DPM Forum,

We have an HP 1x8 G2 autoloader with an internal LTO5 tape drive.  We are running Microsoft DPM 2010 (latest build) and have been experiencing tape backup failures for the past week.  When DPM starts to perform tape backups to the tape drive, the autoloader and tape drive will "drop off" the system (not present in Device Manager, either).  All jobs fail and the only way to get the autoloader and tape drive to appear back in Device Manager is to power-cycle the autoloader.

I have opened a case with HP Support and it has already been escalated as they detect no issues with the autoloader, tape drive or HBA (HP smart Array P212 SAS controller).  Of course, I think that the Library and Tape Tools tests pass because the equipment was power-cycled.

In any case, I've upgraded the HP tape device drivers, uninstalled and reinstalled them but cannot get the tape drive to appear in DPM 2010.  I've also tried the "remap" procedure at a command prompt and rescanned for devices in DPM but the tape drive fails to appear (only the autoloader appears along with the slots).

Can anyone assist or does this indicate an issue with the tape drive itself?

Thanks,

Joe

Nevermind, I think I resolved it.  I found and followed the suggestions in this article:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d5a993e9-fd24-42e4-88e8-77047163d1cf/dpm-2010-and-hp-msl2024-lto5-tape-library-not-being-detected-correctly?forum=dpmtapebackuprecovery

My DPMLA.xml file was incorrect.  I was able to restore an older version (from about 2 weeks ago from disk - prior to the tape backup problems we are having now) and compare the differences.  The "Library" entries in the XML file were incorrect.  I simply renamed the original DPMLA.xml file and replaced it with the slightly-older one, rescanned DPM and the drive showed up under the library.

I still don't know if the drive itself is problematic and am waiting for 2nd level HP Support to respond.  I am going to try another backup to tape tonight to see if the problem continues.

Joe

Nevermind, I think I resolved it.  I found and followed the suggestions in this article:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d5a993e9-fd24-42e4-88e8-77047163d1cf/dpm-2010-and-hp-msl2024-lto5-tape-library-not-being-detected-correctly?forum=dpmtapebackuprecovery

My DPMLA.xml file was incorrect.  I was able to restore an older version (from about 2 weeks ago from disk - prior to the tape backup problems we are having now) and compare the differences.  The "Library" entries in the XML file were incorrect.  I simply renamed the original DPMLA.xml file and replaced it with the slightly-older one, rescanned DPM and the drive showed up under the library.

I still don't know if the drive itself is problematic and am waiting for 2nd level HP Support to respond.  I am going to try another backup to tape tonight to see if the problem continues.

Joe

• Marked as answer by Joe OConnor - Harron 16 hours 49 minutes ago

Nevermind, I think I resolved it.  I found and followed the suggestions in this article:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d5a993e9-fd24-42e4-88e8-77047163d1cf/dpm-2010-and-hp-msl2024-lto5-tape-library-not-being-detected-correctly?forum=dpmtapebackuprecovery

My DPMLA.xml file was incorrect.  I was able to restore an older version (from about 2 weeks ago from disk - prior to the tape backup problems we are having now) and compare the differences.  The "Library" entries in the XML file were incorrect.  I simply renamed the original DPMLA.xml file and replaced it with the slightly-older one, rescanned DPM and the drive showed up under the library.

I still don't know if the drive itself is problematic and am waiting for 2nd level HP Support to respond.  I am going to try another backup to tape tonight to see if the problem continues.

Joe

• Marked as answer by Joe OConnor - Harron Thursday, September 03, 2015 2:54 PM

Nevermind, I think I resolved it.  I found and followed the suggestions in this article:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d5a993e9-fd24-42e4-88e8-77047163d1cf/dpm-2010-and-hp-msl2024-lto5-tape-library-not-being-detected-correctly?forum=dpmtapebackuprecovery

My DPMLA.xml file was incorrect.  I was able to restore an older version (from about 2 weeks ago from disk - prior to the tape backup problems we are having now) and compare the differences.  The "Library" entries in the XML file were incorrect.  I simply renamed the original DPMLA.xml file and replaced it with the slightly-older one, rescanned DPM and the drive showed up under the library.

I still don't know if the drive itself is problematic and am waiting for 2nd level HP Support to respond.  I am going to try another backup to tape tonight to see if the problem continues.

Joe

• Marked as answer by Joe OConnor - Harron Thursday, September 03, 2015 2:54 PM

Subsequent DPM 2010 backups to tape have been successful!

Joe