I have a Debian GNU Linux system, with kernel 2.2.15, mt-st 0.5b (tried mt
GNU 2.7.4) and GNU tar 1.1.7, with an Adaptec 2940UW SCSI controller and a
HP SureStore 24 tape drive for backups..
Up until recently the backups went smoothly, and I feel the problems started
once the data wouldn't fit on a single tape.. which was 2 weeks ago.. ever
since I've been trying to get it to work, including installing a new kernel
(that's the 2.2.15), checking for new versions of tar, even tried other
backup software (afio etc) but nothing seems to work.
I'd like to point out that neither the tape or the drive are at fault, both
work flawlessly on a Windows NT system.
When doing backups with tar it reports the following error: Cannot write to
/dev/st0: Input/output error. Log is being filled with: "kernel: st0: Error
with sense data: [valid=0] Info fld=0x0, Deferred st09:00: sense key Medium
Error" and "Additional sense indicates Sequential positioning error".
When the first problem occured the "clean" led of the tape drive was
flashing (the drive was cleaned regularly), and a cleaning cartridge took
care of that but I'm wondering if the flashing light meant something else
instead of "clean me"..
After checking out the drive options with mt stoptions I get the following:
kernel: st0: Mode 0 options: buffer writes: 0, async writes: 0, read ahead:
0
kernel: st0: can bsr: 0, two FMs: 0, fast mteom: 0, auto lock: 0,
kernel: st0: defs for wr: 0, no block limits: 0, partitions: 0, s2 log: 0
kernel: st0: sysv: 0
now this seems a bit strange that all options are zero'ed.. could it be that
the kernel "lost" the drive options and that they need to be set manually?
if anyone has a DDS3 drive could you please forward this information to me..
The local HP dealer offers no support aside from what's written in the
manual.
I'm even entertaining thoughts of doing backups on NT over samba but that's
my last resort, I hope someone will have a brighter idea than that :)
Kind regards,
Danijel
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Danijel Pajur - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sysadmin @ Rudjer Boskovic Institute Library - http://library.irb.hr
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