Hi,

We've been having problems with our NetWorker Silo servers (running HP-UX) concerning the tape device files under /dev/rmt. For some reason they are constantly being removed/recreated (up to a couple of times per hour):

crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x240300 Apr 5 19:07 c36t0d3BEST
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x240380 Apr 5 19:07 c36t0d3BESTb
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x240340 Apr 5 19:07 c36t0d3BESTn
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin bin 205 0x2403c0 Apr 13 03:08 c36t0d3BESTnb

As you can see the original file is from April 5th and the new one was created today.


Periodically the device file will fail to be recreated and errors such as this will appear in the syslog:

Apr 9 08:21:08 lgtobk2 vmunix: 0/4/2/0: Inquiry failed on FCP device with device id 0x7e0202

Would anyone have an idea of what is occurring here? I'm by no means an expert on how NetWorker/Legato works so I dunno if this problem would be on the OS side or EMC's side. Thanks!


UPDATE:

Would the fact that the IBM devices are using the stape instead of the IBM atdd driver be causing this?

ioscan...

Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
===========================================================================
tape 0 0/1/1/1.1.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE HP C5683A
tape 11 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 18 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.1 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 19 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.2 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 20 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.3 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 30 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.4 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 31 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.5 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 55 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.6 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2
tape 56 0/2/1/0.111.9.2.0.0.7 stape CLAIMED DEVICE IBM ULTRIUM-TD2

IBM Ultrium are not 100% supported on HP-UX. Check out itrc
So that can be the cause of your problem.
You maybe need firmware update or a patch, if available at all.