Hello We run Server 2003 with BEX 2010. The problem I am having is that when I insert the cleaning tape to clean the drive it spins for a second and then ejects the tape. There is also no alert to say the cleaning completed (or completed successfully) etc. From what I recall the time the cleaning tape ran used to be a longer than that. Is this behaviour normal or is there something that changed which I need to correct? (I do need to point out that I made an earlier post about the BEUtility showing the server is paused, however this cleaning issue started before the server status was showing paused). I really appreciate your help on this. w

Replacing the tape is a good thing, but remark in a standalone drive configuration these statistics have to reset manually by the user after a successful cleaning. Backup Exec cannot detect a cleaning of the tapedrive in this configuration. The does it completely alone.

This is the normal behavior if you are using stand-alone tape drive

The amount of time that the cleaning tape stays mounted in the drive is up to the tape drive itself, not BE. Some drives are "smart" enough that if they think they don't need "much" cleaning, the tape is ejected pretty quickly. If you were using a tape drive in a robotic library, then BE would provide alerts and/or other messages.

You should check how often the cleaning tape was used in the past. It is possible the cleaning is expired.

Hi Lothar Thank you for your response. Where/How do I check for this? If the tape has expired do I need to buy a new tape or can I just reset the counters as an interim solution until I can resolve the issue? Please advise.

Hi, Ideally you would have attached the sticker to the leading edge of the tape, and marked off blocks with every use. Physically the tape should be replaced. You can try resetting the counters within BE which might fool the software that the tape is new. But it won't fool the actual hardware and you might not actually end up cleaning your drive... Thanks!

BEX 2010 Cleaning Tape Enquiry

16 Replies

pkh
Moderator
11 years ago
This is the normal behavior if you are using stand-alone tape drive
Larry_Fine
Level 6
11 years ago
The amount of time that the cleaning tape stays mounted in the drive is up to the tape drive itself, not BE. Some drives are "smart" enough that if they think they don't need "much" cleaning, the tape is ejected pretty quickly.

If you were using a tape drive in a robotic library, then BE would provide alerts and/or other messages.
Lothar_Müller
Level 5
11 years ago
You should check how often the cleaning tape was used in the past. It is possible the cleaning is expired.
wilvw
Level 3
11 years ago
Hi Lothar

Thank you for your response. Where/How do I check for this?

If the tape has expired do I need to buy a new tape or can I just reset the counters as an interim solution until I can resolve the issue?

Please advise.
CraigV
Moderator
11 years ago
Hi,

Ideally you would have attached the sticker to the leading edge of the tape, and marked off blocks with every use.

Physically the tape should be replaced. You can try resetting the counters within BE which might fool the software that the tape is new. But it won't fool the actual hardware and you might not actually end up cleaning your drive...

Thanks!
wilvw
Level 3
11 years ago
Hi Craig

Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately the previous guy never put the sticker on the tape, so I cannot tell by looking at the tape how many times it has been used, but I would like to hazard a guess that with such an old system the tape must be well beyond expiry.

However I would like to ask where/how can I look in BEX whether the tape has expired? I had a look under media -> cleaning tape but that showed nothing. I would like to add that this is an IBM SBS with a single drive in the server. Tapes are manually inserted into the drive by the backup operator.

Thanks in advance

w
pkh
Moderator
11 years ago
For stand-alone tape drives, BE does not keep cleaning statistics. It is up to you to keep the statistics. If in doubt, get a new cleaning tape. The previous advice on cleaning statistics only applies when you are using a tape library.
Lothar_Müller
Level 5
11 years ago

Perhaps over troubleshooting tool from hardware vendor you can find out how often the cleaning tape was used. This software shows you why the tape is exited after a few seconds after insert.

On quantum tape drives I have seen this.
wilvw
Level 3
11 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I did some more digging in the meantime and found that by going to the properties of the drive in BEX and clicking on the cleaning tab it shows the cleaning stats and when last the tape was inserted. Well on my drive it shows 340 hours ago which is incorrect. I placed the cleaning tape into the drive about 4 days ago. This clearly shows the drive is not registering the tape so I think for now I will look at replacing the tape first. If I still have issues I'll try what you suggested with the drive tool and post any questions here.
Lothar_Müller
Level 5
11 years ago
Replacing the tape is a good thing, but remark in a standalone drive configuration these statistics have to reset manually by the user after a successful cleaning.

Backup Exec cannot detect a cleaning of the tapedrive in this configuration.

The does it completely alone.