dpk’s weblog

I’m not sure I want to embed flash on this page just yet (I might some day do up a click-to-load javascript thingy, but I’m currently enjoying the “state of lazy”), so instead here’s a link to a video of a big ol’ tarantula, that I call Jane.

A while back we determined what was the cause of some specific errors related to the IBM TS3200 library. I forgot to post about ‘em until now, though. Here’s the error message from mtx:

backup1:~# mtx next
Unloading Data Transfer Element into Storage Element 5…done
mtx: Request Sense: Long Report=yes
mtx: Request Sense: Valid Residual=no
mtx: Request Sense: Error Code=70 (Current)
mtx: Request Sense: Sense Key=Hardware Error
mtx: Request Sense: FileMark=no
mtx: Request Sense: EOM=no
mtx: Request Sense: ILI=no
mtx: Request Sense: Additional Sense Code = 81
mtx: Request Sense: Additional Sense Qualifier = 8A
mtx: Request Sense: BPV=no
mtx: Request Sense: Error in CDB=no
mtx: Request Sense: SKSV=no
MOVE MEDIUM from Element Address 4101 to 256 Failed

The problem (at least in our case) is that the tapes don’t always easily come out of the magazine. 81/8A indicate hardware failure, IIRC.

There are little pieces of plastic inside the magazine slots that are designed to hold the tape in place. They give when the tape is tugged on just slightly, but some of them are holding on too tight. In some cases, I can get it to load a tape when I try again and again, and sometimes it just requires physically removing and replacing the tape over and over to weaken the magazine’s grip. It may be that we could order replacement magazines from IBM, but I think due to the nature of this problem, there’s no guarantee it won’t recur (the magazines were fine when we first used them), and it may actually go away over time, with use.

I’ve only uploaded a couple of photos from the trip so far. Here’s one taken while boating around on the Rio Negro. Our boat was pretty much directly under this snake, but we figured it wasn’t a big deal because he was pretty busy. That in its mouth is a bat. We assumed it was a pretty dead bat.

It’s perty here, but I’ve gotta say it’s weird not rinsing my toothbrush when I’m through with it. Time to go find some not-crazy-expensive bottled water!

<TourGuide> 88-year-olds wearing dental floss: That’s what Rio is all about!