Technical data

Using BACKUP
11.19 Troubleshooting
11.19 Troubleshooting
This section describes some common BACKUP errors and how to recover from
them.
11.19.1 BACKUP Fatal Error Options
If, in the course of a backup operation, the Backup utility or standalone BACKUP
encounters fatal hardware- or media-related errors or encounters more media
errors than considered reasonable for data reliability, BACKUP generates the
following informational message and prompt:
%BACKUP-I-SPECIFY, specify option (CONTINUE, RESTART, QUIT)
BACKUP>
Note
If BACKUP is running interactively and you used the command qualifier
/NOASSIST, you can enter an option in response to the BACKUP>
prompt. If BACKUP is executing as a batch job or you specified the
command qualifier /ASSIST, the operator must use the DCL command
REPLY to enter an option.
The option you choose depends on several factors, as explained in Table 11–9.
Table 11–9 BACKUP Error Options and Results
Option Restrictions Result
CONTINUE May compromise data reliability.
Use only if the position of the
tape has not changed since the
original error and if the error
does not imply that data has
already been lost.
If possible, BACKUP ignores the
error and continues processing.
RESTART Not valid if the output volume is
the first volume in the backup
operation.
BACKUP unloads the current tape
from the drive and prompts for
another volume. After you load
another tape, BACKUP restarts
the save operation from the point
at which the original tape was
mounted.
QUIT None. BACKUP terminates the operation
and you can reenter the command.
The following example illustrates the sequence of events that occurs when
BACKUP encounters an excessive rate of media errors on VOL3 and you choose
the RESTART option:
1. BACKUP indicates that the magnetic tape has an excessive number of media
errors and displays the following error message and prompt:
%BACKUP-F-WRITEERRS, excessive error rate writing VOL3
%BACKUP-I-SPECIFY, specify option (CONTINUE, RESTART, QUIT)
BACKUP>
2. Enter RESTART.
3. BACKUP dismounts VOL3 and prompts for a new tape. Remove VOL3 from
the drive and discard this tape.
11–68 Using BACKUP