Hey.
I`ve got some issues with Veeam B&R v. 8 (8.0.0.2021).
When I start a backup to tape job that needs more than one tape, I`ll get this error message: "Failed to continue tape backup session on the next tape medium Object reference not set to an instance of an object.".
I thougth this was fixed in build 2021 (ref. http://forums.veeam.com/tape-f29/start- ... 26073.html), but apparently not.
Fixed!
Our tapelibrary does not use multipath, all backup to tape goes over ethernet.
What`s strange to me is this:
The HP MSL tapelibrary had 2 fiberports connected that was not in use (but still connected).
When we tried backup to tape from Veeam, we got this error message: "Failed to continue tape backup session on the next tape medium Object reference not set to an instance of an object."
Then we disconnected the fiberports in the HP MSL tapelibrary, and all went fine.
I had the same issue which popped up suddenly, but probably after a firmware and driver upgrade on the VeeAm host server. Tape inventories, format operations and backups all failed after a random number of the library's tape changes. Firmware update of library and LTO didn't help.
With inventory operations I noticed that VeeAm mounted a tape and while it was inventorying, tried to mount another tape, and another, and another, which all failed.
We use SAS cabling, and in our case there are two cables (merged into one port) going from library to the host's controller. Windows' device manager showed two instances of our MSL2024 library and two instances of the library's LTO5 drive (we have only one MSL2024 changer with one LTO5 drive fitted). After disabling one of each in Device Manager, everything worked again.
It's strange, because we also have a Microsoft Data Protection Manager server with the same equipment. The Device Manager on that server also shows the devices in duplicate, but DPM has never had any trouble with it. Nor does the HP tape utility, that can diagnose the library's robotics. It seems a VeeAm thing. Don't know about version 9 though, we have version 8 (2084).