Error 96 - Pool not using newly added scratch tapes

[Leecabs]

Using netbackup 6.5.4 installed on Unix
We don't use automatic use of scratch tapes, instead we have to move scratch tapes into pools that we use. The problem we have is when one of the pools runs out of scratch tapes we start getting error 96 errors (as expected) due to no tapes. We then add more tapes to the pool but the backups still fail to pick up the new scratch tapes, the only way we can get the pool to use the newly added scratch tapes is to restart all the netbackup services. I'm guessing there is a simple command we can run to tell the pool to rescan it's tapes....any ideas?

[Andy_Welburn]

As for your actual question - as soon as tapes are assigned to your volume pools they should be available for NetBackup to utilise. Cannot at the moment think of any reason why they are not. ***EDIT*** I presume you ARE actually restarting the failed jobs & not expecting them just to kick back into life? Sorry about that, I had to ask!

I can't envisage a config issue with the tapes themselves due to the fact that they are picked up following a restart.

[Andy_Welburn]

or your lack of a defined scratch pool were the following two points in the

In-depth Troubleshooting Guide for Exit Status Code 96 in NetBackup Server (tm) / NetBackup Enterprise Server (tm) 6.0

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH43229

"...

4. In some configurations, the NetBackup bptm process is rejected when requesting media from the vmd process (UNIX) or the NetBackup Volume Manager service (Windows) because that process or service cannot determine the name of the host that is making the request. This can be due to incorrect network configuration involving:

• Multiple network interfaces
• /etc/resolv.conf on those UNIX systems that use it
• Running DNS and not having reverse addressing configured

5. If this is a new storage unit, and this is the first attempt to use it, stop and restart NetBackup on the master server.

..."

But I doubt that these are relevant.

[Leecabs]

Yeah, I know what you mean - odd we don't use a scratch pool although trying to convince them to give it a go.....maybe I've some ammo now to implement a "real" scratch pool.

trying to replicate the problem now with full logging on so symantec can have a look as that's all that could do for now. Thanks for the replies, if I get an answer from symantec i will post it back but don't hold your breath.

[Andy_Welburn]

them to give it a go..."

Why have 'they' got an issue?

One thing we always try to say when we get issues or concerns with media management on NetBackup is

"let NetBackup manage your media for you, that's what it's there for!"

[marekkedzierski]

What's with desnity of your tapes (hcart, hcart2, hcart3 etc). Maybe your new tapes have different barcode and NB assigns different density to them ?

[Andy_Welburn]

should be resolved by a restart of services.....