Backup Tape Libary - Cleaning

Talbs13 · 24 Sep 2008 at 13:19

Good Afternoon!

Had a weekly backup job fail midway throug its run on friday due to it requiring cleaning. I have a cleaning tape but im not entirely sure the correct way to "Clean"

We use a HP MSL2024 Robotic Tape Libary which can hold 12 tapes per magazine. I know squat about backup cleaning and was hoping someone could help!

I put the tape into one of the slots and used the 'Clean Drive' option on the MSL2024. After it finished i check the system and it still says Clean is Required. We use Symantec Backup Exec 11d and i have assigned the Tape as a cleaning tape and ran the Cleaning Job. Obviously this is critical that i run the weekly backup today without fail.

The daily backup job completed successfully last night but i dont want to try and run the weekly job and find out it fails 14 hours later thus missing the daily backup for that night.

The Clean LED is flashing so i assume its just going to fail again.

Anyone able to help or provide me with any guides for me to read?

Cheers,
J

sidethink · 24 Sep 2008 at 13:43

Pretty sure you just put a cleaning tape in any spare slot and use the console on the front of the library to access the Clean function. Look under 'Operations' on the hardware console on the library itself.

Talbs13 · 24 Sep 2008 at 15:37

Done that but it still shows the amber LED.

Slinwagh · 24 Sep 2008 at 15:46

I remember with a Compaq unit I have used in the past the cleaning tape had to go into a certain slot.

Curiosityx · 24 Sep 2008 at 23:11

Most drives generally recognise cleaning media and initiate a cleaning process once inserted in the drive, i would be confident that this is the case specially considering the product your using.

It appears though that you have gone through the correct steps, do you have a support contract on the MSL with HP?

Have a look at the link below, id also suggest getting ahold of the "HP Library and Tape Tools" which is free and will give you more detailed information about the drive.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...=1809913&prodTypeId=12169&supportTaskId=23265

memyselfandi · 25 Sep 2008 at 11:17

Have your tried another cleaning tape in case theres an issue with the one which you are using so the drive isn't actually being cleaned even though the tape is loaded?