IT40329: TAPE DRIVE POLLING PROCESS FAILS TO BRING THE DRIVE ONLINE IF THE AVAILABLE PATH FOUND USES THE SAME DEVICE NAME AS BEFORE

8.1.14.200-IBM-SPSRV-WindowsX64
8.1.14.200-IBM-SPSRV-Linuxx86_64
8.1.14.200-IBM-SPSRV-Linuxs390x
8.1.14.200-IBM-SPSRV-Linuxppc64le
8.1.14.200-IBM-SPSRV-AIX

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• On the IBM Spectrum Protect Server, if a tape drive cannot be
  accessed, it is set offline.
  A polling thread will try to access it again during some time.
  If the access problem disappears by itself and the drive is
  accessible again, the server should mark the drive back online.
  That fails if the accessible path to the drive is found with the
  exact same device name as previously used by the server.
  
  Here is an example with tape drive DRIVEXX, having device name
  /dev/rmt12:
  
   ANR8336I Verifying label of LTO volume VOLXX in drive DRIVEXX
  (/dev/rmt12).
   ANR8996W The server is unable to query or enable append-only
  mode on tape drive DRIVEXX.
   ANR8468I LTO volume VOLXX dismounted from drive DRIVEXX
  (/dev/rmt12) in library LIBRXX.
   ANR4628E Device /dev/rmt12 failed to close with error code 16.
   ANR8848W Drive DRIVEXX of library LIBRXX is inaccessible;
  server has begun polling drive.
   ANR8963E Unable to find path to match the serial number
  defined for drive DRIVEXX in library LIBRXX.
   ANR8873E The path from source TSMDB11 to destination DRIVEXX
  (/dev/rmt12) is taken offline.
  
     Here the drive is set offline because it cannot be accessed.
    But a few minutes later, a new accessible path is found for
  that drive. But it stay offline like shown in next message.
  
   ANR8471E Server no longer polling drive DRIVEXX in
  library LIBRXX - path /dev/rmt12 will be marked off-line.
  
  
  A trace taken with flags PVR MMS NA shows that a path is found
  for the inaccessible drive with the exact same path as before,
  and it is not updated to online status:
  
   [27684][nadiscvr.c][3770][GetPathViaSerial]:Found a path
  /dev/rmt12 for serial [00078123456]
   [27684][mmsdrive.c][12652][DiscoverNewPath]:Successfully found
  a new path for drive DRIVEXX.  The new path is /dev/rmt12, and
  the old path is /dev/rmt12
   [27684][mmsdrive.c][12659][DiscoverNewPath]:The new and old
  path are the same. The drive path won't be updated.
   [27684][mmsdrive.c][8113][MmsCheckTapeId]:Drive DRIVEXX failed
  to open with the device /dev/rmt12 openRc 2845
   [27684][mmsdrive.c][8115][MmsCheckTapeId]:psOsSupportHBAAPI = 1
  option = 1 rc = 4089
   [27684][pvr.c][6753][PvrOpenTapeDrive]:Exit: drive DRIVEXX,
  handle 16, checktapeId returned rc = 2845
   [27684][mmsscsi.c][5868][ScsiSetLibDevice]:tempRc = 2845 rc =
  2845
   [27684][mmsscsi.c][5908][ScsiSetLibDevice]:Drive DRIVEXX
  (/dev/rmt12) encountered a problem...Exiting rc = 2845.
   [27684][mmsscsi.c][6218][ScsiSetLibDevice]:Exit with rc = 2845,
  drive state = 3 (3), empty = 1, available = 1.
   [27684][mmsdrive.c][12055][TraceMsg]:ANR8471E Server no longer
  polling drive DRIVEXX in library LIBRXX - path /dev/rmt12 will
  be marked off-line.
  
  
  IBM Spectrum Protect Versions Affected: Version 8.1 on all
    supported platforms
  
  Additional Keywords: TS008536092 TSM DiscoverNewPath()
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * All IBM Spectrum Protect server users of SANdiscovery        *
  * function.                                                    *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * See error description.                                       *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply fixing level when available.                           *
  * This problem is currently projected to be fixed in levels    *
  * 8.1.13.100, 8.1.14.200, and 8.1.15.                          *
  * Note that this is subject to change at the discretion of     *
  * IBM.                                                         *
  *                                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• This problem was fixed.
  Affected platforms for reported release:  AIX, Linux, Solaris,
  and Windows.
  Platforms fixed:  AIX, Linux, and Windows.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TSM SERVER

• Fixed component ID

  5698ISMSV

Applicable component levels