Product

Platform

Any

Operating system

Any

Error

When the wrong firmware is uploaded to an AIT3 drive, the Sony Tape Tool hangs and the firmware upgrade will fail. The drive will revert back to the existing firmware version.

When reporting and troubleshooting a tape drive problem, it is important that the drive model is properly identified.

Symptoms

Sony Tape Tool hangs while uploading the firmware.

When tape library power is cycled, the AIT3 tape drive will come up with the old firmware.

Cause

There are 2 models of the AIT3 drive. The older "C" model and the "V" model. These drives use different firmware. We configure the "V" drive to emulate the "C" drive for compatiility purposes. So the Operating System and the Sony Tape Tool detects and lists the "V" drive as a "C" drive. Do not rely on tape model information in the registry or the Sony Tape Tool.

Solution

Follow this procedure to identify if the AIT3 drive is a "V" or "C" model:

1. Get a cleaning tape.

2. While the Qualstar TLS library is powered up, open the door.

3. Place the cleaning tape into the drive. Do not close the library door.

4. Take note of the LED light colour.

5. When the cleaning is done (less than a minute), the cleaning tape will be ejected.

6. Take the cleaning tape out of the library.

7. Repeat the procedure if there are other drives that needs to be identified.

8. Close the library door.

The LED colour identifies the AIT3 model as follows:

LED is BLUE = AIT3-C

LED is GREEN = AIT3-V

The appropriate firmware can be downloaded from

http://techplanet/software_solutions/workflow_hardware/tape_drives_libraries/nav/qualstar/downloads.htm

Permanent fix:

See also

Keywords

archiver, archiver - RSM, archiver FAQs, backup, tape libraries

Technical contact(s)

Philip Samaniego

Submitted by

Philip Samaniego

Date submitted

22 Feb 2006