Re: Problem with Seagate/IBM DDS-3 tape drive.

From: Rob Turk (r.turk_at_chello.nl)
Date: 08/12/03 

Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 07:47:51 +0200

"Dr. David Kirkby" <drkirkby@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:bbdc5d83.0308111616.38719601@posting.google.com...
> I'm stuck trying to get a tape drive to work. Any help appreciated.
>
> I bought an IBM RS/6000 server recently (7025 F50 to be precise),
> which is fitted with a IBM DDS-3 tape drive that is clearly made by
> Seagate. I've tried today for the first time to use the tape drive
> with a DDS-2 tape, but are not having a lot of luck. The model says
> "IBM" Seagate "SDT124000" and under that "SDT22400". See picture at
> http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~davek/dds3-2.jpg
>
> Looking at the Seagate manual
> http://www.seagate.com/support/tape/specs/dds/std12400.html
> the only difference between the SDT124000 SDT22400 is that the former
> is designed for a 3.5" bay and the latter has rails for a 5.25" bay.
>
> What is odd, is that the Seagate manual says "The Scorpian drive
> contains two LEDs. The yellow rectangular LED indiates the drive
> status and the green rectangular LED indicates the cartridge status."
> Simply enough you might think, except the drive has three LEDs on the
> front panel - see the photo I took at
> http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~davek/dds3.jpg
> not two as the Seagate manual says. I can't find any IBM manual. Hence
> I have not got a clue what the LEDs mean. The one on the far left,
> marked like a horseshoe remains lit when the tape is inserted. I
> thought that might me Clean, so I inserted a cleaning tape. But that
> did not help.
>
> I've had mail sent to root indicating a problem.
>
> A PROBLEM WAS DETECTED ON Mon 11 Aug 22:31:56
> 2003 801014
>
> The Service Request Number(s)/Probable Cause(s)
> (causes are listed in descending order of probability):
>
> 678-320: Error Log Analysis indicates a permanent hardware failure.
> rmt0 FRU: 59H3879 P2/Z1-A5
> SCSI 4mm Tape Drive (12000 MB)
> n/a FRU: n/a P2/Z1-A5
> Test media.
>
> but needless to say the fact I don't know what this means. It would
> appear the drive is perhaps non-funtional, but I'd like to be sure of
> this before relagating it to the bin. I bought the machine used, but
> does anyone know the warranty period of such tape drives and whether
> IBM are likely to take back a drive under warranty, given the fact it
> was bought used?
>
> Does anyone know if its possible to get a drive repaired at a sensible
> price, or is the bin the best place for it, should I determine the
> thing is not going to work?
>
> Dr. David Kirkby

When IBM OEM's a device they usually want it to behave just the way they
like it. This means that LED's can behave completely different from the
generic product, and the drive may have additional features. Also, some
features that are available in the standard product may be disabled in their
version. The user manual of a generic drive is therefor often useless when
you have an IBM OEM drive.

As far as the error, it's pretty obvious that the drive reports a hardware
failure. Try the usual things (clean a couple of times, try a new tape). If
that doesn't work, try contacting IBM. They will most likely not care about
warranty unless the entire system is covered by a valid maintenance
contract.

Rob

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