Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Errors with a SCSI tape device on Slackware 8.0
AK_Dude
08-31-2002, 04:10 AM
I'm trying to run an Exabyte EXB-2501 tape drive with an Adaptec AHA-2940 adapter card on Slackware 8.0, but having some problems. I've enabled the 2940 driver module, and when I try to access /dev/st0 like so:
tar -cvf /dev/st0 /home/Mike/apache_pb.gif
I hear the tape drive running. After a few seconds, I receive the following error:
tar: WARNING: Cannot close /dev/st0 (3, -1): Input/output error
I also have the following error messages when I run /bin/dmesg:
st0: Error with sense data: Info fld=0x1e, Current st09:00:sense
key Medium Error
Additional sense indicates Medium format corrupted
I've tried this with multiple tapes, which I have purchased from multiple sources, so I'm skeptical that the tapes themselves are bad. Any thoughts? Thanks!
-If it's an external device, make sure you are using a high quality SCSI cable; the cheap, thin cables you find in consumer electronics/computer stores are CRAP.
-Make absolutely sure that your SCSI chain is properly terminated!
mdwatts
08-31-2002, 05:59 PM
Originally posted by DMR
-If it's an external device, make sure you are using a high quality SCSI cable; the cheap, thin cables you find in consumer electronics/computer stores are CRAP.
-Make absolutely sure that your SCSI chain is properly terminated!
Our resident scsi expert only came up with that? ;)
David having problems with his lovelife?
AK_Dude
08-31-2002, 07:40 PM
No, it's internal. I'm pretty sure the tape drive terminates internally--there's nowhere else on the drive to install a terminator, and the cables are single-device.
Originally posted by mdwatts
Our resident scsi expert only came up with that? ;)
David having problems with his lovelife? Hey Mike:
http://www.stevewolfonline.com/Downloads/DMR/Visuals/biggrinshot.gif
AK_Dude,
-You're probably right; I'm not familiar with your particular model of Exabyte, but they usually have an internal termination jumper. I'd still try to verify that termination is enabled; it may or may not be enabled as the factory default.
-From a page (http://www.exabyte.com/support/online/kb/display.cfm?id=215) on the Exabyte support site which addresses some Linux issues:Minicartridge tape drives
EXB-2501 and EXB-2501c
Make sure your EXB-2501 has firmware version 20 or higher.
The EXB-2501 and EXB-2501c only work in fixed mode, either 512-byte or 1 KB mode.
-Is it possible that the tapes need to be formatted before use?
-Have you given the heads a good cleaning?
AK_Dude
09-01-2002, 10:38 PM
I'll check on the firmware revision and block size. The heads are definitely clean, and as I understand, the cartridge is MC3000 and the formatting is QIC-3020. Since I ordered QIC-3020 formatted tapes, I'm reasonably sure (but not positive) that they are formatted. I haven't found any documentation on how to format them manually though, so if anyone knows how to do that, I'll give it a try. Thanks!