Reading LTO2 tape with a StorageTek SL150 with HP LTO5 drives.

[David_Toth]

Hi Marianne,

I have an old backup I did on LTO2 (IBM) drives and an L60 tape library. The library was connected to an HP box running RHEL 5.7. I upgraded to a StorageTek SL150 library with 2 cartridges (60 slots 4 LTO5 drives). I got a request to restore some data from the old LTO2 backup which means I will have to import the tapes to get the info. However, when I try to mount the tape I get a tape unmountable error:

04/25/2014 10:07:41 - begin Import
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - Info bptm (pid=19782) start
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - started process bptm (pid=19782)
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - Info bptm (pid=19782) Waiting for mount of media id 001219 (copy 1) on server xerox.
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - started process bptm (pid=19782)
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - mounting 001219
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - requesting resource 001219
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - granted resource  001219
04/25/2014 10:07:42 - granted resource  HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.003
04/25/2014 10:07:43 - Info bptm (pid=19782) INF - Waiting for mount of media id 001219 on server xerox for reading.
04/25/2014 10:07:45 - Error bptm (pid=19782) error requesting media, TpErrno = Robot operation failed
04/25/2014 10:07:45 - current media 001219 complete, requesting next media HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.003:MediaPro_Archive:001219
04/25/2014 10:07:50 - Info bptm (pid=19782) Waiting for mount of media id 001219 (copy 1) on server xerox.
04/25/2014 10:07:50 - started process bptm (pid=19782)
04/25/2014 10:07:50 - mounting 001219
04/25/2014 10:07:50 - Info bptm (pid=19782) INF - Waiting for mount of media id 001219 on server xerox for reading.
04/25/2014 10:07:50 - granted resource  001219
04/25/2014 10:07:50 - granted resource  HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.002
04/25/2014 10:07:52 - Error bptm (pid=19782) error requesting media, TpErrno = Robot operation failed
04/25/2014 10:07:52 - current media 001219 complete, requesting next media HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.002:MediaPro_Archive:001219
04/25/2014 10:07:57 - awaiting resource HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.002:MediaPro_Archive:001219.
          A pending request has been generated for this resource request.
          Operator action may be required. Pending Action: Tape is unmountable,
          Media ID: 001219, Barcode: 001219, Density: hcart2, Access Mode: Read,
          Action Drive Name: N/A, Action Media Server: N/A, Robot Type(Number): 8(1),
          Volume Group: 000_00001_TLD, Action Acs: N/A, Action Lsm: N/A
04/25/2014 10:29:24 - Info bptm (pid=19782) Waiting for mount of media id 001219 (copy 1) on server xerox.
04/25/2014 10:29:24 - started process bptm (pid=19782)
04/25/2014 10:29:24 - mounting 001219
04/25/2014 10:29:24 - granted resource  001219
04/25/2014 10:29:24 - granted resource  HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.003
04/25/2014 10:29:25 - Info bptm (pid=19782) INF - Waiting for mount of media id 001219 on server xerox for reading.
04/25/2014 10:29:28 - Error bptm (pid=19782) error requesting media, TpErrno = Robot operation failed
04/25/2014 10:29:28 - current media 001219 complete, requesting next media HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.003:MediaPro_Archive:001219
04/25/2014 10:29:32 - awaiting resource HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.003:MediaPro_Archive:001219.
          A pending request has been generated for this resource request.
          Operator action may be required. Pending Action: Tape is unmountable,
          Media ID: 001219, Barcode: 001219, Density: hcart2, Access Mode: Read,
          Action Drive Name: N/A, Action Media Server: N/A, Robot Type(Number): 8(1),
          Volume Group: 000_00001_TLD, Action Acs: N/A, Action Lsm: N/A
04/25/2014 10:54:04 - Error bpimport (pid=19772) bpimport terminated by signal (1)
04/25/2014 10:54:08 - Error bptm (pid=19782) media manager terminated by parent process
04/25/2014 10:54:09 - end Import; elapsed time 0:46:28
process was killed by a signal  (63)

When I look at the tapes from the library, I see that the library is set to trim the rightmost 2 digits. Those two digits are L2 for LTO2 and L5 LTO5. So the library is stopping me from mounting those tapes. Is there a command line way to do this. The backup set is 31 tapes so if this gets too messy. . . 

Thanks in advance.

[D_Flood · Accepted solution]

Unless you can find an LTO2, 3, or 4 drive, you're out of luck.

The LTO standard says that a drive can write to the current level and minus one.  And read the current level back to minus 2.  So the lowest tape that an LTO5 drive will read is an LTO3 tape.

[RonCaplinger]

The barcode isn't the problem here.  Your tape drives are not capable of reading LTO2 tapes ("Tape is unmountable"):

• An Ultrium drive reads data from a cartridge in its own generation and at least the two prior generations.  [In your case, LTO5, LTO4 & LTO3]
• An Ultrium drive writes data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the prior generation format.  [In your case, LTO5 & LTO4]

From the Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Tape-Open

You could *try* changing one of your LTO5 tape drives density to HCART2, the drive might try to read it, but if that doesn't work and gives you the same message, you are out of luck. You will need to either install an LTO2, LTO3, or LTO4 tape drive, or you might try sending them off to a data recovery shop, like Kroll Ontrack.

[ontherocks]

You need LTO2, LTO3, or LTO4 tape drive for restoring data from LTO2 tapes.