Redirector software and Tape drives offline in Backup Exec

[sashton]

I am runnning a Windows Server 2012 DataCenter cluster and I have a Windows Server 2008 R2 VM running on top of the cluster. I have a SAS Tape Library physically attached to the cluster machines. I am running the latest version of the StarWind Tape Redirector software and i can see the iSCSI tape drive within the 2008 R2 VM. I am using Syamntec Backup Exec 2012 within the VM. I am able to succsessfully run a tape backup within the VM, however every 3 - 5 days, the tape drives goes offline within Backup Exec and i can bring them online within Backup exec, but whenever i try to run a backup job to them, the tape drives go offline again. I have to shut down the VM, reboot the cluster and then start the VM for the Tape drives to go back online and then I can run a tape backup again. But 3 - 5 days later, the tape drives go offline again, and I have to repeat the process of rebooting.

Is there anything I can do to stop me having to reboot everything to get the tape drives to show online within the VM?

[anton (staff)]

Run V8 beta (soon RC and soon Release) as we did not upgrade TR for years. Issue you're reporting has been fixed (at least we hope so) with the most recent builds.

[sashton]

Where can I download V8 beta?

[anton (staff)]

Here we are:

http://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-v8-beta

Looking forward your feedback

Where can I download V8 beta?

[sashton]

Thank you very much. I will be installing tomorrow and will provide feedback on how it goes.

Thank you

[anton (staff)]

Thank you for cooperation!

Thank you very much. I will be installing tomorrow and will provide feedback on how it goes.

Thank you

[sashton]

Ok. I have installed the Beta V8 which basically just upgraded my existing installation. Everything went well and so far my tape drives have stayed online. I will provide an update in a few days as to whether the tape drives are still online. Thank you.

[anton (staff)]

Please do as we've fixed the issue for most of the cases but sometimes it does not work so we definitely need more feedback. Thank you!

Ok. I have installed the Beta V8 which basically just upgraded my existing installation. Everything went well and so far my tape drives have stayed online. I will provide an update in a few days as to whether the tape drives are still online. Thank you.

[sashton]

My tape drives have gone offline again in Backup exec with the beta version of Starwind Tape Redirector. It looks like I will need to reboot the cluster and the VM to get them back online in Backup exec

[anton (staff)]

Please provide us with StarWind logs so we could fix this issue completely. Thank you!

My tape drives have gone offline again in Backup exec with the beta version of Starwind Tape Redirector. It looks like I will need to reboot the cluster and the VM to get them back online in Backup exec

[sashton]

I just noticed that Starwind is saying that my license has expired, and to contact sales.

[sashton]

I have attached the StarWind logs to this message. Thank you

[sashton]

Here are my logs

[sashton]

More Logs

[solae]

Hello i have the same Problem with a Hyper-V 2012, and a Server 2008 R2 with Backup Exec 2012.

As a Workaround a set the Tape Drive 5 Minutes before the Backup to Offline and Back Online with a skript.
Copy these 3 Lines in a file called "SetTapeOnline.cmd" and start it via Task Scheduler 5 Minutes before Backup:

Code: Select all

CD\
powershell.exe -command "&{import-module bemcli;Get-BETapeDriveDevice  | Set-BETapeDriveDevice -Disabled 1}"
powershell.exe -command "&{import-module bemcli;Get-BETapeDriveDevice  | Set-BETapeDriveDevice -Disabled 0}"

This worked for me the last 4 Days.

You could also restart all services, but i don't know if this works and also Backup Exec Services tend to hang sometimes.