Hello great Videos ;) I have an TL200 at home that I bought some time ago LTO-6 Fiber Channel It worked until it failed during a backup and the tape drive now recognizes every tape as bad even a cleaning tape... anyone know how I can troubleshoot ? I already tried update and downgrade the drive firmware with no success...
If the tape drive errors out, the library will mark the tape as bad. It appears as though the drive errors out each time you put any cartridge in. Therefore, the library is making ALL tapes as bad. You also said that it failed during a backup, so it appears as though the drive is having problems. You could run IBM ITDT test, but will probably find that the test either will not initiate or the tape drive will fail. There is not much you can do on your end at this point. We do offer a no-cost repair evaluation. Here is a link to our repair process for more information: mwtss.com/repair-services/
RA thanks for the kind words. First make sure you loaded the proper FW they are different for FH &HH drives as well as FC or SAS. We very seldom downgrade FW we have had issues. I strongly feel that all of the media is not bad. I do believe the software is marking the media as bad. Most likely from a failed back up request. We are somewhat familiar with some back up programs but following these general guidelines may help. Clear out any pending back up jobs. Remove that tape drives via device manager. Turn off the auto start on the backup software. Power off server and tape library. Reboot after a few minutes. First turn on the TL2K let it finish the POST. Repower the server on. The Device Manager should ID new hardware the library and tape drives. Once that process is complete then activate the back up software, that software will ID new hardware and install the proper drivers. Also look up any blogs for the kind of software you are using. I am certain you did not invent this issue. If you are a MAC user just use the concepts I described and convert language to MAC these are for Windows and using Back UP Exec software. I hope this helps. Regards, Dan - Owner of MWTSS.COM
If you searched online, you'd find: F3 means Hardware Error & 01 means Mechanical Initialization Failure. SCD: 5 means Tape Drive Hardware Error. You can check to see if a tape is stuck in the drive, or if something (tapes) are preventing the picker robot from moving. You can fill out an RMA on our website to send it in for us to further evaluate the problem(s). mwtss.com/
I'm sure when these were sold by DELL, they were in the thousands of dollars. DELL no longer sells this product. We do have some units Manufacturer Refurbished by DELL. You can find them here: tapedrivesales.com/products/dell-powervault-tl2000-library-2u-24-slot-low-power-on-hours-poh-mp871-hx7dw
I found your videos by random chance, and i gotta say they are very good. Your have a tact for teaching - maybe you should make more of these videos :) Thank you!
C Los: Thanks for the comment, after an MA in teaching and a MA in instructional design and working for several years in computer assisted instructional environment, I do appreciate the comments. For the past 30 years I have been in this business and am following my interest levels. The most difficulty I find is assessing the entry level of knowledge of the viewer. Too elementary and one will insult folks, not technical enough and you will loose the experienced users. Some have more knowledge that we do. On an annual basis we test, repair and sell over 3000 LTO based systems so we do have some technical knowledge. I really enjoy helping folks out. We attempt to tailor our video's based on what we see as common issues we discover during our interaction with our customers. Regards, Dan Owner Midwest Technical Sales.
Henry: Many reasons for the tape to get stuck so removal depends what state the media is stuck in. Best and about the only thing you can do is remove the cover from auto loader, turn on the unit, wait for the POST to clear and picker is not moving. Gently move the picker to the front of the drive. Now you will have access to the eject button on the tape drive. On library drives there is no bezel so look for a small push button switch on the upper right on the circuit board. Switch is usually silver with a black button about 4mm X 6mm. Push button for 15 seconds and release. Tape may come out. If it comes out does not mean it will not get stuck again. Typically what happens on a stuck is first someone dropped the tape and leader pin was put back in the proper place or the servo tracs are debris contaminated. Cleaning tapes will not address issues you will need to send it in to us for a no cost repair evaluation. If you do not feel safe or comfortable doing this do not do it. Send just the drive and sled into us for an evaluation. Hope this helps, feel free to call me at 952 736 0200 Dan
Henry: Okay on the forceable removal. You will note that was not one of my suggested options. From our history 99% of the folks who do this damage something on the tape drive that makes it most likely un repairable. Not sure if you got the tape out or not or did you just damage the tape because it was broken. You also need to remember what originally caused the stuck tape most likely was not fixed by forceable removal. Regards, Dan
Very Knowledgeable and savvy tape drive technology guy. Kuddos !!!
Hello great Videos ;) I have an TL200 at home that I bought some time ago LTO-6 Fiber Channel It worked until it failed during a backup and the tape drive now recognizes every tape as bad even a cleaning tape... anyone know how I can troubleshoot ? I already tried update and downgrade the drive firmware with no success...
If the tape drive errors out, the library will mark the tape as bad. It appears as though the drive errors out each time you put any cartridge in. Therefore, the library is making ALL tapes as bad. You also said that it failed during a backup, so it appears as though the drive is having problems. You could run IBM ITDT test, but will probably find that the test either will not initiate or the tape drive will fail. There is not much you can do on your end at this point. We do offer a no-cost repair evaluation. Here is a link to our repair process for more information: mwtss.com/repair-services/
RA thanks for the kind words. First make sure you loaded the proper FW they are different for FH &HH drives as well as FC or SAS. We very seldom downgrade FW we have had issues.
I strongly feel that all of the media is not bad. I do believe the software is marking the media as bad. Most likely from a failed back up request. We are somewhat familiar with some back up programs but following these general guidelines may help. Clear out any pending back up jobs. Remove that tape drives via device manager. Turn off the auto start on the backup software. Power off server and tape library. Reboot after a few minutes. First turn on the TL2K let it finish the POST. Repower the server on. The Device Manager should ID new hardware the library and tape drives. Once that process is complete then activate the back up software, that software will ID new hardware and install the proper drivers.
Also look up any blogs for the kind of software you are using. I am certain you did not invent this issue.
If you are a MAC user just use the concepts I described and convert language to MAC these are for Windows and using Back UP Exec software.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Dan - Owner of MWTSS.COM
hello please help with such a problem on the tape what is the error and how to fix it F3 01 SCD: 5 ?
If you searched online, you'd find: F3 means Hardware Error & 01 means Mechanical Initialization Failure. SCD: 5 means Tape Drive Hardware Error. You can check to see if a tape is stuck in the drive, or if something (tapes) are preventing the picker robot from moving. You can fill out an RMA on our website to send it in for us to further evaluate the problem(s). mwtss.com/
Can you put an LTO 7 drive in that?
How much did this retail for, and it's as flimsy as the Wright Bros. 1903 Flyer?
I'm sure when these were sold by DELL, they were in the thousands of dollars. DELL no longer sells this product. We do have some units Manufacturer Refurbished by DELL. You can find them here: tapedrivesales.com/products/dell-powervault-tl2000-library-2u-24-slot-low-power-on-hours-poh-mp871-hx7dw
Excellent Overview! Thanks for posting this!
I found your videos by random chance, and i gotta say they are very good. Your have a tact for teaching - maybe you should make more of these videos :)
Thank you!
C Los: Thanks for the comment, after an MA in teaching and a MA in instructional design and working for several years in computer assisted instructional environment, I do appreciate the comments. For the past 30 years I have been in this business and am following my interest levels. The most difficulty I find is assessing the entry level of knowledge of the viewer. Too elementary and one will insult folks, not technical enough and you will loose the experienced users. Some have more knowledge that we do. On an annual basis we test, repair and sell over 3000 LTO based systems so we do have some technical knowledge.
I really enjoy helping folks out. We attempt to tailor our video's based on what we see as common issues we discover during our interaction with our customers.
Regards, Dan Owner Midwest Technical Sales.
Is there a way to remove stuck tape inside the Drive. ?
Henry: Many reasons for the tape to get stuck so removal depends what state the media is stuck in. Best and about the only thing you can do is remove the cover from auto loader, turn on the unit, wait for the POST to clear and picker is not moving. Gently move the picker to the front of the drive. Now you will have access to the eject button on the tape drive. On library drives there is no bezel so look for a small push button switch on the upper right on the circuit board. Switch is usually silver with a black button about 4mm X 6mm. Push button for 15 seconds and release. Tape may come out. If it comes out does not mean it will not get stuck again. Typically what happens on a stuck is first someone dropped the tape and leader pin was put back in the proper place or the servo tracs are debris contaminated. Cleaning tapes will not address issues you will need to send it in to us for a no cost repair evaluation.
If you do not feel safe or comfortable doing this do not do it. Send just the drive and sled into us for an evaluation.
Hope this helps, feel free to call me at 952 736 0200
Dan
Thx alot. I pull out the drive and tried to use force to remove the tape. but the tape dmaged. :( I will try that if happen again. Thank You!
Henry: Okay on the forceable removal. You will note that was not one of my suggested options. From our history 99% of the folks who do this damage something on the tape drive that makes it most likely un repairable.
Not sure if you got the tape out or not or did you just damage the tape because it was broken. You also need to remember what originally caused the stuck tape most likely was not fixed by forceable removal.
Regards,
Dan