PRB: Dumping to a DLT Tape Drive May Fail to Span Tapes

• Microsoft SQL Server, version 6.5

SYMPTOMS

A database dump may fail to span more than one tape if you are using a DLT tape drive. The first tape may become full and you will be prompted to respond to the following message:

   End of tape has been reached, remove tape 'SQ0001' and mount next tape
   for dump of database 'dbname'.

   Msg 3202, Level 16, State 1, Server SERVERNAME, Line 1
   Write on dump device '\\.\TAPE0' failed, vsn=0 return=-2 status=-2.
   Please consult the SQL Server error log for more details.

   tbswritecheck: Not enough space is left in the device to initiate this
   dump

CAUSE

The DLT tape unit does not physically eject the tape, so SQL Server always detects a tape in the drive, and attempts to keep writing to it even when it is full.

WORKAROUND

To avoid this problem, do any of the following:

• Use a DLT drive with a higher capacity, such as a Digital TZ88, so that the dump will require only one tape.
• Use a 4 mm or 8 mm DAT tape drive.
• Make a striped dump to multiple DLT tape drives.
• Type Console.exe at the command prompt before starting the dump operation. Follow the instructions on the screen and start the dump. Be sure to follow the same process for the load operation.

MORE INFORMATION

This section provides an example of what the command prompt will look like when using the CONSOLE application to dump or load a database that spans two DLT tapes. In this example, comments on how to respond to these messages are given in square brackets.

Option I. Use the DUMP DATABASE or LOAD DATABASE command

Microsoft(R) Windows NT(TM) (C) Copyright 1985-1996 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>console [Execute the DUMP DATABASE or LOAD DATABASE command from a SQL query window.]

Mount first tape SQ0001. Press ENTER when mounted, or press 0 to abort [Press ENTER when the first tape is in the drive. The dump or load will continue until the end of the tape is reached and the tape drive light will turn green.]

Change tapes and mount SQ0002. Press ENTER when mounted, or press 0 to abort [Press ENTER when the second tape is in the drive. The dump or load will finish on this tape.]

Remove the tape. Press ENTER when removed.

Option II. Use SQL Enterprise Manager

When using the SQL Enterprise Manager Backup/Restore function to start the dump or load, the technique is the same as that described in Option I above. However, the messages will be slightly different from those noted above. This is because the server will run a LOAD HEADERONLY command which, when completed, returns the following message to the CONSOLE:

Remove the diskette. Press ENTER when removed.

When the dump or load has completed, press CTRL+C to quit the CONSOLE application.