Windows2000 Server and ADR2.120Si Problems

[thomasforstmayr]

Finally, after reading all entries and watching the forum for the last 6 month, I decided to join and ask for help on my problem, which I was not able to solve for the last year....
After all I am very glad that this forum exists. Probably it´s my last change to solve my problem.

I have an IntelServer with Windows 2000 Server installed. The ADR2.120Si is the only device on the SCSI-Controller and the SCSI-configuration (I can enter this, when the system is booting) tool is recognizing the tape drive properly. BUT once the Operating System is loaded, there is no tape drive!!
I have tried all different things mentioned in this forum, but with no success. The tape drive is still not recognized!!!

Right now I have the latest firmware for the drive installed. I already bought CA Arcserve2000 Advanced Edition, because this version is to be said to work with Windows2000Server and ADR2.120Si - but again no success!!

Please help me!!!!!
What else can I do???????????

thanx in advance,
Thomas

 

[Homerz]

Does the tape streamer appear in device manager as "unknown" with a question mark next to it, or is it just completely missing?

I have never used Arcserve, but you should be aware that nearly all tape backup software does *not* require a Windows driver to access the device. In fact there are some backup apps that won't work correctly if you *do* have a Windows driver for the streamer installed.

Try an eval copy of other backup software. I would guess that (at a minimum) both Tapeware and Novanet would work, since they support other OnStream drives. And try disabling the tape drive in device manager (if the driver is present and functioning) - this won't prevent the drive from working, it just removes Windows' control (interference) from the device.

The fact that the streamer shows up during the early POST suggests that it should be OK.

Oh, and another suggestion ... download a Live Linux CD, such as Knoppix, and test the drive with the "mt" command. You should even be able to do backups with tar, provided you know the correct blocksize (usually 32 for most OnStream tapes).

If that works, then the problem is with Arcserve (can you get a refund?).

Good luck.

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[H]omer

 

[thomasforstmayr]

Thanks a lot for your advices!
Some of them I already tried, because of other threads in this helpful forum.

The thing is that in the device manager I do not see the drive at all and it does not make a difference, if the windows drivers (supported from hastec) are installed????!!!

At the beginning I tried it with TapeWare (came with the drive) and it did not work either. Somewhere in the

http://www I

heard about probs with Windows NT SERVER and the Onstream drives. It was also mentioned that these problems are solved with Arcserve 2000. That´s why I bought it.... and now it doesn´t work. I´m desperate....

Maybe an upgrade to Windows 2003 Server would solve it, dunno.

Your suggestion about the Linux CD sounds promising, but to be honest, never worked with Linux so far. Where can I get such an CD??? How does it work??

Cheers,
Thomas

 

[thomasforstmayr]

SORRY, just recognized, that I wrote Windows 2000 Server in my initial post.
PLAIN WRONG!!!!!!!!!! - I´m using Windows NT4.0 Server Edition on this machine..... SP6.....

cheers,
Thomas

 

[Homerz]

Oooh, that's not good - it should at least show up in device manager. You need to check your cables and termination, possibly replacing the cable and/or terminator. Maybe there is something wrong with the SCSI host adaptor?

The fact that it is showing up in the SCSI bios, but not in Windows is just plain weird. I take it the SCSI host adaptor is showing, yes? Are there any other drives on that SCSI host adaptor ... and on that cable? Are they working?

Regardless, I still think running Linux will give you all the answers you need, since it has extensive logging and diagnostic capabilities that Windows completely lacks.

You can download Knoppix from Knoppix.org.

Also, a mirror of OnStream's website (before they went TitsUp) is here.

Once you get Knoppix up and running, you should run the command:

mt -f /dev/st0 status

A PDF with the full instructions is here.

If that works, then you have a working tape drive.

If not, then sorry, your drive is probably dead.

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Regards,

[H]omer

 

[Homerz]

Also, have a look at the DEVICEMAP section of the registry, and see what is there.

You know what you're looking for, right? Any reference to the ADR2.120Si drive. Be sure to poke around in the RESOURCEMAP too.

I still maintain this is either a general problem with Windows; a cable/terminator problem; or your drive is dead.

Good luck.

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Regards,

[H]omer

 

[thomasforstmayr]

Thx a lot!

The SCSI-adaptor seems to work all right. There is only the ADR on the cable, termination is ok. The SCSI utility is recognizing the tape, no problem there.
It seems to be a problem with Windows NT 4.0 Server Edition. I heard rumours that these drives wouldn´t work with Server Edition, only with the Workstation Edition. Don´t know though....

The tape drive was brand new, bought already two years ago. I did the flash upgrade to the newest firmware version - everything worked just fine in DOS, but damn NT....

I think I´ll try with the suggested Linux version. But now it´s two weeks holidays

I´ll report when I am back!

Regards,
Thomas

 

[Homerz]

I just noticed your correction about the version of OS you're using.

Ooohhh!

You really need to ditch that prehistoric OS.

Whether its Linux or a more modern Windows, you desperately need to upgrade.

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[H]omer