Reading library => tapes stay on "updating" 1

[Remsterdem]

I have had to replace one of my drives in my powerfault t130 tape lib. I also had to reinstall Arcserve 7 advanced for Windows 2000. I have applied the SP4 and the tape engine update from April this year. I do not need further patches or updates as I dont have any errors pertaining these patches.

After starting Arcserve he makes an inventory of what is in the lib. Some tapes he recognizes and others not. The ones he does not recognize stay on "updating".

Any ideas ?

Thanks,

Remco

 

[Remsterdem]

More info =>

If I try to import or export the "updating" tapes I get an error illegal handle

 

[TudorP]

Whenever you replace the hardware, you need to run Device Configuration. I suggest the following:
1. Run Device Config and get to the step where the library and drives are on the left hand side (most likely that is where they will be because AS reads its registry)
2. Move all the drives to the right pane (available or unassigned devices) and EXIT the utility.
3. Run Device Config again and see if the drives have been automatically reassigned to the library (this time they get assigned based on Device Serial Numbers).
4. If the drives are not automatically assigned - or if they are partially assigned, then most likely the STK tech did NOT change the old drive's SN to the new one.
5. If you know the position of the drive you swapped (Drive 0 bottom, Drive 4 top) you can manually assign the drive but MAKE SURE it is in the right position when you move it over. In other words the first drive under the library MUST BE your Drive 0 and so on to Drive 4.

NOTE: Step 1 and 2 may be replaced by running regedit and deleting the DEVICE entries under the ARCserveIT/Tape Engine key - this is better if you know your way around the registry
I recommend teaching the library the new SN rather than keep doing manual assigments - its safer and it will spare you future problems when you will have to reconfigure your hardware...
cheers
TP

 

[Remsterdem]

Thanks for your help so far.

I have applied step one till three. This did not give me the right result. The drives where automatically assigned but the slots remained on updating. I have also applied steps four and five with the same result.

I have removed Arcserve and the applicable registry entries. Now I have reinstalled Arcserve and applied SP4 and some applicable hotfixes. After running the dev config I get the drives automatically assigned but after innitialization of the lib some slots remain on updating.

I went up to see the powerfault and which drives he uses. I noticed that he only reads tapes in drive one and does not use drive zero ( the one that had been replaced ).

Question: Do I need to reconfigure my scsi device or reinstalle the drive for the scsi device.

Thanks in advance.

Remco.

 

[Remsterdem]

Additional information =>

I have checked my scsi card and reinstalled the drivers. I also checked the scsi id that the drive resides on. On the powerfault and in arcserve and in the scsi configuration the scsi id's are the same.

Remco.

 

[mrtoledo]

We have been fighting this problem with two Compaq MSL5026 changer for months. No good solution yet.

 

[Stat1c]

Hi i just had this with one of my servers that's connected to a tl891. Hp replaced the drive, arcserve 2000 (sp4)got it's knickers in a twist, had to remove arcserve and the tlo, and reinstall. Bit drastic but it cured the problem.

 

[TudorP]

Since the drives are automatically assigned, you should be OK in terms of SCSI hookup (no duplicate SCSI IDs and the library is properly configured to report the new SN).
What you need to do is turn the tape engine log on and start it. The initialization part is key. What is happening is that AS attempts to read all the tapes by using all the drives (lets say you have 2 drives). All the tapes that go to Drive 1 are read in properly, and all the tapes that SHOULD go to Drive 0 fail to be read in and are left as UPDATING.
1. the PV130 should have a bar code reader. Since it appears you are reading all tapes during init, it seems you have not configured the b/c reader? (this is important - especially if you have recently chaged b/c labels on your cartridges)
2. in order to isolate the problem, you can temporarly offline Drive 0 during device configuration. If the problem is with Drive 0 - you should have a clean initialization process.
Back to the tape log. I need to know what is going on when the TE starts. Please look for stuff like Illegal Request, SCSI PORT ERRORS, Unit Attentions etc. My email does not take large attachments, but if you only capture the initialization and zip it up it should fit (saguna1993@yahoo.com). Alternatively post a tidbit of your log around where any of the errors above appear - i.e. 30sec above the error and stop right after the error). I probably still have both the library and drive (I suppose you use DLTs?) SCSI manuals someplace on my machine
cheers
TP

 

[TudorP]

mrtoledo - have you tried offlining the 2050 drive?

 

[mrtoledo]

TudorP,

I emailed you a tape log.

In the past if we disable a drive and run with one drive the problem does go away.

 

[Remsterdem]

Hello all,

Thanks so much for your expertise and advices. I have managed to inventore the whole lib with the explanations given by TudorP.

How ever, yep there is always an however. If I offline the troubled drive in the dev config the whole lib is read. If I then online the troubled drive in the dev config and inventore the lib one slot remains on updating argh. Now I online the drive and the lib is fine.

I am making an backup now with one drive. The other drive is now useless. I am under the impression that this drive is faulty eventough it is a new drive supplied by Dell two days ago. I will start a trouble shoot with dell but I am always open for more suggestions from one of you guys.

Thanks in advance and if you are ever in Amsterdam I will buy you all a drink.

Remco.