Forum Discussion

John_Wan's avatar
John_Wan
Level 4
12 years ago

Clean Drive Issue

During surfing on the forum, I found there are document talking about set up automatic tape cleaning in NetBackup Enterprise Server. It mentions that the default behavior is for NetBackup to automatically load the cleaning tape into a tape drive when the tape drive identifies itself as needing cleaning. I would like to ask how can I check/change this setting?

Also, I am wondering if it is the best practice to do by default behavior or if I should do the cleaning periodically? Let said 1 time per 3 months. Any document about it?

My target is avioding the cleaning alert appeared for a long period and avioding any serious impact on the running backup. Can anyone advise?

REF: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH37409

7.1.x and Earlier
Backup and Recovery
NetBackup
Windows Server (2003-2008)
  • mph999's avatar
    mph999
    12 years ago

    I disagree with this :

     

     

    If the drives need cleaning.

         -  Even if you think the drives are clean (by looking at the library’s GUI ) , they must been in a 'clean state' on the Netbackup side.

         -  From the Volmgr\bin\tpclean -L

            If the output contains the message, NEEDS CLEANING you must clean the drive.

     

    If the actual drive is not showing as needing cleaning youshould manually clear the cleaning flag in NBU :

     

    tpclean -M <drive_name>

    Over cleaning the drive is the worst thing you can do.

    Martin

7 Replies

Sort By
  • mph999's avatar
    mph999
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    The drives should ONLY be cleaned when the tape drive requests it.

    You will never manually clean them 'correctly', you will end up either undercleaning, or overcleanng.

    If the occassional autoclean of a drive is such an issue, your environment is designed incorrectly.  Allowances should be made for the fact tapes may need cleraning, which at the end of the day, should only take a few minutes.

    To disable NBU cleaning , create empty file

    /usr/openv/volmgr/database/NO_TAPEALERT

    Martin

  • Dyneshia's avatar
    Dyneshia
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    If the drives need cleaning.

         -  Even if you think the drives are clean (by looking at the library’s GUI ) , they must been in a 'clean state' on the Netbackup side.

         -  From the Volmgr\bin\tpclean -L

            If the output contains the message, NEEDS CLEANING you must clean the drive.

     

            You can clean the drive in the admin console or from a command line. Please review the following tech notes:

            http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO43740 - tpclean

            http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH17537 - How to use NetBackup's drive cleaning utility, tpclean, with a Library

            http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH37409 - How to set up automatic tape cleaning

     

    PLEASE SEE : https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/20-steps-analyze-correct-and-troublshoot-device-issues

  • John_Wan's avatar
    John_Wan
    Level 4
    12 years ago

    Thanks you so much for your information. You are providing me a great support and useful knowledge. Thanks!

  • mph999's avatar
    mph999
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    I disagree with this :

     

     

    If the drives need cleaning.

         -  Even if you think the drives are clean (by looking at the library’s GUI ) , they must been in a 'clean state' on the Netbackup side.

         -  From the Volmgr\bin\tpclean -L

            If the output contains the message, NEEDS CLEANING you must clean the drive.

     

    If the actual drive is not showing as needing cleaning youshould manually clear the cleaning flag in NBU :

     

    tpclean -M <drive_name>

    Over cleaning the drive is the worst thing you can do.

    Martin

  • Dyneshia's avatar
    Dyneshia
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    I would have to disagree with you Martin somewhat.  Yes there is the option of clearing the flag with the -M but you would have to be 100% that the drive is indeed clean.  Usually tape alerts tells NBU when a drive needs cleaning.  There could also be an underlying issue.  Maybe a slight reword could be updated. In any case a "NEEDS CLEANING" should be investigated. Thanks for the input.

  • mph999's avatar
    mph999
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    If the drive has sent the tapealert, then the cleaning light will be flashing, if NBU cleans the drive, or it is cleaned manually then the light goes out.  If this clean was done manually (outside of NBU) the light goes out and the cleaning flag remains, this should therefore be cleared manually, as the drive is now clean.

    I've had this converstaion a few times before, and that advice above came from a 'engineer' from one of the tape manufacturers.  His job was investigating tape and drive failures in labortary conditions.  His main point was that you should never overclean drives, it wears the drive heads.

    If the light / tapealert comes back on, then fair enough, allow it to clean again, if it comes back on again, then yes, something is wrong, most likely the drive is worn out, poor media quality or even a firmware issue.

    I think we must consider we always have different ways of working, and there are always differnet approches to issues.  If your methods and experience work for you, without any major side effects then there is no major problem.

     

    Martin