Desktop hangs, sometimes won't see DDS

[timgavin]

I'm using: G4 DP 500, 1 GB RAM, OS X 10.1.5, Retrospect 5.0.205 and an external Sony DDS-DC 12/24 tape drive (connected via an Adaptec 2906 SCSI card).I have 4, 76GB drives (using a Sonnet Tempo ATI controller card for 2 drives), I'm trying to backup a little over 30GB from 1 drive connected via the controller card.

 

 

 

Here's the problem;

 

 

 

Sometimes Retrospect will see the tape drive, other times it won't. I checked the compatability list before upgrading and it said my drive was compatable.

 

 

 

During the first backup Retrospect failed (hung) on the second tape (of 3 tapes). So, I erased the tapes, deleted and forgot the storage set and started again. This time Retrospect completed the backup and hung during verification on the second tape. When Retrospect hangs I get the spinning beach ball and cannot quit Retrospect, even force quitting won't work. I can't move to other apps except via the dock, and I don't get any error messages from Retrospect's log. I basically have to do a force-restart to get things going again.

 

 

 

I'm not sure now if my backup was complete and I'd hate to start the backup over again. Any ideas/suggestions?

 

 

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

Tim

[lv2ski]

If the tape isn't damanged and you didn't get any errors, just a hang, you can continue where you left off in the backup. You do this by restarting, going back into Retrospect, go to Tools/Repair/Update exisiting catalog file. Then go ahead and do the backup...it will continue where it left off.

[timgavin]

Thank you for the reply. My concern is not a workaround but why this is happening. I can backup and verify in OS 9.x without any problems (as I had to do with my current 32GB backup), I just can't get Retrospect to work properly in OS X.

 

 

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

Tim

[CallMeDave]

In reply to:

---

My concern is...why this is happening. I can backup and verify in OS 9.x without any problems..., I just can't get Retrospect to work properly in OS X

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It's happening because SCSI support in OS X 10.1.x is crap.

 

 

 

SCSI in OS X 10.2.x is expected to be improved, but only if the host adapter manufacturers take advantage of the improvements. In other words, your Adapted 2906 card probably won't work any better in Jaguar then it currently does in Puma, since Adaptec is unlikely to provide updated drivers/firmware. But card manufacturers who _do_ want to sell cards that work better will have a stronger foundation in Jaguar.

 

 

 

Retrospect makes the same SCSI calls, no matter how well or badly those calls are handled by the operating system.

 

 

 

Dave

[timgavin]

Thanks Dave, that answered my question.