Re: [Networker] We're getting closer

Just thought it was time for an update on how we are making out.
Bottom line is, Networker is a lot more stable now. We only reboot
about every 4 or 5 days now (much better than 2 or 3 times a day).
What we have now:
1) 2 LSI dual channel SCSI cards with 2 tapes per channel and we are using
the sym53c8xx_2 module
2) Internal Adaptec controller for the picker with the aic7xxx module
3) RHAS 3.0 with the 2.4.21-20.ELsmp kernel (needed for compatibility with
our HDS SAN)
4) Storagetek L80 silo with 4 SDLT and 4 SDLT320 dives (don't ask)
All the Y cables (along with a couple of drives) and external cables and
terminators have been replaced.
5) Upgrade from Networker 6.1.4 to 7.1.3 (with current patches)

All in all we are fairly happy and at least we don't have to monitor the
damn thing
24 hours a day and scheduled reboots over weekends do help ;-)

The last of our problems (and what makes us do the reboots) is losing track
of a drive
at the o/s and hence the Networker level. It only seems to happen with tapes
that are
near full capacity and the o/s seems to lose track of the drive when
skipping forward
more than 130 files.

Other than that, we are getting to be happy campers. Once again, thanks to
all of
you. We've gleaned a lot of info from a lot of the posts.

Ken


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Gehring" <kgehring AT MYREALBOX DOT COM>
To: <NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:26 PM
Subject: [Networker] We're getting closer


> Well, we're getting closer to resolving our problem previously posted
under
> "Very Frustrating Problem"
>
> To recap
>
> We are running Networker 6.1.4 (upgraded from 6.1.3 etc) on RedHat AS 3.0
> with the kernel 2.4.21-15.ELsmp (needed this older kernel for SAN
> connectivity). The Jukebox is a Storagetek L-80 with 8 SDLT drives (set up
2
> per scsi channel and the picker on its own channel). The scsi cards are 2
> LSI . The computer is an HP ML370 with 6GB of memory and about 200GB of
disk
> and dual  2.8GHz processors.
> We changed out the Adaptec cards we had for LSI cards after reading a post
> by George Sinclair (thanks George).
> We now have 1 problem left.
> Very often, networker starts a drive operation and it takes 3 to 8 hours
to
> complete. The operation can be just about anything, eject, move forward,
> verify the tape etc. It's like networker sent the command to the drive,
but
> the drive never got it. When this happens, the nsrmmd for that drive gets
> locked into an uninteruptable i/o state. If we stop networker, the nsrmmd
> for that drive still hangs around and no amount of killing will get rid of
> it. This problem happens at various times on all drives. The only
resolution
> so far seems to be a reboot. We have a call open with legato on this and
are
> in the process of opening a call with Red Hat.
> Is there any sort of retry timer we can set for the tape operations?
> Would an upgrade to 7.1.3 help?
> Any suggestions???
>
> Thanks in advance
> Ken Gehring
>
> --
> Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via email
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> also view and post messages to the list. Questions regarding this list
> should be sent to stan AT temple DOT edu
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--
Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via email
to listserv AT listserv.temple DOT edu or visit the list's Web site at
http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/networker.html where you can
also view and post messages to the list. Questions regarding this list
should be sent to stan AT temple DOT edu
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