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Symantec BE 11d and Dell PV124T / LTO3 Errors

breas
Level 2
Our backup process recently started failing with the error:

"The job failed with the following error: A tape read/write error has occurred. This is usually caused by dirty read/write heads in the tape drive. Clean the tape drive, and then try the job again. If the problem persists, try a different tape. You may also need to check for problems with cables, termination, or other hardware issues."

I upgraded the tape drivers, uninstalled the drive, reinstalled it with the new drivers. I also cleaned the drive and all the other options that SYM shows on their support site.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

nkapoor
Level 3
This happens some times.  The LTO tape drives are designed to automatically report to the host application when cleaning is needed. The idea is that when cleaning is needed the backup will stop and request a cleaning.

1. Check Event Viewer System logs for errors from the controller driver.
2. Cleaning tapes are good for a certain number of uses.
If you don't know how many times it has been used try a different cleaning tape.
3. Check the user guide for the tape drive to see if it reports cleaning is needed via status lights or front panel. If it does that is an easy way to see if it really is an cleaning issue.
4. Check to see if it happens only with specific tapes.
5. Try a new tape of the same brand as the drive.

PM with any questions.

Nichant

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3 REPLIES 3

nkapoor
Level 3
This happens some times.  The LTO tape drives are designed to automatically report to the host application when cleaning is needed. The idea is that when cleaning is needed the backup will stop and request a cleaning.

1. Check Event Viewer System logs for errors from the controller driver.
2. Cleaning tapes are good for a certain number of uses.
If you don't know how many times it has been used try a different cleaning tape.
3. Check the user guide for the tape drive to see if it reports cleaning is needed via status lights or front panel. If it does that is an easy way to see if it really is an cleaning issue.
4. Check to see if it happens only with specific tapes.
5. Try a new tape of the same brand as the drive.

PM with any questions.

Nichant

breas
Level 2
You were right, it was only one kind of tape.   Must be some issue with that brand. 

Thanks for the steps.

Larry_Fine
Moderator
Moderator
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The LTO tape drives are designed to automatically report to the host application when cleaning is needed. The idea is that when cleaning is needed the backup will stop and request a cleaning.

Most modern drives report when they are dirty, not just LTO.
When the tape drive reports it is dirty, the current backup doesn't immediately stop, but BE will attempt to use a cleaning tape in that drive as soon as the backup is finished.