Topic: DLT Tape Drive Doesn't Stream

[Gene Cooper]

Hello,

I have just configured a new SME 5.5 server using the new Benchmark/HP/Tandberg  half-height 5.25" DLT IV 40/80 GB tape drive.

The backups seem to work flawlessly, except for one thing: the drive doesn't stream to tape properly.  The drive operates like a see-saw and moves the tape back and forth, rather than just streaming in a smooth forward motion.

I've built numerous other SME servers, but I've always used DAT tape drives and I've never had this problem (with E-Smith/SME).

The server is new: Intel ServerBoard, 2.0GHz P4, Adaptec Ultra160 controller, 10K rpm HD, etc.  It SHOULD feed the data fast enough to properly stream the tape drive.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

G

[Steve Bush]

First thing to do is change the block size to 32k, 64k would be better, but I received error messages in the log files that had to do with compiling support for 64k block sizes into the kernel.
You might also want to modify the buffer size as well.