Odd Errors in ArcServe 2000 (Library / Drive Errors)

[PulsaMatt]

I have a Dell Powervault 120T (7-tape DLT autoloader) connected up to my main server which is running Win2k SP4 and ArcServe 2000 SP5.

The back-ups have been running good on this combination since I setup the current server about 6 months ago. In the last two weeks I have developed a weird set of problems. When the back-ups run I get the following set of three errors:

W6942 - Problem with Library Mechanism
E6084 - Problem with Servo/Sensor
E6944 - Library Hardware Fault

When I get these errors the back-up fails ... but its not an everyday issue that I get these ... I got it twice last week before my Friday back-up ran fine. So its kind of a random issue.

The other issue is this ... at random times in the past two weeks (never at the same time as the above problem) the tape unit will stop responding to the server, will throw SCSI port errors every couple minutes until the drive is manually turned off. When it does this looking into the tape unit you can see all three of the lights on the drive itself blinking in unison.

I dont have a cleaning tape and havent cleaned the tape drive since I began working here (8 months ago) ... so a cleaning tape is on order as we speak.

Any ides on what this could be? Do those errors mean its probably more a hardware problem than anything else?

I appreciate any suggestions and/or help with this.



Matt Laski
Netadmin, Pulsafeeder Inc.

 

[davidmichel]

Time to contact Dell support.

 

[pjc7777]

PulsaMatt, couple of things:
1)Did you run the post Arcserve SP5 Device update - supposedly fixes a lot of tape drive issues
2)We have seen this error alot due to faulty or bad tapes - the DLT and especially SDLT tape drives are sensitive, if the litres (sp?) go bad on the tape it affects the tape drive (We've had quite a few tapes get stuck in tape drives (mostly SDLT tapes on Compaq/HP tape libraries)
3)Definitely run the cleaning tape thru at least twice consecutively
4)Do you have the manual for the Powervault, if not, go out to the Dell website and look up what the flashing lights mean, if there is no LED display on the unit then the sequence of light flashings should be defined somewhere.
Hope this helps

ps. Before you call CA, make sure the firmware on the SCSI card is up to date as is the firmware on the tape drive.

 

[PulsaMatt]

pjc7777 .. thanks for the ideas ...

1) I'm pretty sure I ran that update, but I'll rerun it just to be sure.

2) Its possible the tapes went bad, unfortunately all the tapes I have to use are hand-me-downs from our parent company (they sent us this tape unit when our DDS4 died and they purchased a new LTO drive). I can try some of the other tapes I have tho to see how they behave.

3) Shipping debacle has delayed the cleaning tape, should be here today (or so they claim).

4) I downloaded the manual ... the LCD on the front just displays error, its the tape unit behind the autoloader that has the flashing lights. I should probably check the manual for a standalone drive to see what it means (never thought about that before).

Thanks! I'll try all these and post my results

Matt Laski
Netadmin, Pulsafeeder Inc.