Troubleshooting
Problem
These problems occur during tape backup: 1- Customer expects data compression during tape backups but sees very little. 2- Tape backups/restores fail to complete, or systems take excessive time to backup/restore files. Error messages are displayed.
Resolving The Problem
Symptom
1- Customer expects data compression during tape backups but sees very little.
2- Tape backups/restores fail to complete, or systems take excessive time to backup/restore files.
Typical Error messages may include:
- E56 errors when using Sytos Premium
- Intermittent backup and / or restores
- Reoccurrence of failures may be as long as several weeks
Note:
Exact symptoms on all operating system platforms with any of the supported backup applications is not known.
Problem isolation aids
All of the following must be true for this tip to apply:
- The system is any IBM PC Server / Netfinity server properly configured* with any supported tape drive.
- The system is properly configured* with any of the following supported Operating Systems:
Banyan Vines, all System supported versions
Citrix, all System supported versions
Windows NT versions 3.51, and 4.0
OS/2, all System supported versions
SCO Open Server, all System supported versions
SunSoft, all System supported versions
Novell NetWare Versions 3.12, 4.0, and 4.11
- The system is properly configured with any of the following supported tape backup applications:
Cheyenne Arcserve, all System/NOS supported versions
Sytos, all System / NOS supported versions
Novaback Backup Exec, all System /NOS supported versions
Any other System / Nos supported backup application
- Use of a supported cleaning cartridge to clean the tape drive does not fix the problem.
- Compression is enabled on the tape drive via jumper or DIP Switch, or compression is enabled in the backup application.
- The data being backed up has been compressed by the Operating System / or Application.
- The correct supported media is being used in the tape drive.
- The tape drive has been cleaned on a regular basis.
* The term "properly configured" implies the following:
- Hardware is properly configured, i.e., cables, Adapter/Controller SCSI Bus settings.
- Correct drivers are used.
- Correct firmware levels are used at the SCSI Adapter/Controller, and the tape drive.
Fix
Make sure the data being backed up is compressed only once, either within the Operating System/Application software or via the tape backup (through hardware or backup software).
Work around
Disable compression in one of the mediums. Refer to the software application or tape backup application manuals for instructions on disabling data compression.
Detail
Double compressing data by engaging compression in the operating system and in the tape backup results in problems that can be very difficult to diagnose. Most tape backup devices today incorporate some type of built-in hardware data compression. Problems occur when both the operating system AND the tape drive are compressing data.
Document Location
Worldwide
[{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS11","label":"Older System x->PC Server 300"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS12","label":"Older System x->PC Server 310"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS14","label":"Older System x->PC Server 315"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS16","label":"Older System x->PC Server 320"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS17","label":"Older System x->PC Server 325"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS18","label":"Older System x->PC Server 330"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS19","label":"Older System x->PC Server 500"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS20","label":"Older System x->PC Server 520"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HWS23","label":"Older System x->PC Server 720"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}}]
Was this topic helpful?
Document Information
Modified date:
28 January 2019
UID
ibm1MCGN-3SXNRM