Error: e00084c8 - The backup storage device has failed

[Dean_Forester]

We have an IBM Ultrium Generation 1 - 3581-H17 tape library connected to an Adaptec AHA-2944UW scsi controller. The server is a Pentium 4 running Windows 2000 and Veritas Backup Exec 10.

A backup of the local hard drive (about 4.8GB of data) worked fine but when I tried to backup a couple of remote servers the backup failed with the error e00084c8.
Error category : Backup Device Errors
Error: e00084c8 - The backup storage device has failed.
For additional information regarding this error refer to link V-79-57344-33992 (http://eventlookup.veritas.com/eventlookup/EventLookup.jhtml?EvtID=V-79-57344-33992)
Byte count : 79,474,997,741 bytes
Job rate : 225.00 MB/Min (Byte count divided by Elapsed time for job)

When I looked the event up it was not found.

The backup seemed to have worked according to the job log but I am not sure if I can trust it. Hardware compression was enabled in the job setup if that matters. The tape library is the only device on the scsi bus and I have replaced the cable and terminator. I also performed a wrap tool test on the scsi bus of the tape drive and it passed. The Adaptec controller BIOS version is 2.20.0 and according to their site it is the latest available for that card.

SCSI Settings:
ID #1 (Changer - IBM 3581 LTO Autoloader) - Version 5.0.8.0
Driver Files:
C:\WINNT\system32\DRIVERS\ibmchgr.sys - Version 5.0.6.5
C:\WINNT\system32\IBMCTCoInstall.dll - Version 5.0.7.9
C:\WINNT\system32\ntutil.exe - Version Not present

SCSI Device Setting: 20 MB/min

ID #3 (Tape Drive - IBM ULT3580-TD1 SCSI Sequential Device) - Version 5.01 built b (Veritas Date 11/20/2003)
Driver Files:
C:\WINNT\system32\DRIVERS\halfinch.sys - Version 5.01 built by: cbridge (VERITAS Software)

SCSI Device Setting: 40 MB/min

Adaptec AHA-2944UW PCI SCSI Controller
Driver Provider: Microsoft
Driver Date: 6/19/2003
Driver Version: 5.0.2195.6717
Digital Signer: Microsoft Windows 2000 Publisher
Driver Files:
C:\WINNT\system32\DRIVERS\aic78xx.sys
Provider: Microsoft Corporation
File version: v2.20b
Copyright: Copyright Adaptec, Inc. 1999

Does anyone have any ideas what the cause of this error might be?

Thanks in Advance

Dean Forester
IT Manager
Cygnal Technologies

[Dean_Forester]

Hi,

Without rebooting or changing settings from the last error I did a full backup of the local system (about 4.8GB) with no errors.

Just in case it was a SCSI speed setting issue I went back into the setup and set SCSI ID 1 to 10 MBps, and SCSI ID 3 to 32 MBps. I then rebooted and performed the same backup that reported the errors (verify after backup was also set) and it gave the same results. It seems to backup everything, verify, and then fail with that error.

Is there other files / logs that would help determine what the source of the error is?

Thanks in Advance,

Dean

[Amruta_Purandar]

Hello,

- Change the SCSI changer ID from 1 to ID 2.
- Update the firmware of the drive.
- Cjheck for event ids 7, 9, 11 and 15 in the Event logs.
- Additionally refer the following technote.
Title:
How to troubleshoot issues with a Robotic Library or Tape Drive in Backup Exec 9.x and 10.0
http://support.veritas.com/docs/255501


Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm

NOTE : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked assumed answered and would be moved to answered questions pool.

[Dean_Forester]

Hi,

I changed the SCSI ID of the changer from 1 to 2 and changed the speed from 40 MBps to 26.2 MBps.

I redid the backup of the local drive (4.8GB) with a verify and the job completed without any errors. I re-ran the backup of a remote server (about 23GB of data) with verify and it failed again with the following error:

Storage device "3581 Tape Drive" reported an error on a request to read data from media.

Error reported:
When accessing a new tape of a multivolume partition, the current block size is incorrect.

V-79-57344-33992 - The backup storage device has failed.

--------
The firmware and drivers are up to date for the device. Errors do appear in the event viewer.

Event Type:Error
Event Source:aic78xx
Event Category:None
Event ID:9
Date:7/11/2005
Time:11:46:54 AM
User:N/A
Computer:CYG-TOR-DT-027
Description:
The device, \Device\Scsi\aic78xx1, did not respond within the timeout period.
Data:
0000: 0f 00 10 00 01 00 68 00 ......h.
0008: 00 00 00 00 09 00 04 c0 .......À
0010: 01 01 00 50 00 00 00 00 ...P....
0018: 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 ........
0030: 00 00 00 00 07 00 00 00 ........

What I don't understand is why the local backup works fine with a verify and a backup of a remote server fails. But it only fails on the verify phase of the job. I would think if there is a problem on the SCSI bus it would exist even when doing backups / verify of local data since the data is available without delay.

Regards,

Dean

[Dean_Forester]

Hi,

I have followed the instructions but nothing has resolved the issue. The last test I performed was to set the SCSI transfer rate at 16 MBps for the tape drive ID, do another backup w/verify and no compression of the remote server. The backup phase completes fine and it verifies about 5 GB or so of data and they fails with the same error.

I then applied SP1 to my Veritas 10 install and also upgraded the library drivers from Veritas to the version that was posted in June.

Still no luck. I have tested the tape library on our AS/400 and everything works fine. The Adaptec 2944UW, cable, and terminator have also been replaced. The built in SCSI test with the IBM wrap tool passes with no errors.

[Deepali_Badave]

Hello,

The error (Figure 1) occurs because the block size recorded in the media header has become inconsistent or damaged.
Refer the following technote for more information.
http://support.veritas.com/docs/190750

Are you getting an errors as event id 7, 9, and 11 or 15 in the systme event logs?

Plesae update us on this issue.

Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm


NOTE : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked assumed answered and would be moved to answered questions pool.

[Dean_Forester]

Hi,

I have done a long erase on the tape, set the SCSI speed at 10MBps, redid the backup with the same results.

We are getting an error 9 in the event viewer.

Regards,

Dean

[Chaitanya_Khurj]

Hello Dean,

Please refer to the following article.

How to troubleshoot error messages about Event ID 9 and Event ID 11

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314093

This should help you resolve issues with event ID 9. We also recommend that you get in touch with your Hardware Vendor and get your device checked for SCSI terminations and cabling. Make sure the SCSi firmware is the latest.

NOTE : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked ‘assumed answered’ and would be moved to ‘answered questions’ pool.

Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm