BE Slow Throughput to HP Disk Library...

[LTSupport]

Greetings!

I have a server running 2012 R2 and BE 2014 and the data transmission speed to my HP MSL4048 tape library is abysmally slow. The Library is connected to the server via fibre and the server is connected to the network via 10 GB Twinax to a Cisco Nexus. I've tested the LAN throughput by writing a backup job to disk and that transmission speed was in the 3-5 GB/Min range. When we back up to the tape library, the transmission speed drops to 3 MB/Min. Also, if I look at the properties of the library or tape drives in BE, the connection type is "unknown".

I've worked with reps from both Symantec and HP and while all my firmware and drivers are now updated, I'm still getting slow speeds. It's important to note that this device was in use at another location and shipped here, so we know it can get acceptable throughput.

[CraigV]

Hi,

Are you using the Symantec drivers for the device? If not, make sure the tape drive uses the SYmantec drivers, and that the robotics show up in WIndows Device Manager as "Unknown medium changer".

Have you ensured you have no errors on your FC ports on the switches, or the media server's HBAs?

Thanks!

[Larry_Fine]

I've tested the LAN throughput by writing a backup job to disk and that transmission speed was in the 3-5 GB/Min range. When we back up to the tape library, the transmission speed drops to 3 MB/Min. Also, if I look at the properties of the library or tape drives in BE, the connection type is "unknown".

What speed do you get when backing up the local server to tape?  That eliminates the network.  A slow local backup would re-enforce that this is a hardware or environmental issue as 3 MB.min is horrible.

Here is the technote for your "unknown" connection type, but I doubt that has a speed impact and I assume that this is just a cosmetic issue.

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH224236

[pkh]

Try tuning the tape drive.  See my articles below

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/tuning-backup-exec

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/tuning-my-lto4-tape-drive

[LTSupport · Accepted solution]

So we discoverd the issue: when HP recommends a particular type of fibre cable, you use it. Once we swapped the fibre cables for the recommended type, the backup jobs started flowing at the expected rate.

[CraigV]

...would you mind letting us know what that is? Would be interesting to know as I am a solutions architect...

Thanks!

[LTSupport]

Sure:

LC multi-mode (M) - 1 m - fiber optic - 50 / 125 micron - OM3

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/oas/product-detail.html?oid=3742027&jumpid=reg_r1002_usen_s-001_title_r0001

[CraigV]

Thanks man!