Veritas-bu

[Veritas-bu] unable to allocate new media for backup

2004-12-06 00:18:34
Subject: [Veritas-bu] unable to allocate new media for backup
From: rob AT worman DOT org (Rob Worman (home))
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2004 23:18:34 -0600
Hmmm, no offense Eric but I think two of your suggestions below  
("vmquery -deassignbyid", and "allow multiple retentions per media")  
are a little hasty, mainly because there are significant caveats to  
both:

   -If the "vmquery -deassignbyid" command is not used carefully, it can  
create a situation of inconsistencies between NetBackup's internal  
databases, which can in turn lead to data loss.  The ONLY situation  
that should ever require this command is expiring an old NBU catalog  
backup tape, a.k.a. a tape that shows up in the output of "vmquery -a"  
but does not appear in the output of "bpmedialist".  IF YOU DON'T  
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE "vmquery -deassignbyid" COMMAND DOES, AND  
WHY YOU'RE RUNNING IT, THEN DON'T!

   -I have yet to see a NetBackup environment where enabling the "allow  
multiple retentions" causes anything but trouble.  This setting might  
seem to increase the utilization of tapes in a small robot, but  
eventually the result in typically a significant DECREASE in available  
tapes, due to the fact that a FULL netbackup tape doesn't get re-used  
until EVERY image on that tape expires.  (so if a tape fills up with 99  
backups with a 2-week retention level and 1 backup with a 7-year  
retention level... that tape won't be made available for another backup  
until 2011! :-(

Sen-

If you haven't already done so, I would recommend that you start by  
taking a look at the "NetBackup Troubleshooting Guide" for some  
suggestions about how to approach a "status 96" error.

If I were you, I'd take a look at the backup that failed with a status  
96, with these questions in mind:
   -what volume pool was this backup class configured to use?
   -what retention level was this backup schedule configured to use?

Then run the "available_media" script (in C:\Program  
Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\bin\goodies\available_media) and scrutinize  
it's output.  The tapes in this output are grouped by volume pool, with  
a column for "robot type", a column for "retention level", and a column  
for "status".  You got the status 96 error because NetBackup could not  
find any tapes to match all of the following qualifications:

  (1) tape is in the robot (i.e. the "robot type" column is something  
other than "NONE")
  (2) tape is in the right volume pool
  (3a) tape has a status of "ACTIVE", along with the right retention  
level
     or
  (3b) tape has a status of "AVAILABLE"

The "status" values are going to be the most help to you.  If you have  
lots of "FROZEN" tapes, then you have a larger problem (bad hardware?   
trying to re-use old tapes?) to track down and resolve.  If you don't  
have many FROZEN tapes, but you have lots of FULL tapes, then you need  
to remove some of the FULL tapes from your robot. (or else expire them  
prematurely, using the "bpexpdate -ev <tape> -d 0" command)

See also the NetBackup Troubleshooting Guide.  Linked below is the 4.5  
version (see page 106) of this document.  It's suggestions also apply  
to your 3.4 master server in this case.

http://ftp.support.veritas.com/pub/support/products/ 
NetBackup_DataCenter/246884.pdf


HTH
rob


On Dec 5, 2004, at 9:30 PM, Eric Ljungblad wrote:

> Always ensure that your media server database in on your Master Server  
> -
>
> If the bpexpdate does not work the the deassignbyid should work
>
> V:\VERITAS\Volmgr\bin>vmquery -m ntd132
> ======================================================================= 
> =
> media ID:              NTD132
> media type:            DLT cartridge tape (11)
> barcode:               NTD132
> media description:     NT-Daily
> volume pool:           NT-DAILY (7)
> robot type:            NONE - Not Robotic (0)
> volume group:          INCOMING
> vault name:            ---
> vault sent date:       ---
> vault return date:     ---
> vault slot:            ---
> vault session id:      ---
> created:               3/27/2004 10:40:44 PM
> assigned:              11/8/2004 7:02:50 PM
> last mounted:          11/8/2004 7:06:19 PM
> first mount:           4/5/2004 7:05:30 PM
> expiration date:       ---
> number of mounts:      26
> max mounts allowed:    ---
> status:                0x0
> ======================================================================= 
> ==
>
> V:\VERITAS\Volmgr\bin>vmquery -deassignbyid ntd132 7 0
>
> "note the pool number in the command - and 0 for status is required"
> ======================================================================= 
> =====
> ====
> media ID:              NTD132
> media type:            DLT cartridge tape (11)
> barcode:               NTD132
> media description:     NT-Daily
> volume pool:           NT-DAILY (7)
> robot type:            NONE - Not Robotic (0)
> volume group:          INCOMING
> vault name:            ---
> vault sent date:       ---
> vault return date:     ---
> vault slot:            ---
> vault session id:      ---
> created:               3/27/2004 10:40:44 PM
> assigned:              ---
> last mounted:          11/8/2004 7:06:19 PM
> first mount:           4/5/2004 7:05:30 PM
> expiration date:       ---
> number of mounts:      26
> max mounts allowed:    ---
> =======================================================================
>
>
> In the media server host properties - check the boxes to allow  
> overwrite all
> media types,  "that's save if you are using tapes that have been used
> before"
>
> In media server properties - Check allow multiple retentions per media  
> -
> That's safe as well - Unless you need to only allow the same  
> retentions per
> tape.
>
>
> Eric Ljungblad
> Computer Operator
> Copley Information Services
> Eric.Ljungblad AT copleypress DOT com
> (858) 729-8010
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sen [mailto:discussion.groups AT gmx DOT net]
> Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 8:37 PM
> To: 'nbu-lserv'; 'netbackup-l'; veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> Subject: [Veritas-bu] unable to allocate new media for backup
>
> Hi,
> I am running on windows 2000 , NBU 3.4. My backup has been failing  
> with this
> error message:
> "unable to allocate new media for backup, storage unit has none
> available(96)"
>
> I have tried bpexpdate and it does not solve the problem.
>
> Pls help. thanks
>
> _______________________________________________
> Veritas-bu maillist  -  Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu
> _______________________________________________
> Veritas-bu maillist  -  Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu
>