Running Veritas on main file server, Exchange server, SQL server and web server. Full back-up for all should have happened Friday night, but when I came in Monday morning the tapes were popped out and no backup had occurred. Read-out indicates Drive Comms Error. I stopped & restarted the services, but it still will not accept the tapes.
I'm far from knowledgeable about all this, so I don't know what else to try.
Any ideas?

Have you tried rebooting the server? I realise it may be tricky timing a reboot but it should solve the problem.

Hiya,

Hmm, sounds like the Autoloader for the tapes is playing up communicating with VERITAS software. I'm no expert on their software unfortunately..have you got tech support with them? I know that kind of defeats the point of this forum but it could be a number of things. Is it possible to reboot the machine or is a critical server?

Thanks to both of you. I am soooo hoping not to reboot the server - it is an internal tape device in our main server. Ugh.
When you say the autoloader, do you mean the cartridge that the tapes are held in, or the mechanical device within the unit that pulls the cartridge inside?

I meant the mechanical device which shuffles the tapes...sorry I can't suggest anymore but I would agree with Simon if you could get a reboot done, having said that I know what a mission that could be if it is a main server

Sigh . . . I was afraid of that. I just made the announcement so everyone can plan for the downtime.
Big thanks!

Originally Posted by opus88

Sigh . . . I was afraid of that. I just made the announcement so everyone can plan for the downtime.
Big thanks!

Did you have any luck ?

No, unfortunately the restart didn't do anything. (Thanks for asking!) Looks like it's more of a hardware issue - the Drive Comms Error on the LED evidently is because it cannot even see that there is a tape cartridge. It has now knocked the entire unit offline and it's grayed out. (What is really frustrating is that this is a fairly new replacement unit - internal - since the old one went bad while still under warranty.) I scheduled the tech guys to come out and fix it. Bummer. But if there are any other suggestions, I'll be glad to hear them!

Originally Posted by opus88

No, unfortunately the restart didn't do anything. (Thanks for asking!) Looks like it's more of a hardware issue - the Drive Comms Error on the LED evidently is because it cannot even see that there is a tape cartridge. It has now knocked the entire unit offline and it's grayed out. (What is really frustrating is that this is a fairly new replacement unit - internal - since the old one went bad while still under warranty.) I scheduled the tech guys to come out and fix it. Bummer. But if there are any other suggestions, I'll be glad to hear them!

Sorry to hear that! I did think communications was the issue but its one of them things which could be linked to a few failures I suppose. I don't think I personally could be much more help without going through every possible thing I can think of so you would be better off seeing what this Tech Guy Says. Would be interested to know the outcome though - good luck!

Thanks! Will let you know what I learn about it.