Error 0xe00084f4 - unknown Error - ESX Server, HP SC11Xe and Ultrium Tape Drive

[michael_schindl]

Good Morning , 

System Configuration : 

HP ML350p Gen 8 Server with an HP SC11Xe 1-Kanal Ultra 320 PCI-E Host Bus Adapter connected to an HP Ultrium 920 Tape Drive .

This runs under an ESXi 5.1 U1 Server . On this ESX Server is an Windows SBS2011 VM running . 

On the SBS 2011 is Backup Exec 2012 SP2 installed . The Tape Drive is visible in the Server Hardware and also in Backup Exec . 

The Tape Drive Test with "HP Libary and Tape Tools" runs without errors .

The Exchange Backup Job with 20 GB Data runs without errors .

The Data Backup Job with 166 GB Data ends with error :

 Error 0xe00084f4 - unknown Error 

The error appears sometimes at 3 GB , sometimes at 30 GB backuped Data . 

Thanks for Solutions . 

Michael 

[pkh · Accepted solution]

Symantec does not recommend that you use a VM as a media server because of problems like these.  See the document in answer and Colin Weaver's comment.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/backup-exec-2010-r3-installed-vmware-vsphere-4-esxi-4...

[CraigV]

...and...

Note: As per the vSphere 5.x Release Notes, VMware does not support Tape Drives connected directly to ESXi 5.x. (taken from: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101640...)...

So you're out of luck from a VMware perspective too.

Thanks!

[Colin_Weaver]

Both pkh and CraigV have already given you the info - the solution is move the media server to a physical server along with the tape drive (Oh and don't install Windows 2012 on that physical server, 2008 R2 is the newest OS version you can currently use as a media server.)