Tape Drive Install on E3500 running Solaris 8

[ponetguy2]

Hello Everyone,

I need assitance in installing a tape drive on a E35000. Here is the tape drive info:

X6238A 20-40GB 8 mm Tape Drive (Medium Grey Bezel) 370-2184

I am having trouble finding the install manual or some type of doc on how to install it.

I've never installed a tape drive before. On my old job, we had a Sun contract and they've always installed hardware for us. On my new job, we don't have this convenience.

Here is what I found on how to install this tape drive:

1) physically install the tape drive ( no clue)
2) stop-a
3) probe-scsi-all
4) boot -rv
5) cd /kernel/drv
6) Edit the st.conf file by adding the following (no clue)
7) shutdown-i0-g0
8) boot -rv
9) mt -t /dev/rmt/0 status
10) rm /dev/rmt/*
12) drvconfig -i st; tapes
13) Cleanup non-existent tape drive devices with devfsadm.

# devfsadm -C -c tape -v

14) Remove all /dev/rmt logical links.

# rm -f /dev/rmt/*

15) Recreate all /dev/rmt logical links with devfsadm

# devfsadm -c tape -v

Please help me. Tell me if I missed anything or give me any suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

 

[KenCunningham]

Hi. The steps above seem reasonable. Have you attached the tape drive to the system? There are several detailed threads about attaching tape drives in this forum - try a keyword search for 'tape install' and hopefully all will be revealed. Post back with any specific issues.

 

[bfitzmai]

ponetguy2

The installation is pretty straight forward. The E3500 has a tape drive slot... Once you remove the outer cover, you will see the SCSI and power cables already in place. All you have to do is slide the tape drive in place and attach the cables.

The tape drive you are installing is a standard 8mm tape drive, there should be no reason to modify the /kernel/drv/st.conf file.

If you have root privileges on your server, please do not use "Stop-A". This is a very ungraceful way of bring down your server. Using the shutdown command or (what I use) init 0 will bring you to the ok# prompt. Also prior to running probe-scsi-all, you should run "reset-all". Sometimes the probe-scsi-all will hang if you don't do the reset first.

The boot -r (verbose isn't necessary) should automatically reconfigure your server for the tape drive... Shouldn't be necessary to run any of the devfsadm commands.

To test your tape drive once the installation and boot up is complete... Put a 8mm tape in the drive and run the following command:

mt -f /dev/rmt/0 stat

Should return the type of tape drive you have.

 

[ponetguy2]

I have'nt touched the box yet, Ken. I'll be installing the tape drive tomorrow. I will also follow your suggestion. I'll be checking-out the forums for tape installations.

Thank you for the suggestion, bfitzmai. I revised my step-by-step process. Does this look okay?

Tape drive installtion part II:

1) physically install the tape drive


2) init 0


3) reset-all


4) probe-scsi-all


5) boot -r


6) mt -t /dev/rmt/0 status

 

[bfitzmai]

Ponetguy2,
I would shut down the Server prior to installing the tape drive.. But, I think you know that...

Steps should be:

Login in as root
Enter Command: eeprom auto-boot?=false "Turn Off Auto Boot"
init 5 "Shutdown Server"
Install Tape Drive
Reboot Server
At the ok# prompt enter: reset-all
At the ok# prompt enter: probe-scsi-all "Should see you tape drive"
At the ok# prompt enter: boot -r
Put tape in new drive
Enter command: mt -f /dev/rmt/0 " -f Not -t"
Enter Command: eeprom auto-boot?=true "Turn ON Auto Boot"

 

[ponetguy2]

thank you bfitzmai for your step by step instruction. it seem to have done the job.

it was very difficult installing this new tape drive. my boss's boss wanted to watch me install the tape drive. the tape drive install was on a E3500. he was a little upset when i did a init 5 instead of init 0. he said e3500 have a particular way of shutting down and they usually do a init 0 and then turn the key to power it off manually. after the my init 5 command, he freaked when the amber lights in back of the server would'nt go away. i pretty much crapped my pants. i figured, "i've only been working here for less than two weeks and i already crashed our server." fortunately, the amber lights went away and i was able to go into the console and proceeded with the process. i honestly thought i was going to get fired. YIKES!!!

 

[bfitzmai]

Ponetguy...
I am glad everything worked out okay... I am sure your boss will understand the next time you use the init 5 command.

 

[ponetguy2]

Hello again. Here is the output of mt -f /dev/rmt/0 status:

xpress6# mt -f /dev/rmt/0 status
Mammoth EXB-8900 8mm Helical Scan tape drive:
sense key(0x0)= No Additional Sense residual= 0 retries= 0
file no= 0 block no= 0

I'm not sure what to make of this. I don't think the OS was able to find the correct driver for this new tape device. Any suggestion will be appreciated.

 

[KenCunningham]

As far as I can tell, it means it's OK. Have you tested by writing/reading to and from it. Might also be worth trying the 0c (compressed) and 0cn (compressed, no rewind) devices too.

 

[bfitzmai]

Ponetguy,
The status look good to me... If you run the part number 370-2184 on google you come up with:

370-2184 - 20-40GB 8mm Tape Drive, EXB-8900 Single-Ended SCSI without LCD Display, - Sun Parts for sale at AllSunPlus.com

What problems are you having that you think the driver isn't the correct one? To see if your tape drive is working, tar a file to it...

tar -cvf /dev/rmt/0 <filename>

Verification:

tar -tvf /dev/rmt/0

Extract:

tar -xvf /dev/rmt/0

 

[ponetguy2]

Here is the error message when I try to tar a file to the tape drive:


xpress6# tar -cvf /dev/rmt/0 uptime.sh
a uptime.sh 1 tape blocks
tar: tape write error

 

[bfitzmai]

Ponetguy,
It stinks that you are haveing these kind of problems...

Here are a couple thinkgs you can do...

Make sure the tape isn't write protected. The write protect tab on should not be visable. I bet you knew that...

Clean the tape drive...

Try another tape...

 

[ponetguy2]

bfitzmai,

honestly, i did not check the write protect on the tape. i'll check that and also clean the tape drive. thank you for your help.

 

[ponetguy2]

i checked the write protect on the tape and it looks good. i also cleaned the tape drive. i am still having problems.

maybe i should try this:

1) Cleanup non-existent tape drive devices with devfsadm.

# devfsadm -C -c tape -v

2) Remove all /dev/rmt logical links.

# rm -f /dev/rmt/*

3) Recreate all /dev/rmt logical links with devfsadm

# devfsadm -c tape -v

 

[cndcadams]

do you have the correct tape for this, you can't just use any tape, very specific must be The 170 Meter AME Tape.

cleaning cartridge is also different.

Thanks

Chris Adams

 

[ponetguy2]

i guess our tape media is incorrect. i currently have a 160mXL 8mm EXATAPE from Exabyte.

i better ask my boss to order new tape media, but i need to show him a document where i can prove that we are using the wrong media. i tried to google for X6238A and i can't find any documentation where it states which media is needed for this product.

i'll google for 170 meter ame tape. it's unfortunate that the tape drive did'nt come with a manual or documentation.

 

[cndcadams]

If you have a sun contract log into sunsolve.sun.com and look up the 370-2184. It is in the notes.

You could also look at exabyte site on the mammouth which is under discontinued products. They have pdf that mentions info on the AME tapes.

Also if you tried cleaning this unit with a say 8500 cleaning tape you may have a amber LED lite up, this is due to the incorrect tape being used. The light may also not come on until you try the AME tape at which point it will just eject it. You need to use the mammouth cleaning tape and then you will be able to use you new mammouth AME tapes again.

Oh ya I have had this happen to me if your wondering. Some of the guys who worked for me had the same issue.

Thanks

CA

 

[ponetguy2]

i made a huge rookie mistake!!! RTFM!!!!

http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/hardware/docs/pdf/802-7712-10.pdf

thank you everyone for your helpd and suggestions. you guys truly helped!!!

 

[KenCunningham]

Glad you got it sorted!

 

[ponetguy2]

YEPEEEEEE!!!


xpress6# tar -cvf /dev/rmt/0 uptime.sh
a uptime.sh 1 tape blocks
xpress6# tar -xvf /dev/rmt/0
x uptime.sh, 85 bytes, 1 tape blocks