Trying to verify a tape drive is bad

[jjscan]

I have a Sun StorEdge L8 Library with an HP Ultrium 1 tape drive Connected to an Sun V440 running Solaris9.
I am trying to verify that the drive is bad so that I can get it replaced.
What I have done so far:
After seeing baackups have been failling with I/O Write errors I export and re imported all 6 Ultrium 1 tapes + a matching Cleaning tape I reinventoried the tapes and cleaned the drive 3 or 4 times. the Library display gives no errors and gave me no problems while manipulating it.
I attempted a manual "User_Backup" via our Current Backup util Veritas Netbackup Business server 4.5 mp8.
It failed with the same status 84 write error.
I tried all 6 tapes with the same results.
I tried #mt -f /dev/rmt/0cbn status and received the following;
HP Ultrium LTO tape drive:
sense key(0x0)= No Additional Sense residual= 0 retries= 0
file no= 0 block no= 0

I then attempted to tar a file to the tape and received simillar I/O write errors

I then did the following;# mt -f /dev/rmt/0cbn erase
/dev/rmt/0cbn erase 1 failed: I/O error

# tail -15 /var/adm/messages
Mar 2 11:28:11 esidev scsi: [ID 107833 kern.warning] WARNING: /pci@1f,700000/scsi@2,1/st@5,0 (st12):
Mar 2 11:28:11 esidev Error for Command: erase tape Error Level: Fatal
Mar 2 11:28:11 esidev scsi: [ID 107833 kern.notice] Requested Block: 0 Error Block: 0
Mar 2 11:28:11 esidev scsi: [ID 107833 kern.notice] Vendor: HP Serial Number: 01100350
Mar 2 11:28:11 esidev scsi: [ID 107833 kern.notice] Sense Key: Media Error
Mar 2 11:28:11 esidev scsi: [ID 107833 kern.notice] ASC: 0xc (write error), ASCQ: 0x0, FRU: 0x0

# mt -f /dev/rmt/0cbn status
HP Ultrium LTO tape drive:
sense key(0x3)= Media Error residual= 0 retries= 0
file no= 0 block no= 0

Maybe it is right there in the messages file and I am just not recognizing it.
Does this mean the drive is bad?
Tape is bad?

Any help on this one would be greatly appriciated!

Thanks,
Jim

 

[KenCunningham]

Offhand, I'd say that media error is indicating that the tape is bad, but of course that could be a red herring. Are these tapes new, and if so, do you have an old one which you know is good that you could do a test with?

 

[daFranze]

did you clean the LTO Drives? My experience says they need much more cleaning than DLT Drives

Best Regards, Franz
--
Solaris System Manager from Munich, Germany
I used to work for Sun Microsystems Support (EMEA) for 5 years

 

[jjscan]

Yes I have cleaned the drive at lease 3 times also there was initially a cleanning led lit on the L8 when I got the the site and it did go out after the 1st cleanning.

I will have to check to see how old the tapes are.
There are a total of 6 tapes plus the cleanning that I believe were all purchased at the same time the L* was, but I will have to verify that also.
I agree it looks like the problem is with the tapes accept there are 6 tapes and only 1 drive and I get the same results with each tape...

 

[jjscan]

The drive was bad.
Heres a tip.
Sun quoted me a price of $9,200 to replace the drive, but the hardware support that covered replacement was only $1,850 for the year.
I set up the support contract and had them send me the drive, which turned out to be a whole L8 box not just the drive as Sun now said they don't offer just the replacement drive.

Thanks for your help,
Jim