RE: VXA tape trouble and warning
Recently, there was a post on this list about loss of data with VXA drives if the power is cycled while a tape is in the drive. Some of the statements in that post were incorrect. One very important correction: VXA tape drives DO have the capability to recover data after a power loss. This is an explanation from the Ecrix technical support team of exactly how this works. HOW DO MOST DRIVES HANDLE POWER LOSS? With most tape backup devices, a loss of power means a loss of data. If power is lost during a write operation a tape drive will not have a proper end of data marker which defines where the current backup finished. This separates new and old data. When the 'power loss' tape is read a fatal error may occur when a tape drive crosses the boundary between new and old data. HOW DOES VXA HANDLE POWER LOSS? If a VXA drive is powered off in the middle of a write operation, it can still recover the data. It does this by correcting the data format to take into account the absence of an end of data marker. This will allow reading of the tape up to the point where power was lost. However, the drive must go through a recovery process to determine where the boundary between new and old data. You can expect 1-4 hours before the drive comes ready. With firmware of V2848 or lower the middle (rectangle) LED would blink. With V2959 firmware the right arrow will blink green/yellow indicating a format recovery is underway. HOW DOES VXA HANDLE OTHER INTERRUPTIONS? If a write operation stops sending data to the tape drive for 10 minutes the drive will write a 'pseudo' end of data marker and then reposition itself to the back side of the last block of data that was just written. This way the tape can be read with no problems. A WORD OF CAUTION All this being said, it is NOT a good idea to power off ANY tape drive with a tape still in the drive. The best protection for your data is to remove the tape before powering off your drive. If you are having difficulties with any tapes caused by a power interruption, please contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Frank Saab [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ecrix -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/ Search: http://www.mail-archive.com/retro-talk%40latchkey.com/ For urgent issues, please contact Dantz technical support directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 925.253.3050.
VXA tape trouble and warning
I am having troubles with my VXA tapes and thought I'd pass on some signs, symptoms and a warning. The warning: Don't powercycle the VXA drive with a tape in it. Ecrix confirms that one is *likely* to destroy or lose some header information and the tape *may* then be recognized by RS as ERASED. There is no way to recover the umpteen gigs of info that are already on the tape at this point. Let me hear you all say redundant backups three times real fast right now! The trouble: Lost communications between the computer and the VXA drive. Backup will stall in the middle for various reasons (client dropped off the network, 519 errors, slow response...). RS will still be trying to run the backup and I've been able to stop the backup. Upon starting any backup to the tape at this point, the VXA drive is unrecognized (no SCSI drive recognition while RS scans the bus). I then restarted the computer, and powercycled the drive (tape still in it, as it wouldn't eject using the front panel). Tape is now unrecognized by RS and is listed as "erased" when it is inserted. Neither RS nor ECRIX have any solution (they reviewed the RS log files and their own log files from the drive), although ECRIX said they thought RS was working on communications problems with the drive, this was not confirmed by RS support. Haven't solved the communications problem yet, but if anyone has suggestions, I'm looking for answers. Suspects are SCSI cables (easy to check, just haven't traded them out yet). System: beige G3, MacOS 9.0.4, RS 4.3, external VXA on built-in SCSI bus with a CD-R following it on the same bus (cables are all short). -- Bob Durst Note my new e-mail address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please update your address book to reflect the change. Visit my web site: http://fst.orst.edu/bob_durst/ -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/ Search: http://www.mail-archive.com/retro-talk%40latchkey.com/ For urgent issues, please contact Dantz technical support directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 925.253.3050.
Re: VXA tape trouble and warning
I've reset DDS-* drives by holding down the eject button for 5 seconds to soft reset the device. Can the same be accomplished on these drives It might save your tapes. I am having troubles with my VXA tapes and thought I'd pass on some signs, symptoms and a warning. The warning: Don't powercycle the VXA drive with a tape in it. Ecrix confirms that one is *likely* to destroy or lose some header information and the tape *may* then be recognized by RS as ERASED. There is no way to recover the umpteen gigs of info that are already on the tape at this point. Let me hear you all say redundant backups three times real fast right now! The trouble: Lost communications between the computer and the VXA drive. Backup will stall in the middle for various reasons (client dropped off the network, 519 errors, slow response...). RS will still be trying to run the backup and I've been able to stop the backup. Upon starting any backup to the tape at this point, the VXA drive is unrecognized (no SCSI drive recognition while RS scans the bus). I then restarted the computer, and powercycled the drive (tape still in it, as it wouldn't eject using the front panel). Tape is now unrecognized by RS and is listed as "erased" when it is inserted. Neither RS nor ECRIX have any solution (they reviewed the RS log files and their own log files from the drive), although ECRIX said they thought RS was working on communications problems with the drive, this was not confirmed by RS support. Haven't solved the communications problem yet, but if anyone has suggestions, I'm looking for answers. Suspects are SCSI cables (easy to check, just haven't traded them out yet). -- Todd Williams UCSD ECE Computing Support Group (858)-534-7821 If you ever stop learning . . . perhaps you're dead!!! -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/ Search: http://www.mail-archive.com/retro-talk%40latchkey.com/ For urgent issues, please contact Dantz technical support directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 925.253.3050.
