Software Write Errors

[Mrmark68]

I have a brand new HP ML5026s2 library along with a DL360 server along with using Backup Exec v9 sp1 with latest tape drivers from veritas.

Drive 1 has be only in use for 8.7 hours and already has 2967 software write errors.

What are software write errors and why do I have sooo many
of them. What can I do about getting rid of them.

I have tried the following:
Clean the tape drive
Updated to the latest Tape drivers from Veritas
Change out the scsi cable from the host to the library


Any ideas on this subject would be great.

Thanks again,

Mark

 

[Qdog]

When a soft-write error occurs, your tape drive is fast-forwarding past what it thinks is a bad spot on the tape. When you get enough of these occuring during the backup, you start getting a decrease in the amount of data that can be written to the tape due to all the fast-forwarding going on. You can check the same statistics for individual tapes.

Try a different tape. You were right on the money by cleaning the drive several times. If a new/different tape doesn't resolve the problem, I would contact the HW manufacturer because it may have a bad write head.

Good luck!