How to test an Export job

Hello All,

I have the following small annoying issue.

I have created last month some simple backup jobs (backup from disk to tape), that at the end of the verify exports the tape into the I/O slot of our DELL TL2000.

Since a day or two, the backup runs fine, but the export does not occur: Tape is still in the magazine slot and the status of the export job is Ready; invalid Storage device. Strange because this exporting went well before. The only thing that has changed is the location of the tape library which has been moved to the rack. I am pretty sure that all the cables has been connected as before (this time I was a cable labeling freak when i moved the hardware).

So in short: backup runs fine; tape is not exported at the end.

This is what i have done so far:
I have modified the job once and removed the export "thingy" from the job. Saved the job. Then I modified it again, put again the export in.
The export job number is now 0009 (before it was 0004). (I have some monthly and weekly jobs too that do the same)
I restarted the tape library and the services.

I hope it will runs fine tonight, but i want to know now if it will goes wel, so I am trying to test the exporting. But i cannot determin the right testing procedure.
Using the webinterface of the of the TL2000 - i have put a tape in the drive (the right drive - I checked the serial number ) but i cannot seem to let BE2012 recognize that there is a media in the drive (inventory does not do the trick). And i think it is pointless to start an export if there is no tape in to drive ?

Is it possible in BE2012 to just put a media in the drive, without doing anything else with it ? So that i can start my export job and see how it runs ?
I hope anyone can shed some light and help me think of a way to test may export job and solve my problem.

Thank you

Kind Regards

Els M

16 Replies

CraigV
Moderator
12 years ago
Hi,

When you move a tape around with the library's interface, BE isn't aware of it which explains why BE doesn't see it in the drive at all.

Using the web interface would allow you to do a hardware export though so check that out. Have you also tried to recreate the export job and made sure the mailslot is still configured?

Thanks!
Els_M
Level 3
12 years ago
Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I have tested the export fonction using the web interface of the library and that works ok.
The mails slot is also still configured

You don't know of a way to get a tape loaded into the drive using BE2012 ?

Yes, i recreated the export job, but because I have no way of testing it before the backup runs, I will await the scheduled backup to run and hope for the best. I will post an update tomorrow.
CraigV
Moderator
12 years ago
This is not a function of BE...
Els_M
Level 3
12 years ago
Bummer. Oh well, I'll see tomorrow.

Thanks Craig, for your replies.

Regards,
Larry_Fine
Level 6
12 years ago
Before worrying about if your backup job will export when it is done, I suggest making sure a regular export works first. You can test that at any time. Simply right click on an occupied slot and select "export". The tape should move from a storage slot to a mail slot (aka portal) and you should get a prompt to remove the media from the portal. If anything goes wrong with that simple process, then exporting after a backup is likely not to work either.

To troubleshoot a failed export process:

See what is documented in the export job log

Start tracer and/or SGmon to get a glimpse of what is happening behind the scenes

Check the library error or event logs

Check the Windows event logs
Larry_Fine
Level 6
12 years ago
re: You don't know of a way to get a tape loaded into the drive using BE2012 ?

There is no need to put a tape in a drive. I have never seen a BE backup & export job move a tape from a drive directly to a portal, but maybe it can happen? When the backup job is done, BE moves the tape from the drive to the storage slot, then another process (the export) moves it from a storage slot to a mail slot (portal)
pkh
Moderator
12 years ago
Although you have configured your mail or I/O slot, you got to check that the mailslot is recognised by BE. If your library has 24 slots and one of them is configured as a mailslot, in BE, you should only see 23 slots in the library. If you see 24 slots, then BE does not know that a mailslot has been configured. To get BE to recognise the mailslot, do this

1) Delete the library from BE

2) Stop the media server and the library

3) Start the tape library

4) Start the media server

5) Ensure that the library and tape drive is recognised and functioning correctly in the Windows Device Manager. The library should appear as an Unknown Medium Changer with a Microsoft driver and the tape drive should have a Symantec driver.

6) In BE, install the library if necessary.

Check that you now have 1 slot less in your library. You can then test exporting your tape by right-clicking on a slot with a tape and selecing export.
Els_M
Level 3
12 years ago
Hello all,

Thank you all for your replies and interest.

I Seem to have lost my previous reply, so here it comes again.

This morning: backup ok, export not ok. Did a regular export as mentioned by Larry. That went well.
Also double checked the config of the mail slot (see comment of Pkh), I have 23 slots available instead of 24. So mail slot is configured (i did not reinstalled my library).

I didn't find anything out of the ordinary in the event logs. But i did find entries of the export job in the job history, stating a status missed and... an error code E000E020.
Found this doc on this error http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH44658.

I cannot seem to find the backup window parameter in BE2012. Must say i did not look too hard, but i did made some changes on the backupjob "Cancel the job if it is still running after 5 hours .....". So that i will see/end failing jobs a lot sooner . I hope it has something to do with a queue waiting, because i don't think I have a storage issue here.

Larry, If you don't mind my asking:
Do you know of any articles explaining the tracer and/or SGmon, because i'm interesting to learn more about how to troubleshoot.

If anyone has any other ideas, i would like to hear them !

Kind Regards
Larry_Fine
Level 6
12 years ago
Here are links to more info about tracer and SGmon.

How to use the SGMON utility to perform a live debug of Backup Exec
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH4986

Using the Backup Exec Debug Monitor (SGMon) for troubleshooting
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO11932

Troubleshooting hardware with Backup Exec for Windows Servers using the SCSI Trace Utility (tracer.exe).
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH49432
pkh
Moderator
12 years ago
Since you say that you can use the mailslot when you access the library using its WebUI. I would suggest that you re-install the library in BE.