VXATool for Linux V4.12 INSTALLATION, REQUIREMENTS AND TROUBLESHOOTING --------------------------------------------------------- VXATool for Linux is a diagnostic program used for testing, configuring, and upgrading firmware in the VXA-1 and VXA-2 tape drives. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: VXATool for Linux requires the Linux operating system v2.4.2 or higher. Any other platform may yield unexpected results including core dumps and/or system hangs. INSTALLING VXA TOOL FOR LINUX: 1. Download VXATool for Linux to your system in the directory of your choice. 2. Change to that directory and extract the zip file with the following command: tar -zxvf vxaTool_Linux_V4.12.tar.gz This will unzip the VXATool file into a subdirectory called Linux. 3. VXATool for Linux is now ready to be executed. PRIOR TO RUNNING VXATOOL Before running any vxaTool functions, completely shut down your backup application and any services it may be running. The backup application may prevent communications with the tape drive or may interrupt vxaTool functions resulting in their failure. VXATOOL FUNCTIONS By executing vxaTool without any parameters or command line options, the tool will display all possible options. ./vxaTool Usage: vxaTool [-deimtCFIP] -d Retrieve diagnostics dump to -e [1/2] (optional) Erase tape (set VXA-1 or 2 format, on VXA-2 only) -i Identify the device. -m (used in conjuction with '-t') Write and read Megabytes (100-9999) -t [W/R/F] (optional) Test write/read functionality of the device. Optional [R]ead-only, [W]rite-only and [F]ull-tape flags *** WARNING *** Any data on tape will be overwritten! Use a SCRATCH tape when testing the tape drive. -u Unload tape (also in combination with -t) -C [1/0] Enable (1) or Disable (0) hardware compression. NOTE: Compression state returns to default after a reset or power cycle -F Flash Firmware from file to the device NOTE: Do NOT interrupt a firmware update in progress! Your device may become inoperable if you ignore this warning. -I [0-10] Change the device Inquiry to mimic a different vendor. Specify 0 to return to factory default. Available inquiry settings are: 1 - ECRIX VXA-1 2 - ECRIX VXA-1a 3 - EXABYTE VXA-2 4 - EXABYTE EXB-8505 5 - EXABYTE EXB-8900 6 - EXABYTE Mammoth2 7 - SONY SDX-300C 8 - HP C1537A 9 - Quantum DLT4000 10 - Quantum DLT7000 <<< WARNING! '-P' options should only be used when instructed by >>> <<< Exabyte Technical Support >>> -P [S/C] Prefer (S)peed or (C)apacity optimisation. -P [B/Q] Prefer (B)usy or (Q)ueue status while loading a tape. Example : ./vxaTool /dev/st0 -t -m 100 IDENTIFYING THE TAPE DRIVE Follow these instructions to check the VXA drive's current firmware level, serial number, and inquiry string. 1. Install VXATool for Linux as per instructions above. 2. Execute the following command: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -i Note: If there are multiple VXA drives attached to your system, you will need to use different device names to communicate with the different tape drives. For example, /dev/st0, /dev/st1, etc. 3. Information similar to the following will be displayed: Tape Drive identified as VXA2 /dev/st0 - Vendor : EXABYTE /dev/st0 - Product ID: VXA-2 /dev/st0 - Firmware : 1009 /dev/st0 - Serialnum : 0085106081 /dev/st0 - Cleaning : 35 Tape Motion minutes ago UPGRADING FIRMWARE: Follow these instructions to upgrade firmware using VXATool for Linux: 1. Install VXATool for Linux as per instructions above. 2. Download firmware to the same directory as VXATool for Linux. Extract the firmware with the following command: unzip vfirmware.zip -x vfirmware.zip represents the version of firmware that is to be installed. This will create a vfirmware.hex file. 3. Execute the following command: ./vxaTool /dev/st0 -F vfirmware.hex *** Note *** A firmware upgrade should only be performed when no users are on the server. Depending on system configuration, this operation has the potential of hanging the server. Do NOT interrupt a firmware update in progress. Your device may become inoperable. 4. If the firmware upgrade was successful, a message similar to the following will appear: /dev/st0 - Uploading firmware.........................................OK Done OBTAINING A DIAGNOSTIC LOG: If problems are experienced with the VXA tape drive, Exabyte Technical Support may ask for a log in order to better troubleshoot the problem. If instructed to do so by Exabyte Technical Support, follow the steps below to obtain a log file from the VXA drive. 1. Install VXATool for Linux as per instructions above. 2. Execute the following command: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -d logfile.bin Note: Any file name with the .bin extension may be used. To obtain the most accurate information, be sure to execute this command prior to doing anything else with the drive. Don't eject the tape, reboot, etc. 3. If the log completes correctly, a message similar to the following appears: 0 Diagnostics Dump [DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD] 100 % Done 4. Email the log to Exabyte Technical Support for analysis (you can also find instructions at Exabyte.com for uploading your log to Exabyte Technical Support). RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST The VXATool for Linux can perform a diagnostic write/read test on the VXA tape drive. At the end of the test a message is displayed reporting whether or not the drive is running satisfactorily. Note: THIS TEST WILL OVERWRITE YOUR TAPE. USE ONLY A SCRATCH TAPE FOR THIS TEST. 1. Install VXATool for Linux as per instructions above. 2. Execute the following command: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -t 3. If the test completes satisfactorily, a message similar to the following appears: /dev/st0 - Drive functions properly. Done 4. If the test indicates that the VXA tape drive is not running satisfactorily, immediately obtain a drive log as described above. ERASING A TAPE The vxaTool can erase a tape by reformatting it. The reformat operation completes within 1-2 minutes. Note! THIS WILL DESTROY THE DATA ON YOUR TAPE. After erasing a tape, you will not be able to access data which was previously written on it. 1. Install VXATool for Linux as per instructions above. 2. Execute the following command: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -e Note: A VXA-2 drive can reformat a tape in either VXA-1 or VXA-2 formats. To specify that a tape should be erased in VXA-1 format, use the following command: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -e 1 OPTIMIZING FOR CAPACITY By default, the VXA tape drive is optimized for speed. However, slow network performance can sometimes affect tape capacity. Follow these instructions to optimize the drive for capacity: 1. Install VXATool for Linux as per instructions above. 2. Execute the following command: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -P C 3. Execute the following command to return to favoring speed over capacity: ./vxatool /dev/st0 -P S TROUBLESHOOTING: If you encounter any difficulty installing or running the VXATool please contact Exabyte Technical Support.