Backup Problem

Scenario will be, full backup not working or control backup not working.

Few helpful tips:

• Check if the media is faulty is faulty or there is lock in the media.
• Check to see if the tape device is detected by the system. If not try to restart to detect it. Some time you need to reinstall the driver.
• #ls –l /dev/st0 ( to check the drive)
• tar ztvf /dev/st0 ( with the media inside the tape, if nothing shows then tape could be bad )

• If driver problem (#lsmod >># rmmod aci…. >># insmod ac….. )

• Run the backup script in test mode with tape inside the tape device but in test mode. (# /u/cc/binl/baksys –t)

Few cool commands

#mt –f /dev/st0 staus

#mt –f /dev/st0 erase

• Normal backup error message

Tar:/dev/st0: cannot read: Input / output error

DAT72/DDS tape info

It is recommended that DAT72/DDS tapes are used up to 100 times (read, write) and then replaced. Since our backup script writes on the tapes and reads them back once a week, this translates to replacing the tapes once a year. The most common cause of the above error is dirty heads or bad media. Try a cleaning cartridge and then use new media as the old media may be contaminated. Retensioning the tape may also improve performance. The Heads should be cleaned with a Cleaning Tape when the drive light indicates (flashing amber light). Overusing cleaning tapes is bad for the drive heads as these are abrasive and would reduce the drive's lifetime.