[CentOS] Problem detecting HP Tape Drive

Sun Jan 4 13:32:21 UTC 2009
Kay Diederichs <kay.diederichs at uni-konstanz.de>

Mehdi Sarmadi wrote:
> Hello
> 
>  I do have problem using Linux with an external HP tape drive. The
> server platform is also an HP Server; the server is an HP ML350 G4,
> and the Tape drive is a HP Storage Works Ultrium 448 - 1U
> Rack-mountable.
> 
>  HP Ultrium documentation says two drivers should be automatically
> up, sym53c8xx for LSI SCSI interface "st" for tape and /proc/scsi/scsi
> should contain information about tape drive, e.g. SCSI ID. However
> none of them happened in my case! (document: "UP LTO Ultrium 2-3 -
> Unix Config Guide")
> 
>  The SCSI adapter is an LSI53C1030. The system has another the same
> adapter which is used for hard disk drives.
> 
>  The interesting part is, the hard disk are detected and even OS
> boots from them, but I can't make the tape drive work. Moreover, in
> system boot up, LSI SCSI BIOS displays informations saying there is a
> tape drive connected!
> 
>  Any one has same experience, suggestion, comments or clues?
> 
> I've place a zip file here:
> http://msarmadi.googlepages.com/report_files.zip which contains:
> 
> - dmesg
> - lshal
> - lsmod
> - lspci -vv
> - cat /proc/scsi/scsi > proc.scsi.scsi
> - cat /proc/modules > proc.modules
> - uname -a > uname
> 
> Also, below there are detailed information about devices and OS
> config/log files.
> 
> ===== System info:
> Operating System: Redhat Enterprise Linux AS 5(the same thing happened
> using CentOS 5.2)
> Sever System: HP ML530 G4
> SCSI Adapter: LSI 1030
> Tape Drive: HP Storage Works Ultrium 448 - 1U Rack-mountable
> SCSI Cable: P/N 313375002 Rev R (coming with tape drive)
> 
> *Note that, no other SCSI devices are connected to the cable.
> 
> ===== Here is some parts of boot up messages on the screen of HP ML350 G4 ====
> System BIOS D17 (14/04/2005)
> 
> ...
> 
> MPTBIOS-5.05.18
> 
> ...
> 
> Slot 3 HP Smart Array 6400 Controller (192MB, v.2.26) 1 Logic Drive Detected
> 1794-Slot 3 Drive Arraye - Array Accelerator Battery Charge low
>  Array Accelerator Posted-Write Cache is temporarilty Disabled
>  Array Accelerator batteries hace failed to charge and should be replaced
> 
> 
> Slot 3 HP Smart Array 6400 EM Controller (192MB, v.2.26) 1 Logic Drive Detected
>    Tape or CD-ROM Drive(s) Detected:
>        SCSI Port 2: SCSI ID 1
> 1785-Slot 3 Drive Arraye Not Configured
>    No Drives Detected
> ...
> 
> [Followed by GRUB and Linux boot up]
> =========================
> 
> --
> Mehdi Sarmadi

Mehdi,

did you install the "mt-st" RPM ? This lets you control your tape with 
the mt utilities.

Knowledgebase articles that seem to be relevant for your case are e.g.
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-1235
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-7084

HTH,

Kay