Tape backup - how to add tapes!

There is a Power Edge forum which would be better suited for your post.

Apologies - I should of looked better - Ive moved my post to there.

Thanks for pointing this out.

Hi,

 

I have a DLT-V4 in an XPS600.

 

You state that you can see "NEW". This is correct. Insert your VS1 tape in the drive, then click on new. The tape will then be checked that it is blank and you can then name the backup with whatever name you like. The next time you back up, you can either use another new tape and click on new again or you can use the first tape and its name will be "under" the "new" option.

 

Hope this helps

 

pah1

Hi,

 

Sorry for delay in replying as I have just gone to do an actual backup to see the messages. Once a new tape is put into the drive it should "mount" automatically. You will see the message no media available of the selected type, but the following media is found. If you get this message just agree to use the media suggested. If you don't get this message, I suggest you update the driver files. You can get these from the Quantum support site. The new driver also gives you a Tape Drive "Dash Board" which shows you your drives status and the status of the tape loaded. Let me know how you get on.

 

Regards Pah1

Hi

I see 'New' in Windows Backup. If I select this and start the backup it tells me that there is no media available. Do I need to catalogue or mount all new media before first use?

If so how do I mount the tapes?

Thanks

Thanks a lot for your input.

I'll check this when Im back at the server on Monday. I'm sure I had downloaded the latest drivers, but I dont have a dashboard etc for the drive.

will let you know how I get on.

Thanks again

Hi

I already had the drivers from the support site.

However, when I try to enter the dashboard I receive the error "No supported drives found", even though it is listed correctly in computer management / removable storage.

Thanks

Hi,

 

It would appear the drive is not being seen correctly by the operating system. What type of interface do you have i.e. SATA or SCSI? I have a SATA interface on my drive and it refused to work on the standard SATA ports in my PC and would only run on a dedicated SATA Controller. When put on a "Normal" spare SATA port, the drive was recognised by the operating system and would note the tape in the removeable library. However, the dashboard reported the drive as not found. I suggest you download the xTalk management program as this can verify the drive as ok and read its log files. If this program doesn't find the drive, then you have an installation problem. I hope this helps. Sorry about the delay in replying as I am in the UK!

 

Regards pah1

Hi

yes I have a SATA drive which is plugged into a normal SATA port on the motherboard. So I will need to get a SATA card in the server for it to pick up the drive?

Hi,

 

I found no way to set up a normal SATA port on my Dell XPS600 to accommodate this drive, however you still might be able to find a setting on your server that will work. I suggest you read the DLT-V4-SATA Compatibility document on the Quantum website. This gives setting for some motherboards/chipsets. Unfortunately, I could not set my Dell up in this way (with DMA on the SATA port - it doesn't work set as PIO), and so I and eventually opted to add a separate SATA Controller.

 

To be sure it worked, I bought an Adaptec ASH1205SA, which is one that is recommended by Quantum. This worked first time! The only problem being that initially the bios sees this card as the first controller and tries to load the operating system from it. It soon "times out" and boots normally. If necessary you can reduce this time period down so that it is insignificant compared to the actual boot time.

 

I would therefore suggest you spend a little time to see if you can set up the SATA port with DMA. If you can't do this I suggest you add a separate SATA card. My only real problem was that I had to remove my TV card due to lack of space!

 

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

Regards  pah1

Hi,

 

Not wishing to comment on Quantum's support but you might be in for a very long wait! Additionally, different people from Tech Support have conflicting ideas - I will say no more.

 

In terms of setting the card up. This I found very simple. The card comes with an install disk. Just power down the system, add the card (no switches to set), and power up. The operating system will "see" the card and start a hardware installer. Either opt for this and supply the CD or cancel the automatic installer and use the Adaptec install CD. Once the card has installed it will report the DLT-V4 device on one of its two ports. If you have already installed the DLT-V4 driver it should sort itself out. If not just reinstall the driver again. You should now also be able to run the dashboard.

 

But remember when you next reboot the system, it will see the SATA controller card first and report this during bootup. Don't be tempted to configure it! Let it time out and (hopefully) the system will then continue to boot as normal.

 

I have the DLT-V4 on one port and I have added another SATA HDD to the second port. I use the DLT-V4 for backups every 2 weeks and on the alternate 2 weeks I do a complete file backup to the HDD. The tape is quicker, especially if compressed, but single files are more quickly found and restored using the HDD.

 

Good luck.

 

Regards pah1

Hi

Thanks for your replies.

I have been on the phone with Quantum support, who state that they are aware of the issue and that someone from second line support will be in contact with me shortly.....

I'll let you know how I get on....

 

Was the card difficult to install and set up? Or was it a matter of plugging the card in and off you go?!

I need to get my backups going so I'm tempted to just go with the card!

 

Hi

I think I'll go for the card - will need to get 2 as I have 2 of these tape drives on 2 different machines!

Quantum support didnt seem very helpful. They asked whether I had connected it to a SATA port or not! I replied that I obviously had as Windows had picked up the drive! I ran that diagnostic tool and it recognised the drive, but would not pass the read/write to tape tests.

Anyway, I really appreciate all your help. Hopefully the card will do me fine.

Thanks very much.

 

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for the update.

 

I totally agree that this "feature" of the product should be clearly highlighted by Quantum. I have a number of emails to and from their Tech support staff. Initially, they blamed the problem on the incorrect installation of the tape drive. Only after several exchanges did they admit there were problems with compatibility with some motherboards/chipsets.

 

They are always keen to sell such devices but fall short when it comes to support. In hindsight, I would not have chosen this drive had I known the problems. However, I must say when it works it works well! It has also saved me a lot of trouble when one HDD in my RAID0 array died.

 

Hope you get on ok with separate SATA controllers. Feel free to drop me an update!

 

Regards pah1