HP VS80 DLT VS80 Tape Drive User's Guide - Page 23
troubleshooting, problems with the host computer - dlt manual
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troubleshooting http://www.hp.com/support/tape may have a later version technical documentation data protection index of topics contact hp home page before you start operation cartridge care cleaning specifications media compatibility diagnostics troubleshooting FAQs SCSI configuration UNIX configuration ordering supplies installing drivers troubleshooting contents of this section help diagnosing the problem general guidelines troubleshooting problems with the host computer computer does not boot up computer boots, but does not recognize drive problems with the drive the tape drive does not power up all the LEDs on the front panel blink continually errors for which you cannot find the cause problems during firmware update drive does not go into firmware update mode code update failed interpreting the LEDs general use backups are slow poor data compression ratio software compatibility problems writing to tape tape being ejected system crashes when swapping removable drives related topics HP library & tape tools HP instant support TapeAlert firmware upgrades help diagnosing the problem If you experience problems using your tape drive after installation, use HP Library & Tape Tools or HP instant support to help you diagnose the problem. HP Library & Tape Tools is provided free of charge and is invaluable for solving problems with both the SCSI bus and its attached devices. It will help resolve SCSI ID numbers and also run some tests that may help you isolate problems. HP instant support is a web-based problem identification, diagnosis and resolution service providing fast, easy-to-use online solutions. You can access HP instant support from www.hp.com/go/instantsupport. You will also find troubleshooting information on the HP Support web site. The HP Support web site contains links to: q www.hp.com/support/dltvs80 takes you to HP's Customer Care web site for a wide range of up-to-date information about your product q www.hp.com/cpso-support/guide/psd/cscinfo.htm takes you to HP's worldwide call center numbers general guidelines If you experience problems when using the tape drive, you need to isolate the cause of the problem. For example, if you have just installed a new SCSI host bus adapter and your system will not start, the cause of the problem is likely to be the adapter. When installing multiple items of hardware and software, we recommend that you install each in turn and restart the system each time. Similarly if you have already installed multiple devices and software and you experience problems, remove or uninstall each in turn to establish which one is causing the problem. Remember that the system recognizes devices during boot-up. If you swap or connect a product when your system is running, you will need to reboot the system. Rebooting the system will reset devices and will often resolve problems. It is good practice to reboot every time you add a driver or install firmware. troubleshooting The first step in problem-solving is establishing whether the problem lies with the cartridge, the drive, the host computer and its connections, or with the way the system is being operated. If none of the following advice helps you solve the problem, refer to our World Wide Web Customer Care pages on www.hp.com/support/dltvs80 or call for assistance. problems with the host computer Most modern SCSI host bus adapters locate and display attached devices when the system is booting up. If the device is not detected at this stage, there is probably a problem with the physical hardware: cables, termination, connections, power or the HBA itself. Refer to the SCSI topic for a detailed discussion of SCSI IDs, termination and cabling. If your drive is found on system boot up but cannot be found in the operating system, this is more likely to be a software problem. computer does not boot up Possible cause Potential solution You have connected the tape drive Make sure that each device on the SCSI to an existing SCSI bus that has bus has a unique ID. We recommend that other devices connected to it and the HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive is the SCSI address of your HP connected to a dedicated host bus Surestore DLT VS80 drive is adapter. Do not connect the drive to a disk identical to the address used by RAID controller as this is not supported. another device. You have installed an additional SCSI host bus adapter and its resources are clashing with an existing adapter. Remove the new host bus adapter and check the server documentation You have disconnected the power or SCSI cable from the computer's boot disk during the drive installation process. Check that the cables to all devices are firmly connected. computer boots, but does not recognize the tape drive Possible cause The power or SCSI cable is not connected properly. The SCSI bus may not be terminated correctly. Potential solution Check that the cables to the tape drive are firmly connected. Ensure that the SCSI cable is LVDS-compliant and that it does not have any bent pins. Replace, if necessary. (See "Ordering Information".) 1. If your HP Surestore DLT VS80 drive is the last or only device on the SCSI bus, make sure the device is properly terminated. 2. If your HP Surestore DLT VS80 drive is not the last or only device on the SCSI bus, check all SCSI cable connections and make sure the last device on the SCSI bus is terminated. The tape drive's SCSI ID address Identify the SCSI IDs of existing SCSI is not unique. devices by using HP Library & Tape Tools. Change the drive's SCSI ID. Shut down and turn off the host server or workstation; turn off the desktop drive. Change the drive's SCSI ID. Turn on the host server or workstation and desktop drive. External drives only: the tape drive Switch on the tape drive, then switch the may have been switched on after computer off and then on again. the computer was booted up. The computer checks for SCSI devices only at power-on. The SCSI adapter may be incorrectly configured. Check the SCSI host adapter configuration. Refer to the SCSI host adapter manuals for instructions. The SCSI cable may be loose. Check both ends of the SCSI cable, both for the desktop and internal drives. The SCSI terminator might be loose or missing. 1. Make sure the terminator is properly seated on the open SCSI connector on the rear panel of the desktop drive or on the last device on the SCSI bus. 2. Make sure an LVD or SE terminator is in place on the end of the SCSI ribbon cable for the internal drive. The SCSI terminator might not be Make sure the terminators are placed only at the end of the SCSI bus or more at each end of the SCSI bus--one at the than two terminators might be host adapter and one on the last device on present on the SCSI bus. the bus, both internal and external. The SCSI host adapter might be in Move the SCSI host adapter to a different a defective expansion slot. expansion slot. The SCSI bus might be too long. Make sure the total length of the SCSI bus does not exceed the ANSI SCSI standard of 3 meters (10 feet) for an SE bus, 12 meters (40 feet) for an LVD SCSI bus with multiple devices, or 25 meters (82 feet) for an LVD SCSI bus with a single device. problems with the drive tape drive does not power up Possible cause The power cable is not connected properly. Potential solution Check that the cables to the tape drive are firmly connected. Make sure that the power cable is firmly connected. q For internal drives, try another power connector. q For external drives, the power on/off switch incorporates a green LED. If this is not on, check the power cable connection and replace the cable if necessary. You can use the power cable from your monitor or another device to check that the connection is working. If the power supply is present and all LEDs remain off, call for assistance. The self-test fails (All three LEDS flashing.) If there is a cartridge in the drive, remove it. Power down the drive and power it up again. If the self-test still fails, call for assistance. all the LEDs on the front panel blink continually Possible cause Potential solution An internal drive fault has occurred. 1. Press and hold the Eject button for 6 seconds to reset the drive. 2. Turn the drive off and then on again. If the drive is a HP Surestore DLT VS80 internal drive, shut down and turn off the host server or workstation, then turn it back on and allow it to boot. 3. Call technical support if Power-On SelfTest (POST) continues to fail. errors for which you cannot find the cause Possible cause The AC power source may not be properly grounded. (HP Surestore DLT VS80 external drive only.) Potential solution 1. Plug the HP Surestore DLT VS80 external drive's power cable into a power outlet on the same circuit as the host server or workstation. 2. Plug the HP Surestore DLT VS80 external drive's power cable into a different power outlet. problems during firmware update drive does not go into firmware update mode Possible cause Potential solution There is a DLTtape cartridge in the Remove the cartridge from the drive and drive. repeat the update process. The drive and its controller hardware are not communicating properly. The drive's hardware may be damaged and must be repaired. Refer to our World Wide Web Customer Care pages on www.hp.com/support/dltvs80 or call for assistance. code update failed Possible cause Potential solution 1. The cartridge is not a valid code Obtain a valid code update cartridge and update cartridge repeat the update process. 2. The cartridge does not contain a valid code update image file. The cartridge contains a valid code The drive's controller hardware is probably update image file, but the flash damaged and must be replaced. The drive EEPROM programming process resets and runs Power-On Self-Test fails. (POST) which fails if the flash EEPROM does not contain a valid code image. If this occurs, you must repair the drive before using it. Refer to our World Wide Web Customer Care pages on www.hp.com/support/dltvs80 or call for assistance. interpreting the LEDs The HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive has three LEDs (light emitting diodes) on the front panel which indicate drive status. The Ready switch is illuminated when power is switched on. The tape drive performs a power on Power-On Self-Test (POST) whenever power is applied or the drive is reset. The test takes several seconds to complete, after which the drive is ready to use. The following takes place during POST: 1. The LEDS turn on all at once and then turn off. 2. If a cartridge is loaded, the Ready LED flashes during initialization and remains illuminated after POST. 3. If there is no cartridge loaded, all LEDs turn off after POST. Use the following table to interpret the LED sequences and the appropriate action to take. Symptom Action Drive fails to execute power-on Check power is being supplied to the drive. self-test. LEDs remain off. For external drives, the power on/off switch incorporates a green LED. If this is not on, check the power cable connection and replace the cable if necessary. You can use the power cable from your monitor or another device to check that the connection is working. For internal drives try another power connector. If the power supply is present and all LEDs remain off, contact the HP Customer Care Center. The "ready" LED is illuminated or is regularly flashing. This is perfectly normal. The ready light is on when there is power to the drive, and flashes in a regular on/off pattern when there is read/write activity occuring. The "media/clean" LED is illuminated. The drive may need cleaning. Load the DLT VS80 cleaning cartridge. The "media/clean" LED is flashing. Either the drive requires cleaning (in which case insert a DLT VS or DLT1 cleaning cartridge) or the media being used is damaged or worn out (replace). If the LED persists in flashing, use HP Library and Tape Tools to help diagnose further. The "drive error" LED is illuminated. Either the drive is experiencing internal problems (in which case switch the power off then on) or there is a drive fault (in which case contact the HP Customer Care Center. All three LEDs are illuminated. The Power On Self Test (POST) is in progress. This is normal. All three LEDs are flashing. The Power On Self Test (POST) has experienced a problem. Try turning the power off then on. If the problem persists, contact the HP Customer Care Center. The "drive error" and "ready" LEDs are flashing. The drive is performimg a firmware upgrade. DO NOT power down the drive during this process as permanent damage can result. General use backups are slow Possible cause The block size is too small. Potential solution The HP Surestore DLT VS80 is optimized for use with large block sizes. Block size specifies the size of data blocks written onto tape and is set by the backup application. A block size of at least 32 kBytes should be used. Block sizes of less than 32 kBytes can drastically increase the backup/restore time and severely affect the performance of the drive. Most backup applications allow you to view and adjust the block size used for a particular device. Refer to your backup application documentation or provider to ensure it is set to at least 32 kBytes. The backup is being performed over a network. Backing up across a network is likely to reduce the speed of the backup. Try backing up at a different time of day when there is less network traffic. Where possible, use a dedicated tape drive directly attached to the computer being backed up. Backing up local data (that is data residing on disk drives attached to the same machine as the tape drive, but not necessarily on the same SCSI bus) is almost always faster than backing up over a network. External tape drives can be moved and attached to different servers. The overall system is not capable of providing data fast enough. Tape drive performance will be impaired if the server is slow or overloaded. Even if the system is well specified, there can still be bottlenecks that restrict overall performance. Ensure as few processes as possible are running while a backup is being performed. Backup operations and virus scans should NOT be performed at the same time. Information on optimizing performance is given at //www.hp.com/support/dltvs80 Disk drives are on the same SCSI bus as the tape drive. Disks tend to monopolize the SCSI bus and should be set to a lower SCSI ID such as 0 or 1. Ideally, the tape drive should be on its own SCSI channel or bus (separate from the disks being backed up). The SCSI adapter is incorrectly set- Check your SCSI adapter set-up and up. ensure you have the latest drivers and software patches installed. Damaged or worn media. If the media is damaged, the tape drive may perform many retries before successfully writing or reading data. Try using new media. poor data compression ratio Possible cause Potential solution Data is already compressed or can Optimum tape drive performance is only be compressed to a small normally quoted assuming that the data degree. can be compressed by a factor of two (referred to as 2:1 compression). However, some computer data is already compressed and therefore cannot be compressed further. Other data can only be compressed by a small degree depending on type. It is not possible to improve the compression of data. Compression is disabled. Some backup software applications allow compression to be turned on and off. Ensure that it is turned on. software compatibility Possible cause Potential solution It is unclear which software can be The HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive is used with the HP Surestore DLT widely supported by most common backup VS80 tape drive. applications. Refer to //www.hp.com/go/connect for the latest information on compatability. Existing software does not work with the HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive. Older software (released before the HP Surestore DLT VS80 was introduced) may need to be updated. Refer to //www.hp.com/go/connect for the latest information on software downloads. problems writing to tape Possible cause The tape is write protected. Potential solution Move the write protect tab out from the write protected position. When in the write protected position, the bright orange area is exposed. The wrong type of media is being used. DLTtape IV cartridges previously written by a DLT 4000 (or another DLT drive but in DLT 4000 format) will appear write protected. This is correct behaviour. These cartridges can be read but not written by the HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive. Refer to the media compatability page for more information. tape being ejected Possible cause The tape has been written in an incompatible format. Potential solution Certain non-compatible data cartridges will be ejected by the tape drive. Use only DLTtape IV cartridges in the HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive that are either new or have only previously been used in DLT1 or DLT VS80 format tape drives. Refer to the media compatability page for more information. system crashes when swapping removable drives Possible cause Potential solution Exchanging a tape drive instaled in Rack mounted tape drive modules must a HP Surestore Tape Array 5300 only be extracted or swapped when the enclosure has disrupted activity on SCSI bus is idle. the SCSI bus. Even if the device being swapped is not currently in operation, care must be taken that there are not other devices on the bus that are in use. © 2001, Hewlett-Packard Company file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/topher.COL-SPRINGS/Desktop/dltvs80%20manual/document/dltvs80/user/reseller/eng/trouble.htm [11/29/2001 8:34:13 AM]