Initializing LTO9 tapes behavior

[marieelieg]

Hope everyone is having a good time zone.

I have a question regarding the initialization step for LTO9 tapes.

We have successfully initialized all new LTO9 tapes prior to the backup. However, now we are facing an issue where the daily tape backup generates the following error every time it runs:
[<vm_name>] Loading tape <tape_name> from Slot 1 to Drive 1 (Server: <server_ip>, Library: HP 1x8 G2 AUTOLDR 6.00, Drive ID: Tape0) Error: Failed to call RPC function 'LoadMediumByScsi': Fixed format, current; Sense key: Illegal Request. ASC = 0x0000000000000044, ASCQ = 0x0000000000000081 (vendor specific). Failed to perform scsi command. CDB: a5 00 00 00 03 e9 00 01 00 00 00 00.

We have to manually initialize the LTO9 tape within the HPE 1/8 G2 Autoloader prior to each tape job run, otherwise it will fail with the aforementioned error.

Is this behavior normal?
As far as I know, and based on HPE documentation (New Media Initialization Wizard), the LTO9 tape initialization is for new tapes only and not for ones that have been initialized already.

Thanking you in advance

[david.domask]

Hi marieelieg,

The behavior is not expected; your research is correct, with HPE tape environments and LTO9, tapes must be initialized by the tape library itself before the library will allow backup applications to move tapes from slot to drive.

This should be a one-time process however, so definitely not expected. Please open a Support Case and allow Veeam Support to review the situation. Please export logs for one of the jobs that was affected by this behavior for Support to review. (use the 1st radio option to export from jobs, select one of the jobs affected by this for export)

Please share your case number here once created. Thanks!

[RobTurk]

Perhaps a wild guess, but the listed SCSI command tells the library to move a cartridge from Tape slot 2 to the drive. The library response (ASC/ASCQ 44/81) means "Source is not ready".
So the library doesn't find a tape that it expects in Slot 2, or can't grab it.

Could it be that the tape magazine isn't installed properly, or the import/export door isn't closed?
Another thing to check is rescan and re-inventory the library to ensure all tapes that VBR thinks are in certain slots, are actually there.