diagnostics

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diagnostics

contents of this section

HP Library & Tape Tools diagnostic utility installing

using

compatibility

firmware updates

using hp library and tape tools to update firmware

using a firmware update cartridge TapeAlert

how it works

TapeAlert for OpenView

a new standard summary

HP Library & Tape Tools diagnostic utility

The HP Library & Tape Tools software provides a number of utilities for getting information about your tape drive and troubleshooting problems. It includes the following functionality:

Installation help and advice to help you install your product and operate it correctly

A Discovery utility to find out what devices are attached to your SCSI bus

An Identity utility to find out detailed information about individual devices, for example the firmware version.

Tests to check that your drive is operating correctly.

A Firmware Update Utility that helps you find update files for your tape drive and performs the update

A Support Ticket that generates detailed troubleshooting information for support calls (if you are connected to the Internet, you will be able to e-mail this information directly to your Support Center)

Comprehensive Help that is topic sensitive, should you need additional information for the screen currently displayed

Updates and the latest versions of this software are available from our World Wide Web site: www.hp.com/support/tapetools

installing HP Library & Tape Tools

You can install HP Library & Tape Tools from the web site: www.hp.com/support/tapetools. The tool is distributed without firmware and

firmware files are downloaded separately. Installation is simply a question of selecting the required option and following the instructions on the screen.

using HP Library & Tape Tools

HP Library and Tape Tools checks for the presence of a SCSI controller and its driver software and identifies the SCSI IDs of existing SCSI devices. You can then select the required device from the device list and run one of the diagnostic utilities for that device by selecting the appropriate icon: Identity, Firmware, Test or Support.

For ease of use, comprehensive online help is built into the software.

compatibility

There are HP Library & Tape Tools versions for:

Windows NT 4.0 (workstation and server)

Windows 2000 (professional and server)

Novell NetWare 5 or 5.1

firmware updates

You can update the firmware in HP Surestore DLT1 tape drives either by downloading over the SCSI bus or by loading a firmware update cartridge.

Caution: DO NOT RESET OR POWER CYCLE THE DRIVE during firmware update. Doing so can damage the drive's controller hardware.

using HP Library & Tape Tools to update firmware

Use HP Library & Tape Tools to download via SCSI. Any tape in the drive will be ejected automatically before update. The Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash at the same time during firmware update for about two to three minutes.

Note: If a corrupt or incompatible image is downloaded for firmware update then the Write Protected and Ready LEDs do not flash. The drive resets and leaves the code update cartridge loaded to indicate that the code update was not successful.

using a firmware update cartridge

Firmware update tapes are only available from HP. Refer to the Hewlett-Packard Support web site for update information (www.hp.com/support/dlt1).

To update the firmware from tape:

1.Locate the firmware update cartridge.

2.Remove all DLTtape cartridges from your DLT1 drive.

3.Press and hold the Eject button on your DLT1 drive's front panel until all three LEDS illuminate (6 seconds) and continue to hold down until the lights go off (4 seconds). Release the Eject button.

4.Press and hold the Eject button again (4 seconds) until the Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash, then release the Eject button. The drive is now in firmware update mode. If you decide not to perform a firmware update at this point, no action is necessary. The drive returns to its normal operational state after 30-45 seconds of inactivity. If the drive does not go into the update mode, refer to the troubleshooting information on update mode.

5.Insert the code update cartridge into the drive. The drive temporarily turns off the Write Protected and Ready LEDS while it reads the cartridge and verifies that the firmware image file is valid. This process may take several minutes to complete.

❍If the drive's code is up-to-date, the drive cancels firmware update mode, and the process is complete.

❍If the drive's code is not up-to-date, the drive reads the code image file from the cartridge. The Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash at the same time during the update process which typically takes two to three minutes.

When the drive finishes reading the code image file from the update cartridge, the drive rewinds the cartridge to the beginning, resets, and performs a Power-On Self-Test (POST). The drive then ensures that the code image file is valid. If so, it updates the controller's flash EEPROM. The Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash at the same time during theupdate process.

6.The drive ejects the code update cartridge. Your DLT1 drive is now ready to use with the new code.

Note: If the drive does not eject the code update cartridge, the firmware update failed. For troubleshooting information, refer to code update failed.

TapeAlert

Tape storage systems have a vital role to play in backing up essential data safely and securely. Yet until now, there has been no reliable way to identify errors and potential problems that may compromise their effectiveness or reliability.

Thanks to a new industry standard developed by Hewlett-Packard, however, that situation has changed. TapeAlert is a tape drive status monitoring and messaging utility that makes it easy to detect problems which could have an impact on backup quality. From the use of worn-out tapes to defects in the drive hardware TapeAlert provides easy-to-understand warnings of errors as they arise, and suggests a course of action to remedy the problem.

To take advantage of TapeAlert, you need:

●TapeAlert-compatible tape drives

●TapeAlert-compatible backup software

Network administrators will also find it extremely valuable to have TapeAlert for OpenView, which extends the benefits of TapeAlert across the network.

how it works

TapeAlert compatible tape drives - such as the latest DLT1 drives from Hewlett- Packard - are delivered with TapeAlert features built in as standard. The internal TapeAlert firmware constantly monitors the drive hardware and the media, checking for errors and potential difficulties. Any problems identified are flagged on a new SCSI log page, where 64 bytes have been reserved for use by TapeAlert.

After a backup has been completed, the TapeAlert-compatible backup application will automatically read the drive's TapeAlert SCSI log page to check for any problems. If an error is flagged, the backup software displays a clear warning message on the user's screen, and adds the TapeAlert messages to its logs. These messages are standard across all applications that support TapeAlert, and are designed to give clear explanation of the problem and suggested resolution. For example, a user attempting to backup onto a worn-out tape would encounter the message:

WARNING: The tape cartridge has reached the end of its useful life:

1.Copy and data you need to another tape

2.Discard the old tape

Errors Monitored

TapeAlert currently checks for errors occurring in the following main categories:

●Drive recoverable read problems

●Drive recoverable write problems

●Drive unrecoverable read problems

●Drive unrecoverable write problems

●Drive hardware defects

●Worn-out media

●Expired cleaning tapes

●Wrong media used

●Abnormal error conditions

TapeAlert for OpenView

TapeAlert for OpenView allows you to bring all TapeAlert-compatible tape drives on the network under the control of the network administrator. It integrates all the features and functions of TapeAlert into HP's network management utility, OpenView for Windows. As a result, tape drives can now be monitored and controlled remotely in the same way as other network elements such as disk drives and printers.

With TapeAlert for OpenView installed, error messages flagged by tape drives are passed to the backup applications in the usual way. The software then forwards the information to the network management console through the server's SNMP interface.

An OpenView alarm is then activated on the management console, alerting the network manager to the tape drives problem. The icon for the relevant server will change color, with the color indicating the severity of the alarm as follows:

RED Critical

YELLOW Warning

BLUE Information

TapeAlert for OpenView also provides a graphical view of the tape drives on the selected server. Detailed configuration information is shown, together with a history of previous errors recorded.

For each alarm, TapeAlert provides a brief description of the error, together with the date and time of occurrence and an indication of severity. By clicking on the "More Info" button, it is possible to drill down to details such as the device and media involved, and suggestions for correcting the problem. For consistency and convenience, the error messages are identical to those displayed locally by TapeAlert.

As a result, it is easy for network managers to identify the source of problems occurring on any TapeAlert-enabled drive on the network.

a new standard

TapeAlert has been developed by Hewlett-Packard as a proposed new standard tape drive management. All new tape drives from Hewlett-Packard will be fully compatible with TapeAlert, and many major manufacturers and software companies are expected to adopt the standard. Software companies adopting the standard currently include:

●Computer Associates Software

●Seagate Software

●Stac

●Legato

●Novastor

The TapeAlert standard has been designed to allow easy integration into backup applications from any software vendor. Applications which comply fully with the requirements for TapeAlert will be awarded the use of the TapeAlert logo.

Designed for the Future

TapeAlert is an advanced technological standard which provides a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art features and functions. However, it has also been designed to allow considerable expansion and development in the future, as new possibilities and opportunities open up.

summary

Reliable, high-quality backups are essential to safeguard the vast amount of data stored on computer systems today. TapeAlert is an innovative standard that enhances reliability by monitoring tape drives and associated media during backup procedures.

Offering clear warnings of problems as they arise, TapeAlert allows users and network managers to eliminate unnecessary errors and ensure that data integrity and security is never compromised. Already gaining substantial support across the industry, TapeAlert is set to become the established standard for tape drive management.

© 2000, Hewlett-Packard Company

file:///C/Documents%20and%20Settings/topher.COL-SPRINGS/Desktop/manual/document/dlt1/user/reseller/eng/diag.htm [12/3/2001 7:50:37 AM]