Summary: Sun 20 GB DAT Autoloader & Legato Networker

From: Kai Brandes (kbrandes@mcs-hh.prisma.de)
Date: Mon Jan 02 1995 - 09:39:09 CST


Summary: Sun 20 GB DAT Autoloader & Legato Networker

I got many answers to my question. Thanks to all !

I will make a short summery, if anybody needs more information, please
contact me directly.

---------------------------------

Question:

Has anybody a working installation of the Sun 20 GB DAT Autoloader and
Legato Networker Single Server(4.2) for Solaris (2.3) ?
 
We want to use all 4 tapes as one big one, but the Autoloader stops after
the first tape and we habe to manually load the next.
 
Sun has mentioned that this should work, but caused by X-MAS no one there
is possible to say how. We4ve to install this configuration on the 29th
dec. 94.

Kai Brandes

------------------------------

We had this problem because Sun has wrote the folowing in their SUN INTRO
/ WORLDWIDE PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT Q1FY95 #13 July 12, 1994:

...

Q: I want to use NetWorker with Sun's 20-GB 4mm DAT stacker? Is it
   supported? What should NetWorker line item should I order?

A: Yes, its supported. Which NetWorker line item you should order
   actually depends on whether you want to use it for "random access"
   like a jukebox, or just to sequentially cycle through 4 tapes.

   Jukebox mode:
   -------------
   Sun recommends using the 20-GB 4-mm DAT stacker in jukebox mode,
   because it gives the most flexibility and benefits.
   The NetWorker line items to order then are:

      - NetWorker Advanced (NWK-ADV-P)
      - Jukebox Software License: 1-6 slot capacity (NWK-JB1-L)
  
   In this configuration, specify "ARC-DiamondBack" as the type of jukebox
   when enabling the DAT stacker using the jbm_enabler command described
   in the NetWorker administration manual.

   Also, be sure that the DIP switch #2 is in the OFF position. The DIP
   switches are located under the little rubber cover next to the tape
   cartridge when the unit is open. The default mode for this switch
   is ON, which tells the unit to load the tape from slot 1 automatically.
   Remember that the DAT stacker must be power cycled for a switch setting

   Sequential access:
   ------------------
   The DAT stacker can also be used in the default mode just to cycle
   through a series of tapes. It behaves as if were presenting "one
   long tape with 20 GB of capacity". The DAT stack can be used with
   the regular UNIX utilities such as dump or tar in this mode,
   and all the products in the NetWorker family will use it that
   way, too. That includes NetWorker: Single Server and NetWorker.
   
   If the jukebox capabilities of the hardware weren't being used
   neither NetWorker Advanced nor a Jukebox Software license would
   be required. This configuration is less expensive but doesn't
   gives any of the benefits of operating in jukebox mode.

....

-------------------------------------------

Solution:
------------

The anouncement from Sun is NOT correct. If you want a supported
installation you have to use Legato Netwoker advanced and the Jzkebox
modul !!

Pamela Pledger, Legato Systems, Inc wrote:

Kai,

Networker does not support any jukeboxes on the single server product.

If there is a method for using the four drives, as one, we do not
support that either ( I wouldn't even try. We have a lot of things
that keep track whether a saveset is split up on tapes or not. )

This is straight from the Manager of our Technical Support.

My strong suggestion is that you obtain/buy jukebox support. It is
well worth it.

The manager, also verified that rumor that I heard that the aliases
field of the server must have every ethernet port of the server listed.

I hope this helps.

Pamela Pledger Legato Systems, Inc
Unix System Administration 3145 Porter Drive
email: pamela@legato.com Palo Alto, Ca 94304
Phone : 415-812-6080 fax : 415-812-6032

if you do not want to spent this amount of money you can try a hack:

Sun Germany, Mr. Klett give me this hack:

Hallo Herr Brandes,

wie kann man NetWorker und den 20GB Stacker betreiben, ohne
eine JukeBox Lizenz zu haben ?

!!!!! ACHTUNG: Diese Anleitung ist ohne SUPPORT !!!!!!
 
Mit freundlichen Gruessen,
   Kristan Klett

----------------------------------------------------------------
Kristan Klett Sun Microsystems GmbH kklett@Germany.Sun.COM
System Support SunService ...!unido!suninfo.sun.de!kklett
           Eiffestr 80 tel : +49-40/251523-0
      20537 Hamburg fax : +49-40/251523-78

----- Begin Included Message -----

> The intro for networker says that you can use the 20Gb stacker with Networker
> without the advanced or jukebox version to use it as a 20Gb tape:-
>
> Sequential access:
> ------------------
> The DAT stacker can also be used in the default mode just to cycle
> through a series of tapes. It behaves as if were presenting "one
> long tape with 20 GB of capacity". The DAT stack can be used with
> the regular UNIX utilities such as dump or tar in this mode,
> and all the products in the NetWorker family will use it that
> way, too. That includes NetWorker: Single Server and NetWorker.
>
> When our customer does this, he gets and error after 3.9Gb of data, and
> then networker sits and asks for the next tape.
>
> Can anyone help?

   Sorry to take so long in replying to this one...

   I deinstalled NetWorker on my system in order to
   figure this one out. When I reinstalled NetWorker
   I left out the jukebox driver.

   In order to get the 20Gb stacker to work as a
   (virtual) sequential device, I took the following steps:

   1. Set dip switch #2 in the stacker unit to the ON
   position.

   2. Labelled all 4 tapes in the unit using the NetWorker GUI.
   In order for this to work, the tapes in the unit must already
   be labelled so that NetWorker recognizes the media as being
   part of the NetWorker media index.

   3. Changed the 'Notification' window to call a shell script
      (/home/dmax/bin/NWTEST/tape_advance), the contents
      of which appears below. The permissions on this
      script were:

          -rwsr-sr-x 1 root staff 168 Nov 8 10:15 tape_advance

   NOTE: the owner is 'root' and the script is setuid root, setgid staff.
   I'm not sure how important the permissions actually are, but this
   seemed to be the right way to go in order to properly access
   the tape device as a user. Bear in mind that users other
   than root may be calling this script.

   Generally speaking, the Notifications mechanism isn't designed
   to function in this way. However, this does seem to do the trick.

   3. Started the backup.

   Contents of the shell script:

----------------------- begin tape_advance shell script ----------------------
# Eject the tape currently in the drive.
# This will cause the stacker to load the next sequential tape.
nsrmm -j -f /dev/rmt/0hbn
sleep 5

# Mount the new tape so NetWorker understands it's available.
nsrmm -m -f /dev/rmt/0hbn
sleep 5

----------------------- end tape_advance shell script ----------------------

   The net result is this: when NetWorker detects the end of
   media for a given tape, as part of the Notification process
   it will call the script above. The script simply ejects
   the filled tape and mounts the new one. Once a fresh tape is
   mounted, NetWorker continues with the backup.

   Hope this helps!

Regards,

Max

----- End Included Message -----

----- Ende der eingebundenen Nachricht -----

IŒm waiting for a official statement from Sun, because their producft
announcement is wrong.

IŒll keep you informed.

Kai Brandes

*********************************************************************
* *
* Kai Brandes MCS Moorbek Computer Systeme GmbH *
* Gutenbergring 63 *
* kbrandes@mcs-hh.prisma.de 22848 Norderstedt / Germany *
* *
* Tel. +49-40-53414-0 *
* Fax. +49-40-53414-200 *
* *
*********************************************************************

*********************************************************************
* *
* Kai Brandes MCS Moorbek Computer Systeme GmbH *
* Gutenbergring 63 *
* kbrandes@mcs-hh.prisma.de 22848 Norderstedt / Germany *
* *
* Tel. +49-40-53414-0 *
* Fax. +49-40-53414-200 *
* *
*********************************************************************



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