Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!rice!sun-spots-request From: eho@clarity.princeton.edu (Eric Ho) Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun Subject: Exabyte tape oxidation problem ?? (L Message-ID: <1672@brazos.Rice.edu> Date: 22 Sep 89 21:37:18 GMT Sender: root@rice.edu Organization: Sun-Spots Lines: 295 Keywords: Hardware Approved: Sun-Spots@rice.edu X-Sun-Spots-Digest: Volume 8, Issue 133, message 9 of 9 Has anyone tried putting the Exabyte tape (I'm using the Sony 8mm video-8 P6-120MP) in the Exabyte drive for say more than 6 days with dumps added onto the tape every night and that it'll still work say after a week ? I'm suspecting that putting the tape inside the drive for more than a few days would cause oxidation problem on the tape. The thing is that I'm doing nightly dumps of a single partition on my disk onto my Exabyte tape. I figured that since my partition is relatively small, a single tape can hold at least 2 weeks of nightly dumps. So I wrote a script to automate my nightly dumps -- of course, it'll do all the necessary 'mt ... fsf' so as to add the dumps onto the tape correctly. The strange thing is that after several nights -- I always got this type of errors :- ========================================== /etc/dump 1usf 145000 cognito:/dev/nrxb0 /dev/rxy1g DUMP: Date of this level 1 dump: Thu Sep 21 02:02:25 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: Fri Sep 8 02:33:08 1989 DUMP: Dumping /dev/rxy1g (/people) to /dev/nrxb0 on host cognito DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 167606 blocks (81.84MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: write: I/O error DUMP: Tape write error 5 feet into tape 1 DUMP: fopen on /dev/tty fails DUMP: Bad return code from dump: 255 Sep 21 02:04:20 cognito vmunix: xb0: SCSI device error cs=c0 ss=0x2 (check condition) ds=404 (hardware error) ========================================== I've even cleaned the drive and still got similiar error messages. Then, to determine if it is an oxidation problem or an actual drive/controller problem, I wrote a simple script to dump a 84meg partition onto a single (brand new) tape 10 times in one shot -- i.e. dump the partition, rewind the tape, forward the tape, dump the partition again, then rewind, then forward, and then dump again, ...etc... So, after 10~11 dumps, the tape should be about half filled. And to my surprise, it went just fine. Here is my simple script :- ========================================== #!/bin/csh -fx mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/rxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 1 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 2 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 3 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 4 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 5 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 6 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 7 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 8 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 9 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 10 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew #### END OF ~/try.csh ========================================== Here is the response I get back :- ========================================== cognito-eho(10)-[/]: ~/try.csh mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/rxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 15:26:31 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/rxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 72.91% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 15:26:31 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 1 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 15:35:42 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.95% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 15:35:42 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 2 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 15:45:11 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 80.13% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 15:45:11 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 3 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 15:55:19 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.64% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 15:55:19 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 4 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 16:06:10 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.33% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 16:06:10 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 5 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 16:17:39 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.02% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 16:17:39 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 6 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 16:29:49 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.64% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 16:29:49 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 7 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 16:42:35 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.12% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 16:42:35 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 8 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 16:56:06 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.33% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 16:56:06 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 9 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 17:10:17 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.54% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 17:10:17 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew mt -f /dev/nrxb0 fsf 10 dump 0unsf 145000 /dev/nrxb0 /dev/rsd0e DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Fri Sep 22 17:25:08 1989 DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch DUMP: Dumping /dev/rsd0e (/spare) to /dev/nrxb0 DUMP: mapping (Pass I) [regular files] DUMP: mapping (Pass II) [directories] DUMP: estimated 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 0.04 tape(s). DUMP: dumping (Pass III) [directories] DUMP: dumping (Pass IV) [regular files] DUMP: 79.75% done, finished in 0:01 DUMP: DUMP: 173726 blocks (84.83MB) on 1 tape DUMP: DUMP IS DONE DUMP: level 0 dump on Fri Sep 22 17:25:08 1989 DUMP: Tape rewinding mt -f /dev/rxb0 rew cognito-eho(11)-[/]: ========================================== The only difference this time of course is that I'm doing the 10 dumps in one shot (it only took me ~2hrs to do the 10 dumps) whereas before I just left the tape inside the drive for days without removing it from the drive at all. Now, I just wondered if anyone has encountered similiar situations before. I'm kind of baffled. It looks to me, as of now, that it is a tape problem rather than a drive problem. Also, besides these 10~11 dumps that I've just done today, I've been able to put 3 dumps (of 400 meg each) onto a single tape in the past without a hitch but I usually put that tape into the drive right before the dump is to be done and remove the tape when the dump is done -- i.e. the tape has never been left inside the drive for more than 36 hours. Eric Ho Princeton University eho@confidence.princeton.edu