Tape mounted as read only, not automatically mounted as writable

Question

Question on Networker 7.4 SP4
A couple of instances when i came in and the backup group is still running as Networker is waiting for a writable backup tape (say of Pool A), but a Pool A tape is already mounted in the tape drive (of a SL500 library) as read only. But networker doesn't automatically remount the tape as writable. I've put in only 1 Pool A tape as that's all i needed to.
This has happened 3 times over last 2 months. Anyone else has this issue and any solution/patch to this?

amediratta · Answer

If a tape is marked read only, networker will not automatically mark it writtable, you need to do that manually.

If Networker is marking tapes Read Only automatically, it means you have some media/drive issues. You need to go through the logs to check the end of failure but since this is not happening everyday, it could be a media issue.

As a precaution, I would suggest you to clean the drives as well.

lalexis · Answer

While I don't have that issue as oftain it has happened to me. What happens is either the tape went bad or there was a read/write error on the drive. As mentioned before you will have to manually make it writable again. If it happens more than once on the same tape the tape is bad and should be replaced.

The drive errors are usually cleared up when the jukebox cleans the drive but it doesn't re-mark the tape just in case it was the tape that was bad.

ble1 · Answer

Your tape can only get marked full which then changes its status to read only. To have tape in read only mode while appendable you someone has to do manual action. What is possible is that device is currently in read only mode.

CalvinShim · Answer

Hi all, I've tried with a new tape, I noted still the same issue.The tape is not marked full or read only, it's just mounted as read only, persumably to be read for cloning purposes.
I would assume Networker would remount the tape as writable automatically, but it doesn't (a deadlock somewhere???) ....
And the bizarre thing is it doesnt occur that often, just 3 or 4 times per month.

amediratta · Answer

Does it not show the volume as read only in Volumes Tab? Check if the pool is a clone pool.

CalvinShim · Answer

It said 'No' in the write-enabled column. It's not a clone pool

NetWorker

Tape mounted as read only, not automatically mounted as writable

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