If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Malcolm Weir wrote in message . ..
On 27 Jan 2004 07:03:25 -0800, (Arthur Begun) wrote: [ Snip ] So to make it absolutely clear, the incident happened afew days ago. I have a tape on my desk full of data that is inaccessible because somehow the header was destroyed because software froze while appending a backup. I consider it a major flaw. I've been doing backups on tape for almost 2 decades and have never seen a header destroyed by an appended backup. Why, *exactly* did you reset the system while the tape drive was writing something? Malc. The tape drive was not writing anything. The machine was locked up with an error message on it. The software said there was an error. The machine was locked up. Nothing much left to do but stare at it or reboot. The error did not appear severe or strange.... and unfortunately I did not write it down. I do know it happened after the files backup was done but before verification process started so I presume it was writing the header which was wiped out. I've been using this same drive with the same software for years for appending backups to various tapes. Now it seems that if it hits an error at the right time chances are the contents of a tape will be wiped out. Seems to me that since the software knew it had hit an error, it would have stopped writing and the problem was that the drive somehow left things in a dangerous way. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
|
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Paul Rubin wrote in message ...
(Arthur Begun) writes: Backup Exec backed up about 4 gigs and was to append the backup to the tape and instead, while accessing the header something went wrong So it sounds like your earlier description of an append-only backup was wrong. Backup Exec was trying to modify the beginning of the tape, not just append stuff to the end, if I understand correctly now. and the machine froze up and after rebooting all of the information on the tape was inaccessible. Inaccessible to what? To Backup Exec? Can you read raw blocks off the tape? If yes, you have a Backup Exec problem, not a VXA problem. For Backup Exec, append backup means to add the backup to the tape. It does not mean wipe out the tape and make it read to the software as blank. I've been using Backup Exec in various versions on various drives for almost 2 decades and have never seen it wipe out a tape before. Its a first for me and happened on a VXA drive. Seems to me it is something that VXA users should be aware of. They should have at least 2 backups of their important backups. When VXA ads claim that the information on a tape can survive a dip in a hot cup of coffee, it is not something you would expect. The software seems to have performed correctly. It reported an error before verification of the backup. Why the tape now reads as empty is something that I don't have the time to fully research but other owners need to be aware of the potential problem. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
"Arthur Begun" wrote in message
m... For Backup Exec, append backup means to add the backup to the tape. It does not mean wipe out the tape and make it read to the software as blank. I've been using Backup Exec in various versions on various drives for almost 2 decades and have never seen it wipe out a tape before. Its a first for me and happened on a VXA drive. Seems to me it is something that VXA users should be aware of. They should have at least 2 backups of their important backups. When VXA ads claim that the information on a tape can survive a dip in a hot cup of coffee, it is not something you would expect. The software seems to have performed correctly. It reported an error before verification of the backup. Why the tape now reads as empty is something that I don't have the time to fully research but other owners need to be aware of the potential problem. Just like owners of a car must be warned that running into a tree may render their vehicle useless... And do make absolutely clear to them that it's the tree's fault... I was about to try one more time, but never mind, this is hopeless. How can you claim that "The software seems to have performed correctly" when it *FROZE YOUR SYSTEM* ??? Next time this 'software error' pops up, please call the manufacturer of your monitor. It's them who are responsible for showing the error in the first place... Rob |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
|
#16
|
|||
|
|||
|
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Paul Rubin wrote in message ...
(Arthur Begun) writes: For Backup Exec, append backup means to add the backup to the tape. It does not mean wipe out the tape and make it read to the software as blank. You do not seem to have your story straight. It still sounds like Backup Exec changes some stuff at the beginning of the tape when you do an update. Changing stuff at the beginning is not what most people call "appending". Appending means adding stuff to the end, not changing stuff at the beginning. After Backup Exec backups the files, it writes to the header. I presume it adds some information to the front that tells the tape where the last backup began and ended. Seems to me that if this operation was interupted, the newly appended backup would expected to be lost but information on previous backups should not be wiped out. Unfortunately the next time the tape was read it read as being blank. The makers of the drive says it is Backup Exec's fault. Perhaps it is but it never happened to me with any other brand drive and at least one other person had the same experience back in 2001 with his VXA drive according to his archived post. And he was using Retrospect, not Backup Exec. Seems strange that 2 different software packages presented the same problem to 2 different users and the only common denominator was that it was with the same brand drive. |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
|
#20
|
|||
|
|||
"Rob Turk" wrote in message ...
"Arthur Begun" wrote in message m... For Backup Exec, append backup means to add the backup to the tape. It does not mean wipe out the tape and make it read to the software as blank. I've been using Backup Exec in various versions on various drives for almost 2 decades and have never seen it wipe out a tape before. Its a first for me and happened on a VXA drive. Seems to me it is something that VXA users should be aware of. They should have at least 2 backups of their important backups. When VXA ads claim that the information on a tape can survive a dip in a hot cup of coffee, it is not something you would expect. The software seems to have performed correctly. It reported an error before verification of the backup. Why the tape now reads as empty is something that I don't have the time to fully research but other owners need to be aware of the potential problem. Just like owners of a car must be warned that running into a tree may render their vehicle useless... And do make absolutely clear to them that it's the tree's fault... I was about to try one more time, but never mind, this is hopeless. How can you claim that "The software seems to have performed correctly" when it *FROZE YOUR SYSTEM* ??? Next time this 'software error' pops up, please call the manufacturer of your monitor. It's them who are responsible for showing the error in the first place... Rob You seem to ignore the fact that although my tape was wiped out using Backup Exec, the other guy who complained was using Retrospect. Only common denominator is we were both using a VXA drive. I've had backup software lock up plenty over the last 2 decades. It can happen because of bad media, corrupted file, whatever. Never seen it wipe out a tape before. Isn't it just possible that you have a problem that should be investigated rather than just pulling a Microsoft and attacking the customer? |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Tape LBA vs. HDD LBA | Shiera | Storage & Hardrives | 2 | December 25th 03 03:17 PM |
Making a pure IDE/ATAPI tape drive work in a USB drive enclosure. (0/1) | Bloke at the pennine puddle (Replace n.a.v.d with | General | 0 | October 11th 03 05:02 PM |
exabyte vxa-2 tape drive error | Lynn McGuire | Storage & Hardrives | 4 | September 16th 03 07:56 AM |
Tape Erase or format request | Howard Huntley | Storage & Hardrives | 1 | September 5th 03 03:48 PM |
cutting psu wires | Pen | General | 4 | July 27th 03 07:49 PM |