AIX

Hello

I need to make a mksysb, I try with smitty but I get the next message

0512-017 mksysb: Cannot write to the device /dev/rmt3.
Either write protected or in use.

My tape are ready to write ( dont get protection)
I use the clean tape
and I try with other tapes but I got the same message

My question is someone has got this problem before.

Thanks for your advices

I send some commands


lsdev -Cc tape
rmt0 Available 08-08-02 IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive (FCP)
rmt1 Available 08-08-02 IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive (FCP)
rmt2 Available 08-08-02 IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive (FCP)
rmt3 Available 08-08-02 IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive (FCP)
smc0 Available 08-08-02 IBM 3583 Library Medium Changer (FCP)

lscfg -vpsl rmt3
rmt3 U7311.D20.10035BB-P1-C01-T1-W500308C143CAE002-L0
IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive (FCP)

Manufacturer................IBM
Machine Type and Model......ULT3580-TD3
Serial Number...............1210068798
Device Specific.(FW)........73P5

lsattr -El /dev/rmt3
lsattr: 0514-519 The following device was not found in the customized
device configuration database:
/dev/rmt3

prodwps2 > mt -f /dev/rmt3 status
rmt3 Available 08-08-02 IBM 3580 Ultrium Tape Drive (FCP)
attribute value description user_settable

alt_pathing no Enable Alternate Pathing Support True
autoload no Use Autoloading Feature at End-of-Tape True
block_size 0 Block Size (0=Variable Length) True
compress yes Use Hardware Compression on Tape True
debug_trace no Debug Trace Logging Enabled True
dev_status N/A False
devtype ULT3580- Device Type False
location Location True
logging no Activate volume information logging True
lun_id 0x0 Logical Unit Number True
max_log_size 500 Maximum size of log file (in # of entries) True
new_name New Logical Name True
node_name 0x500308c143cae001 World Wide Node Name False
primary_device rmt3 Primary Logical Device False
retain_reserve no Retain Reservation False
rew_immediate no Use Immediate Bit in Rewind Commands True
scsi_id 0x158e8 SCSI Target ID True
space_mode SCSI Backward Space/Forward Space Record Mode True
trace_logging no Trace Logging Enabled True
trailer_labels no Trailer Label Processing True
ww_name 0x500308c143cae002 World Wide Port Name False

Hi,
make shure that you're logged in as root and the cartridge has the write protect slider in the write enabled position.

These seem to me the most probable causes for your problem.

If your problem persists the out put of ls -l /dev/rmt* would be helpful.

regards

Thanks for your reply pla1631

Yes Im login as a root and with the correct write enabled position for the cartridge.

I send the output of the ls -l /dev/rmt*

ls -l /dev/rmt*
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 0 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 1 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.1
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 9 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.10
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 4 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.2
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 8 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.20
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 5 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.3
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 0 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.4
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 32 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.40
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 33 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.41
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 1 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.5
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 4 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.6
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 40 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.60
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 5 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.7
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 64 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.null
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39, 2 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt0.smc
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,256 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,257 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.1
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,265 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.10
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,260 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.2
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,264 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.20
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,261 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.3
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,256 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.4
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,288 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.40
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,289 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.41
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,257 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.5
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,260 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.6
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,296 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.60
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,261 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.7
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,320 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.null
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,258 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt1.smc
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,512 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,513 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.1
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,521 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.10
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,516 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.2
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,520 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.20
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,517 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.3
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,512 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.4
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,544 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.40
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,545 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.41
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,513 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.5
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,516 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.6
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,552 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.60
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,517 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.7
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,576 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.null
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,514 Aug 26 16:32 /dev/rmt2.smc
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,768 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,769 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.1
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,777 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.10
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,772 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.2
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,776 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.20
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,773 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.3
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,768 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.4
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,800 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.40
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,801 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.41
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,769 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.5
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,772 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.6
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,808 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.60
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,773 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.7
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,832 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.null
crw-rw-rwT 1 root system 39,770 Aug 26 16:33 /dev/rmt3.smc

Make sure that the device infact works.Try writing and reading a small file to the drive.The tape drive may infact be defective.Try running #diag on the tape drive.If still in use try powering the tape drive off/on and then running #cfgmgr to free it.You may want to try different media as well in oder to isolate the issue.

IMHO your thread's title is somewhat misleading. The problem seems to be a problem with FC rather than SMIT or mksysb.
Which oslevel do you use, what are the fileset levels of your FC devices? Which multipathing software is installed on that server? Did you change the environment recently, e.g. did you add the FC tapes to the already existing FC adapter? Did the LAN free backup ever work before? Is there a load problem on the FC equipment? Are there FC related entries in errpt?

Probably the easiest part of your problem. Try
# lsattr -El rmt3
instead.

Form the list of devices you have there is look like a library and not a dat drive

you may fin that you have no ddsX tape drive

This is what you can try

Mksysb to Nim server or to central location
I normaly have a script to do this

1. mount nfs location to system to be mksysb
2. smitty mksysb
3. point to the nfs mount file system and use filenme to id the system

Mksysb to dvd

1. Make sure that the mksysbe is smaller than 4.7G
2. make sure that you have access to the DVD drive
3. then Run smitty mkdvd

Thanks for your reply ravager, shockneck, minntekmikey

My oslevel is 5300-06-01-0000

shockneck you mention something about FC (Fibre Channel). Now you mention I think this could be the problem.

My FC adapters go to two switch and then go to the main swith. In a few days the two switch are going to dissapear and all my fc adapters go direct to the main switch.

Because some weeks ago I can do a mksysb. but now in any partition I can´t make a mksysb.

I send the output of the command

$ lsattr -El rmt3
alt_pathing no Enable Alternate Pathing Support True
autoload no Use Autoloading Feature at End-of-Tape True
block_size 0 Block Size (0=Variable Length) True
compress yes Use Hardware Compression on Tape True
debug_trace no Debug Trace Logging Enabled True
dev_status N/A False
devtype ULT3580- Device Type False
location Location True
logging no Activate volume information logging True
lun_id 0x0 Logical Unit Number True
max_log_size 500 Maximum size of log file (in # of entries) True
new_name New Logical Name True
node_name 0x500308c143cae001 World Wide Node Name False
primary_device rmt3 Primary Logical Device False
retain_reserve no Retain Reservation False
rew_immediate no Use Immediate Bit in Rewind Commands True
scsi_id 0x158e8 SCSI Target ID True
space_mode SCSI Backward Space/Forward Space Record Mode True
trace_logging no Trace Logging Enabled True
trailer_labels no Trailer Label Processing True
ww_name 0x500308c143cae002 World Wide Port Name False

Thanks for your tips

Greetings