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End marker unreadable

supportsib2
Level 5

We often get End marker unreadable  in the tape .Please can some one tell the cause of this error

7 REPLIES 7

ZeRoC00L
Level 6
Partner Accredited

Can you explain a bit more about your setup ?

Like OS version, BE version and kind of backup hardware you have connected.

Kiran_Bandi
Level 6
Partner Accredited

1) Bad tape hardware can cause this problem.

2) Loss of Network connection between remote resource and media server can cause this.

3) Incorrect device drivers also may be the reason for this issue.

If all of your media are marking as End Marker Unreadable then you can suspect the tape drive functionality. Use manufacturer specific diagnostic tools to test the tape hardware. Make sure you stop BE services during the diagnostics. If any particular media is facing this problem then check that media for errors. It may be bad. While backingup some particular resource if you are facing this issue, then it may be related to network issues.

Refer: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH48164

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH63978

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH50884

Regards....

Sush---
Level 6
Employee Accredited Certified

Run a Long erase on the tapes and then use the tapes. Also note that Long erase will delete all the data from the tapes.

My recommendation would be to replace the tapes with the new one if its the tape issue.

 

Thanks,

-Sush...

supportsib2
Level 5

Like OS version, BE version and kind of backup hardware you have connected.

windows 2008 + sp2

Backup exec 2010

Ibm tap library

 

Hi sush ,

if i do long erase  , you mean to say that i can restore from the same tape

What ebout quick erase

 

ZeRoC00L
Level 6
Partner Accredited

LONG erase will mean that you will NOT BE ABLE to restore current data on the tapes. It will erase the complete tape. (compare it to a full format of a harddisk). This can take a few hours, depending on the tapes you are using.

QUICK erase will only erase the first part of the tape, but also you will NOT BE ABLE to restore any data from it. (compare it to a quick format of a harddisk). This can take a few minutes, depending on the tapes you are using.

 

And what kind of tapes are you using (DLT or LTO2/3/4/5)?
And how old are your tapes ?

pkh
Moderator
Moderator
   VIP    Certified

If your job failed, it could cause the End Marker Unreadable problem because BE does not have time to properly close the tape.  You can still use the tape to restore whatever data that is on it, but you cannot append to the tape.  You can overwrite the tape.  It is not necessary to erase the tape before re-using it.  Just make sure that the next job to use the tape specify Overwrite in its job properties.

Lively
Level 5

Run the Manufacture tools that are available to check the drives.

Basically, try a different tape, try different cables to the tape drive (if possible), try another drive (if possible) and test the drives.

When I get those errors it is usually an issue with the tape drive. 

Is there a error on the Backup Exec job or does the drive just get a certain amount of data on it then the job finishes on another tape?