Veritas NetBackup (tm) 6.0 includes a new Automated Robot Diagnostics Utility for testing communication with configured robots.  The utility tests simple communications with and operations of robots with the following tests: Device Mappings Test, Robot Initialize, Move Test, Scsi Command Test, and Robot Error Checking.  It must be noted that these tests are run to test NetBackup operations with robots, not as hardware diagnostics tests for the robot itself.  The vendor-supplied diagnostics tests should be used for this.  

Only Success or Failure of the tests will be shown.  While there is a Details button on the Robot Diagnostics screen, at the time this TechNote was written, it did not show any results.  In addition, if the utility is unable to communicate with a configured robot when tests are started, rather than showing a Failure status, the test will simply stop running and the Start button will become available again.

When closing the Robot Diagnostics dialog box, you will receive a message that "There is currently a diagnostics test in progress and Closing the dialog will stop the test."  When asked Are you sure you want to close the dialog?  answer Yes.


HOW TO RUN THE AUTOMATED ROBOT DIAGNOSTICS UTILITY
1. Under Media and Device Management in the NetBackup Administration Console, select Devices and then Robots.
2. From the displayed Robots list, click once on the robot you wish to run diagnostics for to select it.
3. Right-click on the selected robot.  From its pulldown menu choose Robots Diagnostics.
4. In the Robot Diagnostics window, make sure the Device Host and Robot Name are set to the correct Media Server and Robot.
5. Click Start to begin the tests.
7. To stop the tests at any point, click Stop. This will change the Status of each test to Failed.
8. Resume the tests by clicking Start again.
9. Wait for the Status of each test to be updated to Success.
10.  Close the Robot Diagnostics dialog by clicking on Close.  When prompted if you wish to close the dialog, answer Yes.


Click the Download Now link below to see a short tutorial of how to run the automated robot diagnostics utility.  The tutorial contains an audio track.  This tutorial was recorded in UNIX, but the NetBackup commands are the same for both Windows and UNIX.

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE OPENING THE TUTORIAL: In the Internet Explorer window, click the red 'X' to stop loading, then press the F5 key to refresh the screen.  This should allow the tutorial to load.

PLEASE NOTE:  The attached tutorial is an .SWF file that requires the Macromedia Flash Player.  If this application is not loaded on your computer, it can be downloaded from the following link:    http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/ .