Error 102 - Trouble Communicating

[wgpcollege]

I have an external Tape drive plugged into my server and when I run a Tape backup set with Retrospect Multi Server 7.6 I get these errors:

 

Device Trouble: "1-Daily Tape Snapshots", error -102 (trouble communication)

 

Couldn't erase tape, error -102 (trouble communicating)

 

Can anyone help?

[Ramon88]

Some more details could increase your chance of getting your question answered correctly.

 

- What kind of tape drive are you using?

- What kind of bus is it connected to?

- What did you already try to solve the issue?

 

My guess is your problem might be bus termination related in case you use an external SCSI tape drive. See: http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/scsi/cablesTermination-c.html

 

Or the tape used is defective/worn out, so replace with a new tape.

 

Another possibility is tape drive's head has become magnetised. If the drive has been used extensively that can happen. You need to insert a special cleaning tape which will get rid of such magnetism. Interesting read with information on how often you should do this: http://www.intel.com/support/storageexpress/sb/cs-011780.htm

[rhwalker]

This error is a hardware error with the drive, and won't be caused by a magnetized head, dirty head, bad tape, etc.

 

It could be caused by an HBA issue (SCSI card, cables, etc.), but this still is a hardware issue.

 

I'd suggest checking to see that your HBA firmware is up-to-date, that your HBA drivers are up-to-date, that your tape drive firmware is up-to-date, and then run some diagnostics on the drive using the drive manufacturer's diagnostics.

 

Unless the drive passes its diagnostics, there's no hope for Retrospect to talk to it.

 

Russ