cleaning tapes

[noazara]

Hi ALL,

We dont have NO_TAPE_ALERT file under /volmgr/database.

IN NBU gui---Media -cleaning tapes.Can we modify the cleaning remaining?

[mph999]

Yes, providing the cleaning tapes really do have cleanings remaining.

Depending on the make of drives you have, cleaning tapes last for approx 40 - 50 cleaning cycles.

I presume you have LTO drives.

Martin

[noazara]

Yes.When to ask vendor to insert new cleaning tapes?

[noazara]

we hvae 0 cleaning remaining for CLN media.Cant i right click it and change it to 50?

[noazara]

How can i actually check how many cleaning are remaining(in real)?

[StefanosM]

There are two ways to clean your drives.

1. Library cleaning. The library is configured to respond to the tape alert signal and mount the cleaning tape to netbackup. If you are using this method you HAVE to have the NO_TAPE_ALERT file at the netbackup directories so netbackup will not respond to tape alert.

If you use this method, find the cleaning remaining from the library's GUI and not from netbackup.

 2. If you have the library cleaning disable, then you must NOT have the NO_TAPE_ALERT file to netbackup directories. You have to configure at least one cleaning tape per library to netbackup.

If you are using this method, you can find the cleaning remaining at the netbackup GUI,at the media section.

Whatever method you use you must change the cleaning tape when it reaches the 0 cleaning remaining. Or at least before reaches 0. If your drives use the cleaning tape very often use two tapes per library.

The max number of cleaning for LTO2 to 6 is 50. For LTO1 is 25 per cleaning tape.

If you try to use an already passed the 50 (or 25 of LTO1) cleanings , the drive will continue to ask for cleaning tape. So if you are not sour about the cleanings remaing, it is better to change the tape with a new one.

[noazara]

Thanks Stefan.

How can i actually check how many cleaning are remaining(in real)?

[Nicolai]

You can't - sorry. There are no physical indicators. If you mix a new and old cleaning tape there is not else that throwing them both in the bin.

You have to rely on the robot indicator (library based cleaning) or monitor how may time Netbackup has mounted a cleaning tape. If netbackup has mounted the tape more than 50 times it's used up and must be discarded.

[StefanosM]

Nicolay is right, you can not. The only inticator that there are no cliening remainings is that the clieaning tape is ejected from the drive almost imidiatly after it is mounted.
Usualy it takes time to clean the drive.

If you are phasing cleaning problems and you are not sour about the cleanings remaining on a cleaning tape, then it is better to discard the tape and configure a new one. Then, if you configured it correctly, you can track the cleanings.

On the other hand, if you are sour about the cleanings remaining, and the tape keeps asking for a cleaning tape, then there is a problem with the drive (most possible) or with a (or more) data tape (less possible)

[noazara]

so mounting a cleaning tape and cleaning remianing are same?

max mounts =cleaning remaining in case of cleaning tapes?

[mph999]

For cleaning tapes there is a no. of cleanings remaining setting.

The cleaning tapes have to be one of the cleaning tape densities and in the NONE pool

[Nicolai · Accepted solution]

Yes & Yes