NSR Backup and Tape Jukeboxes

From: Chris Glenister <crg_at_cranfield.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 17:32:22 PST


To All the OSF-MANAGERS

I am experiencing a problem with the backup software Polycentre Networker Save
and Restore. The problem is that I cannot configure the software to recognise
our TLZ06L tape jukebox connected directly to the SCSI port on an Alpha 3000/600
running OSF/1 3.0.

What I have done so far :-

1. I have installed the SCSI Cam Media Software Changer version 2.2

2. I installed all the necessary licences for the Polycentre Networker Software
        DECNSR-SINGLE - Single licence (Client functionality basically)
        DECNSR-NET-SRV - Gives the single licence full server funcionality
        JUKEBOX-TIER-1 - Our tape jukebox falls into this catagory

3. I then installed the Polycentre Networker server software 3.0 on the Alpha 3000/600

Result.
-------

I was able to run the networker software using the "networker &" command and access the
tape drive to perform both backups and restores, but not to access in random access mode,
only as a serial device.
The tape is accessed through a device called "mc??", the ?? is the unit number resulting
from the following calculation :-

        unit_number = (8 * bus_number ) + target_id

so we use


        unit_number = (8 * 2 ) + 5 which is 21

so we make the device "mc21"


        /dev/MAKEDEV.MC mc21


To configure the tape jukebox, we have to run a program call "jmb_enabler" which configures
the Polycentre Networker software to recognise the device. The program first gives us a list
of known tape devices, so we choose TLZ6L, then it asks us for a name, e.g "tape1". Then it
asks for a control port, so we enter /dev/mc21, this is where is fails to recognise the
port and returns a message :-

        jbm_enabler: SYSTEM error, No such device or address
        There appears to be something incorrect about your jukebox
        installation. Please consult your device's documentation
        to help you troubleshoot your installation.


At this point I get stuck and can go no further. We can quite happily use the tape device
to perform both TAR and DUMP commands, so I do not know how to proceed.

Any help or suggestions are very much appreciated.

Thanks

Chris Glenister
Received on Tue Mar 14 1995 - 12:33:53 NZDT

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