Datasheet
AIX Error Log
Review the AIX Error Log for all errors around the time the application was unable to process the tape.
If there is no error in the AIX error log around the time application was unable to process the tape the following would be
likely causes of the problem:
z Data cartridge was not appropriate for the operation. For example the application attempted to write to 5GB 8mm
media in 20GB 8mm drive.
z A backup was attempted to a data cartridge that was write protected.
z The amount of data being written to the tape exceeded the capacity of the data cartridge.
AIX error log entries of the form: TAPE_ERR1, TAPE_ERR2, or TAPE_ERR3 are normally media related errors that can
be corrected by cleaning the tape drive and retrying the operation. If the error occurs again on the same data cartridge, clean
the tape drive and use a new IBM data cartridge.
AIX error log entries of the form: TAPE_ERR6 are caused by the tape drive requesting cleaning. Either the tape drive has
exceeded the recommended cleaning interval or the tape drive has exceeded the tape drives internal limit for soft errors and
is requesting cleaning.
The AIX command to review the AIX error log is:
errpt -a | pg
Read Previously Written Data Cartridge
If there are problems reading previously written data cartridges it may be necessary to determine if there was data previously
written to the data cartridge and at what block size the data was written at.
Read tape on another system
If another system is available attempt to read the tape on the other system. If it can read the tape then check the blocksize set
in the "good" system to insure it matches the system where the tape could not be read.
Determine block size of previously written tape
It will be necessary to do a dd of the tape to determine if there is data on the data cartridge and also determine the blocksize
the data cartridge was written at.
z To determine the blocksize currently set for the tape drive on the system use the AIX command "lsattr". Write down
60GB Library
Controller
7334-410 2.2
DLT 35GB Drive 7205-311 DLT7000 296B (Also known as
V107)
35GB Library 7337-305 and 306 DLT7000 296B (Also known as
V107)
35GB Library
Controller
7337-305 and 306 1.63
40GBDrive 7205-311 DLT8000 0255 (Also known as
V85)
40GB Library 7337-360 DLT8000 0255 (Also known as
V85)
40GB Library
Controller
7337-360 2.67.0001
160GB Drive 7205-550 SDLT 3A3A (Also known as
V58)
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