Quantum Powerstor L200, and the SCSI voodoo

[gkowalsky6]

Hello, everybody!

 

My setup:

- Quantum/ATL Powerstor L200 library/drive;

- Dell Presision 340, Windows 2000 Pro SP2 with all current updates;

- Dantz Retrospect Server edition 6.x, driver update 3.6x;

- current ASPI drivers - reinstalled, checked with Dantz utility;

- Adaptec 2940UW SCSI card (was 29160, replaced it last time - it did not see either library, or drive, or both, seemingly at random);

- active terminator, new cables, the library is first and the only device on the chain;

- drive was cleaned recently;

- new media was tested on small run.

 

Got replacement drives and cables. The library runs fine for a couple of months (backup/restore integrity were tested). Every once in a couple of months, Retrospect starting to return "-206 Hardware Failure" errors.

 

From older logs:

 

"10/8/2002 3:23 PM: Manual erase of tape "Tape_Name"

Library for "DLT Library, ID 2:4" reported a hardware failure while moving tapes.

10/8/2002 4:40:20 PM: Copying Name_of_HD on Client_Name

Additional error information for device "Benchmark DLT DC" [2:5],

Sense > f1 00 04 ff ff 00 00 16 00 09 7b 8b 15 01 00 00 00 00 00 00

(BNCHMARK|DLT1 |4325)

Trouble writing: "Backup_Set_Name" (3131375616), error -203 (hardware failure)"

 

Searches for SCSI Sence string did not return any clues.

 

The Quantum TS did not offer anything usual yet, just sending replacements (sure, $50 for USPS is cheaper than hiring more techs). Adaptec is silent as well.

 

Meine Kleine Naschtmusik... Your help will be greatly appreciated!

[AmyJ]

Quote:

---

Additional error information for device "Benchmark DLT DC" [2:5],

Sense > f1 00 04 ff ff 00 00 16 00 09 7b 8b 15 01 00 00 00 00 00 00

(BNCHMARK|DLT1 |4325)

Trouble writing: "Backup_Set_Name" (3131375616), error -203 (hardware failure)"

 

---

 

Sense code is error messaging that is generated by the drive itself and can typically only be interpreted by the hardware vendor.

 

Hardware failure is a straight-forward error (some are ambiguous)-- the hardware is failing on some level.

 

One thing to consider: If you have a drive immediately next to another electronic device try moving the devices further apart. Try removing one or more devices temporarily to see if there is some other device conflict. Try using your backup device on another computer to see if interference is caused by your monitor or other nearby electronic devices. Make sure you circuit is grounded properly - electrical problems have been known to cause consistent failures in hardware.