HP VS160 Troubleshooting Manual

External drives - contents

Pre-Installation

Before you start page 3

Backup software and drivers page 5

Usage models page 7

Using the CD-ROM page 9

Installing the tape drive

Step 1: Check the SCSI connection page 11

Step 2: Check the drive’s SCSI ID page 13

Step 3: Attach SCSI cable page 15

Step 4: Attach power cable page 17

Step 5: Verify installation page 19

Using the tape drive

Your HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive page 21

Use the correct media page 23

Register your tape drive page 25

Diagnostic tools page 26

Optimizing performance page 27

Troubleshooting page 29

Understanding the LEDs page 34

Problems with cartridges page 38

Other sources of information page 39

1

Copyright © 2004 by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

December 2004
Part Number: A7570-96001

Hewlett-Packard Company makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for
incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use
of this material.

This document contains proprietary information, which is protected by copyright. No part of
this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without
the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard. The information contained in this document is
subject to change without notice.

Microsoft
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

DLTtape, the DLTtape logo, Super DLTtape and the Super DLTtape logo are trademarks of
Quantum Corporation registered in the U.S.A. and other countries.

Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions
contained herein. The information is provided ”as is” without warranty of any kind and is
subject to change without notice. The warranties for Hewlett-Packard Company products are
set forth in the express limited warranty statements for such products. Nothing herein should
be construed as constituting an additional warranty.

Printed in the U.K.

®, MS-DOS®, MS Windows®, Windows® and Windows NT® are U.S.

Product Details

Write your tape drive details here so you can find them easily if you need them. The model name is on the

front of the drive and the product and serial numbers are on a label on the bottom of the drive.

Model (type of drive):

Model (number):

Serial (number):

Date purchased/installed:

2

SCSI ID:

Before you start

The HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive is a high-capacity, high-performance streaming tape
drive. Before starting to install your tape drive, you should consider the following.

Which operating systems are supported?

HP StorageWorks VS160 drives can be connected to servers running under Windows®.
Refer to the “HP StorageWorks Tape Software Compatibility” topic on our World Wide Web

www.hp.com/go/connect) for more information about the operating system versions

site (
that are supported.

How do I use the tape drive with my system?

Check the usage models on page 7. This shows how the HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive
can be used in different system configurations; direct attach and network attach.

How do I connect the drive to my server?

Your tape drive is supplied with a 68-pin, wide, VHDCI-to-HD SCSI cable to attach to the host
server. You will need a properly installed and configured SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) or a
built-in SCSI controller on your server with a spare LVDS SCSI port with a 68-pin, very high
density (VHDCI), wide SCSI connector.

For optimum performance your tape drive should only be connected to an Ultra 160 or Ultra
320 host bus adapter or SCSI controller and it should be the only device on the SCSI bus. Do
not connect more than two tape drives per SCSI controller. Do not attach the drive to the same
SCSI bus as your disk drive or RAID controller, unless it is a ProLiant server with a Smart Array
6i RAID controller.

See also Table 1, “supported SCSI bus types,” on page 11.

Why is the SCSI bus type important?

The SCSI bus type determines the speed at which data can be transferred between devices on
the bus and the maximum length of cable that can be used. HP StorageWorks VS160 tape
drives are high performance Ultra 160 SCSI devices with a maximum burst transfer speed of
160 MB/second. To benefit from this level of performance, it is important to ensure that the
drives are connected to a SCSI bus of a similar or higher specification. This means that you
need:

• An Ultra 160 or Ultra 320 SCSI bus. Ultra 160 SCSI supports the maximum bus speed of

160 MB per second; Ultra 320 SCSI exceeds this.

• LVD-rated SCSI cabling and terminators. The LVD interface and cable enables the data to

be transferred at the drive's maximum rate and provides a maximum cable length of 12
meters.

If you attach the drive to a lower specification SCSI bus, it may still work, but data will not be
transferred as quickly. For example, on a single-ended (SE) Ultra 2 SCSI bus the maximum
burst transfer speed of the drive is 40 MB/second and the maximum cable length is restricted
to 3 meters. See also Table 1, “supported SCSI bus types,” on page 11.

Note The drives are not compatible with high voltage differential (HVD) SCSI devices.

3

How can I check the SCSI bus type?

We strongly recommend that you use HP Library & Tape Tools to check your server’s current
SCSI configuration. This will provide information about the SCSI bus and the SCSI IDs in use.
HP Library & Tape Tools is the recommended diagnostic and support tool for your HP tape
storage product. It is available as a free download from the HP web site and is supported on
nearly all major operating systems.

See

www.hp.com/support/tapetools for compatibility information, updates and the

latest version of the tool.

Do I need additional items for installation?

• If you do not have a VHDCI, wide SCSI connector on your server, you will need to purchase
and install a VHDCI-to-HD adapter or use an HD-to-HD cable instead of the supplied cable.

• If the tape drive is not the only or last device on the SCSI bus, you must terminate the bus
with a multimode terminator. If the tape drive is the only or last device on the bus, then the
tape drive enclosure provides active termination and you do not need to purchase a
separate terminator.

• If you do not have a spare, suitably rated SCSI connector on your server, a new HBA (also
known as a SCSI card) will be required. The SCSI bus rating should match or be higher than
the SCSI rating of your tape drive. See Table 1, “supported SCSI bus types,” on page 11
for recommended HBAs. For specific details relevant to your server model please refer to

www.hp.com/go/connect. You will need to purchase and install the new HBA into an

unused, 64-bit PCI expansion slot within your server before installing your tape drive. (The
kit can also be installed in a 32-bit PCI expansion slot, but performance may be degraded.)

Refer to our World Wide Web site for recommended products, configurations and ordering
information:

www.hp.com/go/connect or www.hp.com/support/dlt.

4

Backup software and drivers

Backup software

For optimum performance it is important to use a backup application that is appropriate for
your system’s configuration. In a direct attach environment, where the tape drive is attached to
a standalone server, you can use backup software that is designed for a single server
environment. In network configurations you will need backup software that supports enterprise
environments. HP, Veritas, Legato, Yosemite and Computer Associates all provide suitable
products. Further details about these and other products that may be appropriate can be
found on our connectivity web site.

1 Go to our connectivity web site: www.hp.com/go/connect and select tape backup.

2 Select software compatibility.

3 Select your combination of operating system and tape drive model in the table. A list of

supported backup applications is displayed.

4 Make sure you have a backup application that supports HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drives

and download any upgrades or patches, if required.

Drivers

Windows users

After you connect the tape drive, download the HP driver from our web site: www.hp.com/

support

Refer to the accompanying README file for specific installation instructions for Windows
2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 drivers.

Note: We recommend that you install drivers from the web rather than the Windows
Hardware Installation Wizard, because the HP drivers fully support the performance of your
tape drive.

, see “Step 5: Verify installation” on page 19.

5

Direct attach - SCSI Network attach - SCSI

storage server (A)

RAID disk subsystem
recommended, see
page 7

6

tape
drive (B)

Figure 1: usage models

Usage models

The tape drive (B) can be used in a standalone or network environment. In a network
environment, anything less than Gigabit Ethernet may limit performance. The tape drive
should always be directly attached to a VHDCI SCSI connector on the storage server (A), as
shown in Figure 1.

A RAID disk subsystem is recommended. A single disk, particularly a fast disk such as a 15K
RPM drive, will also be sufficient, but be aware of other factors that can affect performance—
such as, compressibility of data, disk fragmentation and the number of files. You can use our
free performance assessment tools, which are available standalone or integrated into HP
Library & Tape Tools, to check tape performance and test whether your disk subsystem can
supply data at the optimum transfer rate. You can also use these tools to calibrate your restore
performance and maximal tape performance with more compressible data. See also
“Optimizing performance” on page 27.

Other models

The tape drive may work with other usage models, such as network attach storage (NAS) and
storage area networks (SAN), but HP does not currently provide technical support for
installing and using standalone DLT VS160 tape drives with these architectures. Similarly,
connection to fibre channel may be possible, if you purchase and install a fibre channel/SCSI
bridge, but it is not currently a supported option.

Please check www.hp.com/go/connect for the latest supported configurations.

7

install your
product

learn about your
product

register your
product

Figure 2: the

8

HP StorageWorks Tape

buy media
online

troubleshoot
with L&TT

CD-ROM

Using the CD-ROM

The HP StorageWorks Tape CD-ROM is a central source of information about your tape drive
with utilities for getting the best performance from your tape drive.

Use the HP StorageWorks Tape CD-ROM to check installation, as described in this guide, and
to verify and troubleshoot performance after installation. It helps you to:

• Install your product, which includes access to drivers, an installation check, and
performance information and tools

• Learn about your product

• Register your product

•Buy media online

• Troubleshoot with HP Library & Tape Tools.

9

connecting to an HBA

card in the server

Figure 3: checking the VHDCI SCSI connection

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Step 1: Check the SCSI connection

Use the following questions to help you check your SCSI connection. Windows users can use
HP Library & Tape Tools to check the SCSI bus type, see page 26. If you answer ‘Yes’ to all
these questions, you are ready to install your tape drive. If you answer ‘No’, you will probably
need to purchase and install additional items. For product details, go to

connect

1 Is there a spare SCSI port on your

server?

.

Yes

No

Purchase and install one of the recommended
HBAs into an unused 64-bit PCI expansion
slot. (The HBA can also be installed in a 32­bit PCI expansion slot, but performance may
be degraded.)

www.hp.com/go/

2 Is the SCSI bus type correct for the

SCSI specification of the device?

Yes

3 Will the tape drive be the only

device on the bus? This is the
recommended configuration. Do
not connect to a RAID controller or
the same SCSI bus as your disk
drive.

Yes

4 Does the HBA/controller have a

VHDCI SCSI connector?

Yes

No

No

No

See table below. If the SCSI bus differs from
the recommended specification for the drive,
performance of either the drive or the bus may
be impaired. Consider replacing your card
with one of the recommended HBAs.

Performance may be impaired. Consider
installing (if you have a spare PCI slot) or
replacing your card with an Ultra 320 HBA.
Make sure the last device on the bus is
terminated.

Purchase and install a VHDCI-to-HD adapter
or use an HD-to-HD cable instead of the
supplied VHDCI-to-HD cable.

5 You are ready to install the device.

SCSI Bus Type Transfer Speed Supported

Ultra 160 LVD Up to 160 MB/s Yes. This is a recommended configuration.

Ultra 320 LVD Up to 320 MB/s Yes. This is a recommended configuration.
Ultra 2 LVD Up to 80 MB/s Yes, but this is not recommended
Ultra single-ended,

wide
High Voltage

Differential

table 1: supported SCSI bus types

Up to 40 MB/s Yes, but this is not recommended as it will restrict

performance. Do not connect to a narrow SCSI bus.

Up to 40 MB/s No. The drive will not work and you may damage

the drive or controller

11

12

Figure 4: checking the SCSI ID

Step 2: Check the drive’s SCSI ID

Your HP StorageWorks VS160 drive is shipped with a default SCSI ID of 6, but it can be
assigned any unused ID between 0 and 15. Do not use SCSI ID 7, which is reserved for the
SCSI controller. SCSI ID 0 is typically assigned to the boot disk and should also not be used
unless the tape drive is on a dedicated SCSI bus.

1 Determine whether you need to change the SCSI ID from the default of 6.

Caution Static electricity can damage electronic components. Always wear an antistatic wriststrap if

possible. If not, to equalize the electromagnetic charges, touch a bare metal part of the server
(such as the back plate) before you remove the tape drive from its bag.

2 Change the tape drive’s SCSI ID, if necessary.

Use a small screwdriver or a ball-point pen to press the indented SCSI ID selector buttons on
the rear panel (see Figure 4) until the required value is displayed. Do not use a pencil because
small bits of graphite could contaminate the drive.

Note The server and the tape drive SCSI IDs are only checked at power-on. To change the SCSI ID

after installation, power down both the server and the tape drive, change the tape drive’s
SCSI ID, power up the tape drive, and then power up the server.

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14

Figure 5: connecting the SCSI cable

Step 3: Attach SCSI cable

A wide VHDCI-to-HD SCSI cable is provided to connect your HP StorageWorks VS160 tape
drive to a VHDCI SCSI port on an LVD SCSI bus. If your server has an HD SCSI port, you must
either purchase and install a VHDCI-to-HD adapter or use an HD-to-HD cable instead of the
supplied cable. Refer to our web site for recommended products:

connect

.

Caution To avoid damaging the server or tape drive, ensure that both are powered off while you

attach the SCSI cable.

1 Make sure you are connecting to a recommended SCSI bus type. See “Step 1: Check the SCSI

connection” on page 11. For optimum performance, we recommend that your
HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive is installed on a dedicated SCSI bus. If it is not, do not
connect it to the same bus as your disk drive. Do not connect the tape drive to the same bus
as a RAID controller, unless you are connecting to a ProLiant server with a Smart Array 6i RAID
controller.

Note: The recommended connections support a maximum bus length of 12 meters. However,
if you daisy chain the tape drive with an Ultra device, cable length is restricted to 3 meters.
Use a 1.8 meter cable to attach the initial unit and a 0.9 meter cable to daisy chain the
additional tape drive. Do not connect more than two tape drives per SCSI controller.

www.hp.com/go/

2 Perform a normal system shutdown and turn off the server and any connected peripherals.

3 Attach the VHDCI connection on the SCSI cable to the server’s external SCSI connector and

secure it by tightening the screws.

4 Attach the HD connection on the SCSI cable to one of the SCSI connectors on the rear panel

of the tape drive and secure it by tightening the screws. (See Figure 5.)

5 Connect the multimode terminator to the tape drive’s other SCSI connector and tighten the

screws to secure it. The multimode terminator detects whether the host bus adapter is SE or LVD
and automatically provides the appropriate termination.

Why does the tape drive need a terminator?

Terminators are essential, as they provide the correct voltages on the SCSI bus and prevent
unwanted signal reflections from interfering with data transfers. The rule is:

There must be termination at both physical ends of the bus and only at the ends.
Normally the HBA forms one end of the SCSI bus and provides termination. You, therefore,

need to ensure that the other end of the bus is terminated. If the tape drive is at the end of
the SCSI bus, the terminator must be attached to the tape drive.

If you want to attach additional devices to the SCSI bus after the tape drive, you will need
to remove the SCSI terminator and attach the next device to this SCSI connector. Make sure
that you attach the terminator to the last device in the chain.

15

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power on/off

switch

Figure 6: attaching the power cable

Step 4: Attach power cable

An external HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive will operate using any voltage in the range
100–240 volts (0.7 A, 50-60 Hz). No adjustment is needed. To connect your tape drive to the
power supply, proceed as follows:

1 Make sure that the tape drive is switched OFF. The power switch is on the rear panel.

2 Plug the power cable securely into the socket on the rear panel of the tape drive. (See Figure 6.)

3 Plug the other end of the power cable into the power outlet.

17

slide label
in here

indicates
leading
direction

Figure 7a: loading a cartridge

Figure 7b: unloading a cartridge

18

eject button

Step 5: Verify installation

Check operation

1 Switch on the tape drive and server. The tape drive will run its hardware self-test, which takes

up to 25 seconds (with no cartridge loaded). If self-test passes, the Ready LED remains on and
the other LEDs are off. See “Understanding the LEDs” on page 34 for more information about
the LEDs.

2 Install drivers and backup software.

On Windows systems, the Windows Hardware Installation wizard is displayed
automatically. We recommend that you close the wizard and install the drivers from the HP
web site at
upgrades necessary for your backup application (see page 5).

3 Verify that the tape drive installation was successful.

For most operating systems use HP Library & Tape Tools as described on page 26.
If you encounter a problem during this verification procedure, turn to “Troubleshooting” on

page 29 for help in diagnosing and fixing the problem.

4 You are now ready to carry out a backup and restore test to check that the drive can write data

to tape. Use a blank DLTtape VS1 cartridge. See “Use the correct media” on page 23 for more
information about recommended cartridges. Refer to your backup application documentation
for specific instructions.

www.hp.com. For all operating systems ensure that you have downloaded any

To load a cartridge

1 Insert the DLTtape VS1 cartridge into the slot in front of the drive with the markings uppermost

and facing the drive door. Apply gentle pressure until the drive takes the cartridge and loads
it. See Figure 7a.

2 The Ready LED flashes green while the drive performs its load sequence. When the cartridge

is ready for use, the Ready LED shows steady green. (If the Media LED is also on, you have
used a DLTtape 1V (VS80) cartridge. See “Use the correct media” on page 23.)

To unload a cartridge

Caution Never try to remove a cartridge before it is fully ejected or power off the tape drive while a

cartridge is still loaded. Failure to remove a data cartridge may result in cartridge or tape
drive damage.

1 Press the Eject button on the front panel. (See Figure 7b.)

2 The drive will complete its current task, rewind the tape to the beginning, and eject the

cartridge. The Ready LED will flash to indicate that the unload is still in progress and will show
steady green, when the cartridge is ready for removal.

19

20

Ready Fault MediaCleanPower LED Eject

button

Figure 8: tape drive controls and indicators

Your HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive

Your HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive has a Power LED and four LEDs (light emitting
diodes) on the front panel which indicate drive status, and an eject button. The LEDs provide
useful troubleshooting information. See also “Understanding the LEDs” on page 34. See
page 19 for more information about using the eject button in normal operation.

Front panel LEDs

There are four LEDs as illustrated in the diagram. (See Figure 8.)

Ready - far left, green

• On, green: power is on and the drive is ready for use

• On, blinking: the drive is busy

• Off: no power to the tape drive

Note The Power LED also indicates that power is on.

Fault - left, amber

• On: internal firmware error

• Slow blink (1 per second): user-initiated write/read diagnostic failed

• Fast blink (3 per second): servo or mechanism error

Clean - right, amber

• On: cleaning is required

• Medium blink (2 per second): cleaning in progress

• Slow blink (1 per second): calibration error or permanent write/read error

Media - far right, green

• On: DLT1 (VS80) format DLTtape IV cartridge loaded (you can read, but not write to, this

• Slow blink: unsupported format or damaged cartridge

Eject button

Use the eject button to eject the tape cartridge from the drive. When you press the button, the
drive completes any active writing of data to the tape, then ejects the cartridge. You can also
use the eject button to perform an emergency reset or to put the drive into code update mode,
see “Unload/Eject Button Functions” on page 37.

cartridge)

21

22

Figure 9: write-protecting cartridges

Use the correct media

For best performance we recommend HP branded media. Order online at:

www.hp.com/go/storagemedia

Guide on the HP StorageWorks Tape
and cleaning cartridges.

Data cartridges

Note * All values assume 2:1 compression.

Always use HP DLTtape VS1 160 GB* tape cartridges with your tape drive. These are single­reel cartridges that match your drive's format and are optimized for high capacity, throughput
and reliability.

Your DLT VS160 tape drive can read, but not write, DLTtape IV data cartridges previously
written with the DLT1/VS80 format. It is not compatible with any other DLT or SDLT tape
formats. The Media LED blinks as the tape drive attempts to load an unsupported cartridge
and, when the tape load process fails, the tape drive ejects the cartridge.

Type of cartridge Capacity Compatibility

DLTtape VSI

. If you do not have internet access, refer to the User’s

CD-ROM for ordering information for tape cartridges

160 GB* Read/Write

DLTtape IV
(DLT1/VS80 format)

All other cartridges

table 2: DLT VS160 data cartridge compatibility

80 GB* Read Only

Not compatible.

The drive ejects degaussed or cartridges written

in any of the following types:

DLT III, DLT IIIXT,

DLT IV (except for cartridges written in VS80 format),

SDLT I and SDLT II

Note If your cartridge is ejected within a minute after loading, you have used the wrong media

format or the cartridge is damaged.

Write-protecting cartridges

If you want to protect the data on a cartridge from being altered or overwritten, you can write­protect the cartridge.

If you move the write-protect switch during operation, the write-protect feature does not take
effect until after the current write operation completes.

• To write-protect a cartridge, slide the switch to the right. A “locked” icon appears on the
switch, indicating that the cartridge is protected.

• To write-enable a cartridge, slide the switch to the left. The “unlocked” icon appears on the
switch.

The indicator on the top of the data cartridge also points to the appropriate icon, indicating
the write-protected status. Figure 9 illustrates the location of the write-protect switch and
indicator.

Write-protection will not prevent a cartridge being erased by bulk-erasure or degaussing.

23

Cleaning cartridges

You must use DLT VS160 CleaningTape with HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drives. Most other
cleaning cartridges, such as CleaningTape III, will be ejected.

Caution Do not use other format cartridges in your tape drive and do not use DLT VS160

CleaningTape cartridges in other format tape drives.

To clean the tape drive:

A DLT VS160 CleaningTape cartridge should only be used when the Clean LED is constantly
lit or when your backup software notifies you that the tape drive needs cleaning. Do not clean
the tape drive unless the tape drive specifically indicates cleaning is necessary.

For ordering information see www.hp.com/go/storagemedia.

1 Insert the DLTVS160 CleaningTape cartridge, with the Front Slide Label Slot facing outward.

2 The drive will carry out its cleaning cycle and eject the cartridge on completion, which can take

th

between 1 (the first time that the cartridge is used) and 10 minutes (the 20
cartridge is used). During the cleaning cycle the Clean LED will blink rapidly.

Each DLT VS160 CleaningTape cartridge can be used up to 20 times. The cleaning cartridge
includes a label with 20 small boxes printed on it. Place a check mark in one of the boxes
each time you use the cleaning cartridge to clean the drive. Replace the cleaning cartridge
when you have checked all the boxes. If the cartridge has expired, it will not clean; it does not
eject.

time that the

Looking after cartridges

It is important that you look after your HP media and adhere to the recommended guidelines.
See “Problems with cartridges” on page 38.

Caution You may damage the tape drive if you try to insert and load a damaged cartridge. If you

have dropped the cartridge or suspect it may be damaged, please inspect it carefully and
discard it, if necessary.

24

Register your tape drive

Once you have installed and tested your HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive, please take a
few minutes to register your product. You can register via the web at

www.register.hp.com.

To ensure your registration is complete, there are a number of questions on the electronic form
that are mandatory. Other questions are optional. However, the more you feel able to
complete, the better we can meet your needs.

Note HP and its subsidiaries are committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. For further

information, please visit our World Wide Web site (
Statement.

www.hp.com) and click on Privacy

25

Diagnostic tools

HP Library & Tape Tools

HP StorageWorks Library & Tape Tools is the recommended diagnostic and support tool for
your HP tape storage product. It is available from a link on the CD shipped with your product
or as a free download from the HP web site. It is supported on nearly all major operating
systems.

See

www.hp.com/support/tapetools for compatibility information, updates and the

latest version of the tool.

Note HP Support will also request that you use Library & Tape Tools should you need to contact

them in the future, so it is a good idea to have it installed.

Troubleshooting with Library & Tape Tools

When Library & Tape Tools is first run, it will scan for HP tape drives and libraries on your
system and ask you to select the one to work with. At this time you can see the HBA
configuration of your server, how your devices are connected and the SCSI IDs of those
devices.

Once you have selected your device you have a number of choices for troubleshooting.

• Device identification: shows part number, serial number and information about any
cartridge loaded

• Firmware upgrade: allows you to locate and upgrade to the latest firmware. You will need
to be connected to the internet for this.

• Run tests: allows you to run proactive tests on your drive, such as the drive assessment test,
which will verify the functionality of your drive in around 20 minutes. HP recommends
running this test before calling HP Support. You will need to provide a ‘trusted’ cartridge that
can be written to during this test.

• Generate a support ticket: this is a full dump of the drive logs along with interpretation and
is used by HP Support to learn about the condition of your drive. Most useful is the device
analysis section which is the output from approximately 20 rules forming a comprehensive
analysis of the health of your drive. These rules may give advice such as cleaning the head
or trying a different tape if issues are found. The support ticket can be sent to HP Support
for further analysis.

• Run the performance tests: the tests to measure the write/read performance of your tape
drive and the data generation rates of your disk subsystem are also integrated into Library
& Tape Tools. Use these tests to find the performance bottleneck in your system.

26

Optimizing performance

We strongly recommend that you check the information on our web site at www.hp.com/
support/pat. This contains detailed support information that will enable you to identify

bottlenecks and take full advantage of the performance capabilities of the DLT VS160 tape
drive.

Various factors can affect tape drive performance, particularly in a network environment or if
the drive is not on a dedicated SCSI bus. If your tape drive is not performing as well as
expected—for example, if backup windows are longer than expected—consider the following
points before contacting HP Support at

Is the tape drive on a dedicated SCSI bus?

For optimum performance, we recommend that the tape drive is the only device on the SCSI
bus. If it is not, ensure other devices are LVD-compliant. If they are single-ended, the bus will
switch to single-ended mode with a lower transfer speed. There will also be restrictions on
cable length.

Can your system deliver the required performance?

www.hp.com/support.

The HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive can write uncompressed data at up to 8 MB/s (28.8
GB/hour) or compressed data at up to 16 MB/s (57.6 GB/hour), assuming 2:1 compression.
However, to get this performance it is essential that your whole system can deliver this
performance. In most cases, the backup application will provide details of the average time
taken at the end of the backup.

Typical areas where bottlenecks can occur are:

•Disk subsystem

A single spindle disk may not be able to deliver good data throughput at poor compression
ratios. Best practice to ensure good throughput is to utilize multiple disk spindles or data
sources.

• System architecture

Be aware of the architecture of your data protection environment; the aggregation of
multiple client sources over a network provides a good way of delivering good performance,
but anything less than Gigabit Ethernet may limit performance. Some enterprise class
backup applications can be made to interleave data from multiple sources, such as clients
or disks, to keep the tape drive working at optimum performance.

• Tape media type

The data cartridge should match the specification of the tape drive. A lower specification
will have a lower transfer speed (see “Data cartridges” on page 23). Use DLT VS1 160 GB
cartridges.

27

• Data and file types

The type of data being backed up or restored can affect performance. Typically, small files
incur greater overhead in processing and access than large files. Equally, data that is not
compressible will always limit the speed at which the drive can write/read data. You will
achieve no more than native rates with uncompressible data.

Examples of files that compress well are plain text files, spreadsheets; those that compress
poorly are those that are either compressed as part of their format (such as, JPEG
photographic files) or stored as compressed (such as, .ZIP files or .gz/.Z files on Unix
platforms).

28

Troubleshooting

The first step in problem-solving is establishing whether the problem lies with the cartridge, the
drive, the host server and its connections, or with the way the system is being operated.

Most modern SCSI host bus adapters locate and display attached devices when the system is
booting up. On Windows systems, if you swap or connect a product when your system is
running, you will need to reboot the system. IA32 systems also usually need to be rebooted.

If the device is not detected on boot up, there is probably a problem with the physical
hardware: cables, termination, connections, power or the host bus adapter itself. If the device
is displayed during boot up but cannot be found in the operating system, this is more likely to
be a software problem.

• If you encounter a problem during installation and need further clarification, refer to the
“Problems encountered during installation” on page 30.

• If a problem arises during testing after you have installed the drive, refer to the symptom­based section “Testing after installation” on page 32.

• For more information about LED sequences, refer to “Understanding the LEDs” on page 34.

• For information about cartridges, refer to “Problems with cartridges” on page 38.

You can use HP Library & Tape Tools to help diagnose problems, see “HP Library & Tape Tools”
on page 26.

Web troubleshooting guide

Please refer also to the detailed troubleshooting guide on the web at www.hp.com/go/

support

information.

. This contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date troubleshooting

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Problems encountered during installation

Unpacking

Description Further information

Some parts appear to be missing or
damaged.

Contact your vendor if any parts need replacing.

The SCSI cable shipped with the drive is not correct

Description Further information

The SCSI cable shipped with the drive
does not plug into the SCSI host adapter
of the server.

The cable provided will connect to the majority of
systems. If a different cable is required, you will
need to purchase one.

It is unclear which SCSI ID to use

Description Further information

It is uncertain which ID numbers are
available.

Use HP Library & Tape Tools (see page 26) to provide
information on your current SCSI settings. You can
also normally check the SCSI configuration from the
boot-up screen or from the Windows Control Panel
The HP StorageWorks VS160 drive has its SCSI ID set
to 6 by default. This should be left unchanged unless
this number is already in use. Full instructions on how
to change the SCSI ID are given on page 13.

How should the SCSI bus be terminated?

Description Further information

It is unclear if the bus is already terminated
or where an additional terminator should
be placed.

Both ends of a SCSI bus must be terminated.
Assuming that the host bus adapter is already
correctly terminated, there are typically three
possibilities:

• The tape drive is the only external device on the SCSI
bus. It should be terminated with the terminator
provided.

• The tape drive is being added to the end of a chain
of one or more existing external devices. Remove t he
terminator from the last device on the existing chain,
connect the tape drive to the chain, and terminate
the tape drive with the terminator provided.

• The tape drive is being added to the middle of a
chain of existing external devices. Insert the tape
drive into the chain and do not use the terminator
provided.

The terminator plugs directly onto either SCSI
connection on the rear of the tape drive.

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Is the correct SCSI host bus adapter installed?

Description Further information

The server already has a SCSI host bus
adapter but it is difficult to determine what
type it is.

The server may not have a SCSI host bus
adapter installed.

If your server is in its original configuration (no SCSI
adapters have been added or removed) then use
www.hp.com/go/connect to check the
compatibility of your system. You can also check the
SCSI configuration from the boot-up screen or from
the Windows Control Panel, or by using HP Library &
Tape Tools (see page 26).

Use HP Library & Tape Tools (see page 26) to check
whether you have a SCSI host adapter on your
system. If not, you will need to purchase one.

Do drivers need to be installed and, if so, which ones

Description Further information

It is unclear whether there is a need to
install drivers onto the system and more
help is required.

The required drivers do not appear to be
available.

Detailed information specific to your system can be
found on the www.hp.com/go/connect web site.
Drivers can be obtained from www.hp.com/
support. (Backup software that states support for
HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drives also provides
the required drivers.)

Future drivers will be provided via the support web
site when they become available.

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Testing after installation

Remember that the system recognizes devices during boot-up. If you swap or connect a
product when your system is running, you will need to reboot the system. Rebooting the system
will reset devices and will often resolve problems. It is good practice to reboot every time you
add a driver or install firmware.

Caution Never power off the drive while a cartridge is still loaded or during a firmware upgrade.

The server does not reboot after installation

Possible reason Recommended action

You have installed an additional SCSI host
bus adapter and its resources are clashing
with an existing adapter.

You have disconnected the power or SCSI
cable from the server’s boot disk during the
drive installation process.

Remove the new host bus adapter and check the
server documentation.

Check that the cables to all devices are firmly
connected.

The server boots but does not recognize the tape drive

Possible reason Recommended action

The power or SCSI cable is not connected
properly.

The SCSI bus is not terminated correctly. Check that the SCSI bus is actively terminated. (Refer

The tape drive’s SCSI ID address is not
unique.

The tape drive was switched on after the
server booted up. The server only checks for
SCSI devices at power-on.

Check that the Power LED is on. Check that the
cables to the tape drive are firmly connected. Ensure
that the SCSI cable is LVDS-compliant and does not
have any bent pins. Replace, if necessary.

also to the documentation for your SCSI controller
and any other SCSI devices you may have.)

Make sure that each device on the SCSI bus has a
unique ID.
We recommend that the tape drive is connected to a
dedicated host bus adapter. Do not attach the drive
to the same SCSI bus as your disk drive, or to a RAID
controller,

Smart Array 6i RAID controller

Switch on the tape drive and then reboot the server.

unless it is a ProLiant server with a

.

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The application does not recognize the tape drive

Possible reason Recommended action

The application does not support the tape
drive.

Some applications require drivers to be
loaded.

Use HP Library & Tape Tools to check that the drive
is installed properly. Refer to our World Wide Web
site (www.hp.com/go/connect) for details of
backup applications that support the
HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive. Load any
service packs as necessary.

Check that the correct SCSI and tape drive drivers
are installed. Consult the backup application’s
installation notes for details.

The drive does not work

Possible reason Recommended action

If the drive does not power up (all LEDs are
off), the power cable may not be connected
to the drive properly.

If the self-test fails (see “LEDs during self-test”
on page 34), there may be a hardware or
firmware failure.

Make sure that the power cable is firmly connected.
If it is, try another power cable. If the drive still does
not power up, call for assistance.

If there is a cartridge in the drive, remove it. Power
down the drive and power it up again. Try another
power cable. If the self-test still fails, call for
assistance.

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Understanding the LEDs

LEDs during self-test

Your HP StorageWorks VS160 tape drive has four LEDs (light emitting diodes) on the front
panel, which indicate drive status. The desktop model also has a green Power LED. These
LEDs provide useful troubleshooting information.

The tape drive performs a power-on self-test whenever power is applied. The test takes
between 25 seconds (no cartridge loaded) and several minutes (cartridge loaded).

• The LEDs illuminate one at a time, from left to right, starting with the Ready LED, next the
Fault LED, and finally the Clean LED, at approximately one second intervals.

• The Media LED illuminates very briefly and then all the LEDS go off. The Ready LED then
blinks for 10 to 15 seconds.

• If a data cartridge is not loaded, the Ready LED illuminates and POST is complete, the entire
process taking approximately 25 seconds.

• If a data cartridge is loaded, the Ready LED flashes while the tape drive mounts the data
cartridge, a process that can take several minutes.

• As POST completes, the tape drive makes a slight buzzing noise for several seconds. This
noise is normal.

• The tape drive is now ready to use.

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Using the LEDs for troubleshooting

If you cannot resolve a problem, contact customer service at www.hp.com/support.

Use the following table to interpret the front panel LED sequences and the appropriate action
to take, if any.

LED Sequence and Cause Action required

All LEDs OFF.

Drive may not have power, may be
faulty or may have been power
cycled or reset during a firmware
upgrade.

Make sure the drive is switched on. The power on/off
switch incorporates a green LED.

You can use the power cable from your monitor or
another device to check that the connection is
working.If the power supply is present and all LEDs
remain off, power cycle the server.

Check the power cable connection and replace the
cable if necessary. If there is still no power, call for
service.

Media blinking
slowly

The drive believes the current tape or
the tape just ejected is faulty.

Media ON

A DLT1 (VS80) format DLTtape IVTM
data cartridge is loaded.

Clean blinking
slowly.

The tape drive cannot read the
calibration tracks on the media or
has encountered a permanent write
or read error.

Clean blinking
rapidly.

Make sure that you are using the correct format
cartridge; a DLT VS1 data cartridge for read and
write or a DLT I /VS80 format for read only, or a DLT
VS160 cleaning cartridge. (See also page 23.)

Check the cartridge for damage.
Load a new or known-good cartridge.
If the Media LED is still on, call for service.

Your tape drive can read, but not write to, this data
cartridge. If you attempt to write to the cartridge, your
backup application will return a “Write Protected”
message.

If the failure is the result of a calibration error, the tape
drive ejects the data cartridge. If the failure is the
result of a permanent read/write error, the tape drive
does not eject the data cartridge. Try a known-good
data cartridge. If the condition persists with a
particular data cartridge, discard or degauss that
data cartridge. If this error is repeatable with a
known-good data cartridge, try cleaning the tape
drive. If cleaning the tape drive does not help, contact
Support.

This is normal. Wait for cleaning to complete.

Cleaning in progress.

Cleaning is required.

Clean ON

The tape drive continues to function, although you
may encounter more soft error rates. Clean your tape
drive as soon as possible.

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LED Sequence and Cause Action required

Fault ON.

Internal firmware error.

Fault blinking
rapidly

Servo or mechanical error.

Power cycle or reset the tape drive. Try the operation
again with a known-good data cartridge. If the
condition persists, contact Support.

Power cycle or reset the tape drive. Try the operation
again with a known-good data cartridge.

If this condition persists with a known-good data
cartridge, contact Support.

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Unload/Eject Button Functions

Normal Unload/Eject

When you press and release the button within 6 seconds, the tape drive unloads and ejects
the data cartridge.

Emergency Reset

Hold the Eject button for 27 to 30 seconds and release it when
all four LEDs are on solidly.

The tape drive performs a hard reset, behaving as if it has been
powered off and then on. A standard POST then occurs.

Enter Code Update Mode

If you have a firmware upgrade cartridge with a code level higher than the tape drive, the
drive recognizes this when it reads the cartridge and automatically loads the update.
However, you can also manually update the firmware, for example, if you want to revert to a
specific firmware version.

Note We recommend that you use HP Library & Tape Tools for all firmware and software

downloads.

1. Hold down the Eject button for 9 to 12 seconds and

release it when the first two LEDs (Ready and Fault) blink.

2. When the two outer LEDs (Ready and Media) blink, the

tape drive is ready to accept a code update data
cartridge.

3. Insert the code update data cartridge within 15 seconds to

update the firmware inside the tape drive. If you do not
load a code update data cartridge within 15 seconds, the
tape drive returns to normal operating mode.

37

Problems with cartridges

If you experience any problems using HP branded cartridges, check:

• The cartridge case is intact and that it contains no splits, cracks or damage.

• The cartridge has been stored at the correct temperature and humidity. This prevents
condensation.

• The write-protect switch is fully operational. It should move from side to side with a positive
click.

• The World Wide Web site for more detailed troubleshooting information:

www.hp.com/support

Caring for cartridges

To ensure the longest possible life for all of your HP DLTtape VS1 data cartridges, follow these
guidelines:

• Maintain clean and smoke-free operating and storage environments.

• Do not drop or strike a data cartridge. Excessive shock can displace the tape leader, making
the data cartridge unusable and possibly damaging your tape drive.

• Store your data cartridges in their plastic storage cases.

• Do not expose your data cartridges to direct sunlight or sources of heat, including portable
heaters and heating ducts.

• The operating temperature range for your data cartridges is 10

• If a data cartridge is exposed to temperatures outside the ranges specified above, stabilize

• Store your data cartridges in a dust-free environment in which relative humidity is always

o

F). The storage temperature range is 16o C to 32o C (60o F to 90o F).

104

the data cartridge at room temperature for the same amount of time it was exposed to
extreme temperatures, up to 24 hours.

between 20% and 80% (noncondensing). The ideal storage relative humidity is 40%, 20%.

.

o

C to 40o C (50o F to

• Do not place data cartridges near sources of electromagnetic energy or strong magnetic
fields, such as computer monitors, electric motors, speakers, or X-ray equipment. Exposure
to electromagnetic energy or magnetic fields can destroy data on data cartridges.

• Place identification labels only in the slide-in slot on the front of the data cartridge.

• Never use any type of adhesive labels or ‘sticky’ notes on data cartridges; they can become
dislodged inside the tape drive and entangled in the mechanism.

• Do not use graphite pencil, water-soluble felt pens, or other debris-producing writing
instruments on your labels. Never erase a label; replace it.

38

Other sources of information

You will also find troubleshooting information and contact details on the HP StorageWorks
Tape CD-ROM and the HP web site. In particular:

• The online User’s Guide on the HP StorageWorks Tape CD-ROM contains an extensive
troubleshooting topic.

• The HP support web site contains a link to
to HP’s Customer Care web site for a wide range of up-to-date information about your
product.

• The HP web site at
products and configurations.

How to contact HP

You can also use the HP Customer Call Centers for specialist technical help. Contact details
can be found at

To make the best use of this service, we ask that you work with our Support Specialists to
resolve any issues with your drive. This may include downloading diagnostic software, that
will assist in the rapid resolution of your problems. If you do not have web access, a full listing
of HP Customer Call Centers, correct at time of printing, is given in the online User’s Guide on
the HP StorageWorks Tape CD-ROM.

www.hp.com/support/dlt that takes you

www.hp.com/go/connect provides details of recommended

www.hp.com. Click on the link to “contact HP”.

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