Hi,

We are experiencing the following issues with our DPM backup.

The backups to tape are failing on a daily basis. Every time the backup fails, the tape drive has disappeared from DPM (but not from the device manager). After performing a Rescan in DPM, the drive reappears and backups can be resumed. Sometimes two tape libraries are detected (one online and the other offline) after the rescan. In that case a second rescan is required.

Our setup:

• DPM 2012 R2 (same problem in DPM2012 SP1)
• Server 2008 R2
• Tape Library: HP MSL G3
• Tape drive: HP Ultirum 4-SCSI
• Ultra320 scsi adapter

The tape library and drive have the latest available firmware and the most recent drivers are used. All available windows updates have been installed.

Powershell command Get-DPMLibrary | fl *

Id                      : ab141219-f3ec-496a-8d8d-099ade6a1140
UserFriendlyName        : Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive
Name                    : Stand-alone Drive: Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive: (Offline)
DriveCount              : 1
SlotCount               : 0
Status                  : Offline
AutoloaderLocation      : Port -1, Bus -1, Target -1, Lun -1
Type                    : StandAloneDriveTapeLibrary
SerialNumber            :
NumberOfIEPortSlots     : 0
NumberOfChangers        : 0
AutoloaderStatus        : Not Available
ScsiPort                : -1
ScsiBus                 : -1
ScsiLun                 : -1
ScsiTargetId            : -1
IsBarcodeSupported      : False
BarcodeStatus           : Not Available
IsOffline               : True
IsEnabled               : True
IsDoorUnlocked          : False
DoorStatus              : Locked
DefaultUnlockDoorPeriod : 600
ProtectionGroups        :

Id                      : 3c6dc4f8-daea-489f-91b0-e1dfd1da1701
UserFriendlyName        : Hewlett Packard MSL G3 Series library  (x64 based)
Name                    : Library: Hewlett Packard MSL G3 Series library  (x64 based): (Disabled)
DriveCount              : 1
SlotCount               : 45
Status                  : Enabled
VendorId                : Hewlett Packard
ProductId               : Hewlett Packard MSL G3 Series library  (x64 based)
AutoloaderLocation      : Port 3, Bus 0, Target 4, Lun 1
Type                    : TapeLibrary
SerialNumber            : DEC74704US
NumberOfIEPortSlots     : 3
NumberOfChangers        : 1
AutoloaderStatus        : Available
ScsiPort                : 3
ScsiBus                 : 0
ScsiLun                 : 1
ScsiTargetId            : 4
IsBarcodeSupported      : True
BarcodeStatus           : Available
IsOffline               : False
IsEnabled               : True
IsDoorUnlocked          : False
DoorStatus              : Locked
DefaultUnlockDoorPeriod : 600

Event logs:

Log Name:      DPM Alerts
Source:        DPM-EM
Date:          10/02/2014 8:08:00
Event ID:      3311
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic

The back up to tape job failed for the following reason: (ID: 3311)
Tape Library Hewlett Packard MSL G3 Series library  (x64 based) could not be contacted. All jobs for Tape Library Hewlett Packard MSL G3 Series library  (x64 based) will fail if the connection is not established.
 (ID: 3301)

Log Name:      DPM Alerts
Source:        DPM-EM
Date:          10/02/2014 8:11:46
Event ID:      3303
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic

Library drive Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive in Hewlett Packard MSL G3 Series library  (x64 based) is not functioning and library jobs may fail until the drive is repaired.  The drive is not functioning for the following reason:
 (ID: 3303)
Drive Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive was detected as not ready. (ID: 25015)
1. Check that the drive is powered on.
2. Check if the drive is being serviced. If yes, you can ignore this alert.
3. Check if the drive is connected properly.
4. In the Device Manager if the drive is not enabled or not visible, refer to your hardware manual for other troubleshooting steps.

Log Name:      DPM Alerts
Source:        DPM-EM
Date:          10/02/2014 8:11:48
Event ID:      3301
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic

Stand Alone Drive Tape Library Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive could not be contacted. All jobs for Stand Alone Drive Tape Library Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive will fail if the connection is not established.
 (ID: 3301)
Stand Alone Drive Tape Library Hewlett Packard LTO Ultrium-4 drive is not ready. (ID: 25014)
1. Check if the library is turned on.
2. Check for loose connections on data or power channels.
3. Make sure that the library is visible in Device Manager.
4. Check to see that the door on the library is closed
5. Refer to your hardware manual for other troubleshooting steps.

We would like to monitor the SCSI connection between the server and the tape library. Is there a way to do this?

Anyone an idea what the problem might be?

• Edited by JeroenDR Monday, February 10, 2014 2:10 PM

After you get this error in DMP do you go to device manager and do a hardware refresh?  If yes, does Windows rediscover the device?  Also, have you checked the library front panel for issues?  Another thing that I have seen with other backup vendors is that you can try to play with enabling/disabling the medium changer (if it is enabled disable it, if disabled try enabling it).  The other thing you may want to do is update the drivers on the server the drives are attached to.

• Proposed as answer by Hinte Monday, April 07, 2014 12:33 PM