boy does that take forever) the tapes come up as unknown. The library group is DellDLT, media group is default. Do I HAVE to do a GFS backup with this ??
I tried to format the first tape, all it did was inventory again and come up with the same thing. It wants to see the tapes as blank. Suggestions ? thx

 

[8arcserve]

Have you installed the Tape Library Option (this is not free and requires a license) for Arcserve 7 Netware.
If you have already installed this check the device manager to see that the group (in your case default is assoicated with the DLT).
Failing all that , go to the Arcserve Tape Server menu on Netware server and under tape device management/Erase and select a Quick Erase Plus.

Have exactly the same setup as you i.e dell server running netware 6 sp2 and dell 120t powervault. Which is working as well as arcserve will allow.

Hope this helps.

 

[lpphiggp]

Well, like I said earlier, yes, I have the Tape Library option. I've used ARCserve for years, but this is the first time I've used a DLT autochanger. After a reboot, it did begin to see the tapes as *blank*, but I still can't write to them. I get the following errors now:
E6929 : Check cables , problem with host interface.
E6033, E6092, they all point to a SCSI issue, but the cable is very high quality, it's definitely snug, I tried reseating it, and yes, the DLT has it's active terminator installed on the other plug. The host adapter is from Dell too, the ADaptec 39160 and I'm using the ADPT160M.HAM with it. It appears the Dell DLT1 doesn't require LUNs enabled, since it uses separate SCSI IDs for the changer and tape drive. I'm wondering if the tape drive is defective, seriously.

 

[8arcserve]

Sorry Ipphiggp
Quickly read your post so did'nt notice your comment on tape options library.
I have had similar problems with a new DLT, first tried using a adaptec 29160 and encountered the same problems as you. Now using a adaptec AHA 2940 which the Dell 120t seems to like !!! Don't know why that should be?
At the Netware server console type list devices and if the dlt has been detected correctly should appear as Quantum DLT7000, also check to seem if the scsi ID is in use by another device.
There are some new *.HAM drivers for adaptec cards running Netware 6 on the adaptec site u160_nw6.exe.

 

[lpphiggp]

I wondered about the card. I don't think the DLT is capable of 160MB/s, even though they should negoiate to the top speed of the Dell. Thanks for the mention of the new driver, I'll check that out !
Interestingly, here's the latest development: Netware itself sees the DLT as unbound device object, but ARCserve picks it up as the Dell PV120T DLT1AL. When I shutdown ARCserve, Netware temporarily sees it (device deactivated) as the mfg's model, an ADIC Benchmark. Funny stuff. Despite the persisting SCSI (check cable) errors, I just got a good backup last night of 4 of our servers !
I seriously doubt our cable is bad, because the loader part of it has worked flawlessly, the cable is new, and I've checked all the pins and everything. If I really had a messed up cable, would it affect only the tape drive writes and reads ? Sounds more like an internal problem to the unit itself. In any case, I now have an AHA2940U2 to fall back on if I need to swap out host adapters.

 

[8arcserve]

Have you replaced NWASPI.CDM with Computer Associate's CANWPA.CDM as mentioned in Novell's TID10076554

http://support.novell.com/cgi-bin/search/searchtid.cgi?/10076554.htm

You can also use the SYS:\ARCSERVE\NLM\CANWPABD.NLM -CLEAR command to rescan the scsi hosts, this can be change in the asconfig.ini.

Here a copy of my tape$svr.log ,it might be of some use?

04 Mar 16:53:46
04 Mar 16:53:46 Loading TAPESVR.NLM, Computer Associates release...
04 Mar 16:53:48 Scanning Board 0, Adaptec SCSI Adapter, Board Name = BOARD0
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 00: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 01: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 02: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 03: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 04: ARCHIVE Python 04106-XXX 715G (Tape Drive)
04 Mar 16:53:48 Tapelist: ARCHIVE Python
04 Mar 16:53:48 LUN 01: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 05: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 06: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 08: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 09: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0a: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0b: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0c: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0d: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0e: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0f: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 Scanning Board 1, Adaptec SCSI Adapter, Board Name = BOARD1
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 00: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 01: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 02: DELL PV-120T-DLTAL D116 (Changer)
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 03: QUANTUM DLT7000 172D (Tape Drive)
04 Mar 16:53:48 Tapelist: QUANTUM DLT
04 Mar 16:53:48 LUN 01: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 04: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 05: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 06: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 08: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 09: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0a: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0b: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0c: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0d: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0e: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:48 SCSIID 0f: < No Device Present >
04 Mar 16:53:49 STANDARD.NLM for Group [ARCSERVE] loaded successfully
04 Mar 16:53:49 STANDARD.NLM is loaded
04 Mar 16:53:49 Notice: CLEANTAPE Option is Disabled
04 Mar 16:53:49 CHANGER.NLM for Group [DLT] loaded successfully
04 Mar 16:53:49 CHANGER.NLM is loaded
04 Mar 16:53:49
04 Mar 16:53:50
04 Mar 16:53:50 TAPESVR.NLM has been loaded successfully

The [arcserve] group is for the dat drive and the [DLT] is for DELL PV120T

 

[lpphiggp]

Yep, we're using the CANWPA driver, we found out early that Novell's NWPA had a memory leak in SP4
I really have no problems finding the devices, only reading or writing to tapes, and this thing is brand new.
It seems to be working now though.. for now. I'm going to be keeping a very close eye on it, and see what happens next time I reboot. I'm not assuming I'm out of the woods yet, but thanks.