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Cleaning tapes

Created: 06 Dec 2011 | 4 comments
harman's picture
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Hi,

 

I have to configure cleaning tapes and have to perform cleaning activity in my environment.

Netbackup version is 6.5.6 and is a linux machine.

So far, I have configured the tape by using advanced option in robot inventory by selecting media type and volume pool as none.

Now I need to use these tapes, please let me know How should I proceed whether I shld use tpclean or any other method.

Please let me know it's urgent

 

Thanks In advance,

Harmanpreet Singh

Comments

Andy Welburn's picture
06
Dec
2011
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If the tape is in the library

If the tape is in the library & configured as a cleaning tape suitable for the drives in question, you should just be able to right-click on the drive & select "Drive Cleaning -> Clean Now"

Regards Andy

"It's not too late to panic ..."

GlenG's picture
08
Dec
2011
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The tape drives that I have

The tape drives that I have used over the years have always self cleaned whenever a cleaning tape is loaded.

 

If NetBackup is configured to clean the drive(s) and there is  a cleaning tape in the library then NetBackup should load the cleaning tape any time the drive indicates it needs cleaning.  (Depending on how/when the drive indicates it needs cleaning may cause NetBackup to freeze a tape.)

 

I have used Andy's manuall method as well.

 

have a good weekend,

GlenG

 

[edit]  forget the mention "Media Type" should be HC_CLN (at least for LTO cleaning tapes)

Mark_Solutions's picture
08
Dec
2011
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From NetBackup V 6.5 (or

From NetBackup V 6.5 (or possibly earlier) NetBackup detects the tape alert from the firmware of the drive and interprets it as approriately.

Based on this it will automatically clean the drive as required

Here is a handy little list of all of the codes, what they mean and what NetBackup action will be taken as a result

The hex codes will be displayed in the bptm log

 

 

TapeAlert Code (in hex)

NetBackup Action

Error Type

Error Message

0x01

None

Warning-WRN

READ WARNING

0x02

None

Warning-WRN

WRITE WARNING

0x03

None

Warning-WRN

HARD ERROR

0x04

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

MEDIA

0x05

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

READ FAILURE

0x06

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

WRITE FAILURE

0x07

Freeze media-FRZ

Warning- WRN

MEDIA LIFE

0x08

Freeze media-FRZ

Warning-WRN

NOT DATA GRADE

0x09

None

Critical-CRT

WRITE PROTECT

0x0a

None

Informational-INFO

NO REMOVAL

 

TapeAlert Code (in hex)

NetBackup Action

Error Type

Error Message

0x0b

None

Informational-INFO

CLEANING MEDIA

0x0c

None

Informational-INFO

UNSUPPORTED FORMAT

0x0d

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

REC. MECHANICAL CARTRIDGE FAILURE

0x0e

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

UNREC. MECHANICAL CARTRIDGE FAILURE

0x0f

Freeze media-FRZ

Warning-WRN

MIC FAILURE

0xl0

None

Critical-CRT

FORCED EJECT

0xll

None

Warning- WRN

READ ONL Y

0xl2

None

Warning-WRN

DIRECTORY CORRUPTED ON LOAD

0xl3

Freeze media-FRZ

Informational-INFO

NEARING MEDIA LIFE

0xl4

Clean drive-CLN

Critical-CRT

CLEAN NOW

0x IS

Clean drive-CLN

Critical-CRT

CLEAN PERIODIC

0xl6

None

Warning-WRN

EXPIRED CLEANING MEDIA

0xl7

None

Warning- WRN

INVALID CLEANING TAPE

0xl8

None

Warning-WRN

RETENSION REQUESTED

0xl9

None

Warning-WRN

DUAL-PORT ERROR

0x la

None

Warning- WRN

COOLING FAN FAILURE

0xlb

None

Warning-WRN

POWER SUPPLY FAILURE

0xlc

None

Warning-WRN

POWER CONSUMPTION

0x Id

None

Warning-WRN

DRIVE MAINTENANCE

0xle

Down drive- DOWN

Critical-CRT

HARDWARE A

0x If

Down drive-DOWN

Critical-CRT

HARDWAREB

0x20

None

Warning-WRN

INTERFACE

 

TapeAlert Code (in hex)

NetBackup Action

Error Type

Error Message

0x0b

None

Informational-INFO

CLEANING MEDIA

0x0c

None

Informational-INFO

UNSUPPORTED FORMAT

0x0d

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

REC. MECHANICAL CARTRIDGE FAILURE

0x0e

Freeze media-FRZ

Critical-CRT

UNREC. MECHANICAL CARTRIDGE FAILURE

0x0f

Freeze media-FRZ

Warning-WRN

MIC FAILURE

0xl0

None

Critical-CRT

FORCED EJECT

0xll

None

Warning- WRN

READ ONL Y

0xl2

None

Warning-WRN

DIRECTORY CORRUPTED ON LOAD

0xl3

Freeze media-FRZ

Informational-INFO

NEARING MEDIA LIFE

0xl4

Clean drive-CLN

Critical-CRT

CLEAN NOW

0x IS

Clean drive-CLN

Critical-CRT

CLEAN PERIODIC

0xl6

None

Warning-WRN

EXPIRED CLEANING MEDIA

0xl7

None

Warning- WRN

INVALID CLEANING TAPE

0xl8

None

Warning-WRN

RETENSION REQUESTED

0xl9

None

Warning-WRN

DUAL-PORT ERROR

0x la

None

Warning- WRN

COOLING FAN FAILURE

0xlb

None

Warning-WRN

POWER SUPPLY FAILURE

0xlc

None

Warning-WRN

POWER CONSUMPTION

0x Id

None

Warning-WRN

DRIVE MAINTENANCE

0xle

Down drive- DOWN

Critical-CRT

HARDWARE A

0x If

Down drive-DOWN

Critical-CRT

HARDWAREB

0x20

None

Warning-WRN

INTERFACE

Authorised Symantec Consultant

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mph999's picture
08
Dec
2011
1 Vote +1
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Generally, you should never

Generally, you should never manually clean drives - overcleaning damages them.

As mentioned already, when a drive needs cleaning it sends out a 'tape alert' from the firmware of the drive.  By default, NBU detects these and you will see them in the bptm log.  Once a tape alert is received, NBU will load a cleaning tape.

If the tape alert is not sent, it is a drive/ firmware issue, nothing to do with NBU.

It sounds like you have done a good job setting it up, the cleaning tape density should be the same as the drive, eg hcart3 drives = hcart3-cln tape density, and these tapes must be in the NONE pool.

 

Regards,

 

Martin