Networker

Re: [Networker] SDLT 220's

2002-11-08 06:01:54
Subject: Re: [Networker] SDLT 220's
From: k0s5 <k0s5 AT YAHOO DOT COM>
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2002 18:59:02 +0800
Hi all,

We are using ATL P series library with SDLT220.
Few months back, ATL recommend to disable the cleaning feature on the drive.
Prior to this, we saw some medias stuck on the drive.
It improves after disabling the cleaning feature.

To do so, you need direct connection to the drive (SCSI) and use the
utility for quantum.
Contact your SDLT supplier to get the software.

cheers - han


At 11/8/2002 09:02 AM, John Herlihy wrote:
Hi Jeff,

you've just described the problems we've been dealing with for a long time
now. We just found out (the hard way) that there were problems with early
releases of the SDLT drive... not just firmware, but hardware as well.

The problem is partially related to how the alignment fields were initially
written to the tape when it was first loaded into an SDLT drive. These
alignment fields could previously only be erased by degaussing the tape, but
Quantum have now created a utility which uses v55 SDLT firmware to manually
erase & overwrite these alignment fields. This problem wasn't initially
fixed until around v40 SDLT220 firmware was released, but v46 seems to be
the most stable so far.

We have tried this utility on a collection of tapes that would typically
take 15 mins to come online (ie for the green light to stop flashing upon
loading), and they have all appeared to come good afterwards.

As for the hardware-side of the problem - note down the serial # & model #
of your SDLT drives (if your library contains the SDLT drives in sleds,
you'll have to open the sleds up to get this info). Drives before model #
B02 should be replaced (we were using A03 & B01 drives).

You should be able to tell which tapes need to have their alignment fields
re-written by loading them into a >B02 drive with v46 f/w, and if the green
light doesn't stop flashing within 20 secs, it is faulty.

Good luck!
John

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Wade
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Sent: 8/11/02 4:10
Subject: [Networker] SDLT 220's

Heh all - We have been running SDLT 220's for about 6 months now and
have
had mixed results.  We finally opened up a case with StorageTek who is
working with Quantum.  We use NW 6.1.2 on W2k with Compaq Servers.
Libraries are L40's and L700's.  The problems we are seeing primarily
are
with the cleaning light coming on way too often.  We have about 30 SDLT
220's spread across the country so it is an enterprise problem.  All
Brand
new media - Quantum and Maxell.  We recently upgraded to the v46
microcode
but didn't help us.  Anyone else seeing this problem?  We often see
media
verification, stuck tapes but those seem to be going away with the v46
upgrade.  It is just that every tape that was labeled with the prior
microcode will have the problem until relabeled so we need to weed
through
them.  We also run 20 320 SDLTS's and have had no issues to report.

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cheers - han

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