6 Checking the performance of your product
If performance is not meeting expectations and you are not meeting your backup window, check for bottlenecks in your system architecture.
NOTE: See www.hp.com/go/connect for recommended backup applications and SCSI HBAs and www.hp.com/support/pat for software configuration and performance advice.
What causes bottlenecks?
Network
8 Choosing and looking after media
Your high-performance tape drive works best with high-performance HP Ultrium media. Always use the recommended data cartridges (see table).
table1: Ultrium data cartridge compatibility
* Capacity assumes 2:1 compression.
10 Troubleshooting
NOTE: HP StorageWorks Library & Tape Tools (L&TT) is the free, recommended diagnostic and support tool for your HP tape drive. It can be downloaded from the HP StorageWorks CD-ROM or as a download from the HP website at www.hp.com/support/tapetools.
The detailed Troubleshooting Guide at www.hp.com/go/support contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date troubleshooting information.
If your server or drive does not work after installation, or your server or application cannot see the drive, check the physical cabling and configuration.
For most problems, use L&TT as a first step in identifying and resolving the problem.
General Troubleshooting
Software 
Server
1.We recommend data is not backed up or restored over Ethernet. In order to deliver optimum data streaming, connect the drive directly to the storage server.
2.A single disk may limit backup performance. Have disks in parallel (e.g. RAID5) if possible or, if your backup application supports interleaving of data, back up streams from multiple sources.
3.Use the latest version of your backup application. Native backup applications, such as Windows backup, may limit performance.
4.Connect the tape drive to a dedicated SCSI bus.
SCSI card: Use a PCI-express or a 64-bit PCI expansion slot. Use an Ultra320 SCSI HBA in a 64-bit/66MHz or better expansion slot for Ultrium 1840 and 960.
5.For optimum performance use HP Ultrium 1.6 TB and Ultrium 1.6 TB WORM cartridges with the Ultrium 1840, HP Ultrium 800 GB and Ultrium 800 GB WORM cartridges with Ultrium 960.
7 Hardware encryption and your Ultrium 1840 tape drive
Your HP Ultrium 1840 tape drive provides the ability to hardware encrypt your data, applying the strongest level of AES industry-standard encryption and protecting the data from unauthorized access and use. Encryption is supported only on Ultrium 1.6 TB media (C7974A and C7974W); media encrypted on an HP Ultrium 1840 drive can only be read on a compatible Ultrium tape drive that supports hardware encryption.
The recommended cleaning cartridge is the HP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, C7978A. This cartridge is designed to work with any Ultrium drive and may be used for up to 50 cleans.
It pays to look after your media
Many tape drive and backup failures are caused by damaged or badly handled tape media.
???Keep media in the case provided.
???Follow the temperature, humidity and acclimitization guidelines on the media packaging.
???Avoid dropping it or rough handling, as this is likely to damage the cartridge.
???Inspect it regularly for damage.
???Do not exceed normal cartridge life (260 full volume backup or restore operations).
For detailed information on media care and best practice and to order online, refer to www.hp.com/go/storagemedia/ultrium.
1 Write-protect switch
9 Understanding the LEDs
Symptoms
Read/Write errors
Clean LED keeps coming on
Cannot back up as much data as expected on a
1.6 TB, 800/400 GB cartridge
Drive will not accept cartridge
Tape error LED
Drive error LED
Server or backup application cannot see drive
Cartridge will not eject from drive
Action
???Check media type
???Check media age
???Clean drive
1.6TB, 800/400 GB assumes 2:1 compression.
Your data may not compress at this ratio
??? Check media type
???Check media for damage
???Check media age
???Clean drive
???Try another tape
???Power cycle drive
???Power cycle drive
???Try another tape
???Check power
???Check SCSI cables
???Check SCSI ID
???Can OS see it? (eg in Windows Device Manager)
???Use L&TT to scan for it
???Press the eject button.
Wait for up to 10 minutes.
???If ejected check media for damage and frequency of use.
???If not ejected power cycle drive and press eject button upon power up.
???Run L&TT assessment test
???Run L&TT media validation test
???Refer to detailed troubleshooting guide at www.hp.com/go/support
???Contact HP Support
???Check drive/HBA/cabling
???Check backup application is configured correctly and upgraded to latest version
???Check application has not locked media
Hardware encryption can be used with or without compression and without speed or capacity penalties.
IMPORTANT: Hardware encryption is a powerful feature, but should be used with care. If you need to import your media onto another machine or to recover after disaster you will be required to enter an encryption key.
???Hardware encryption is turned off by default and is switched on by settings in your backup application, where you also generate and supply the encryption key.
???Your backup application must support hardware encryption for it to work. The software supplied with the tape drive provides this support. See www.hp.com/go/connect for an up-to-date list of backup software.
???You should keep a record or backup of your encryption keys and store them in a secure place separate from the computer running the backup software.
???If you are unable to supply the key when requested to do so, neither you nor HP
Support will be able to access the encrypted data.
For more information about AES encryption, encryption keys, and using hardware encryption with your HP Ultrium 1840 tape drive, see the White Papers on h18006.www.hp.com/storage/tapewhitepapers.html.
1 Ready ??? green
???On: the drive is ready for use.
???Off: the drive power is off or there was a failure during self-test.
???Flashing: the drive is busy.
???Flashing repeated pattern: the drive is in OBDR (One-Button Disaster Recovery) mode.
2 Drive ??? amber
???Off: no fault has been detected.
???Flashing: the drive mechanism has detected a hardware error.
3 Tape ??? amber
???Off: no fault has been detected.
???Flashing: the cartridge currently in the drive is faulty (damaged or unsupported).
Discard the cartridge.
4 Clean ??? amber
???On: cleaning cartridge in use.
???Off: the drive does not require cleaning.
???Flashing: the drive needs cleaning.
11 Other sources of information
???The HP StorageWorks Tape CD-ROM for HP StorageWorks Library & Tape Tools (L&TT) and full Installation and User instructions' in English and 12 other languages.
???www.hp.com/support/tapetools for updates, compatibility information and the latest version of L&TT.
???www.hp.com/support/ultrium for up-to-date product information.
???www.hp.com/go/connect for recommended products and configurations.
???www.hp.com/support/pat for further information about getting the best performance from your tape drive.
???www.hp.com/go/obdr for detailed information about HP One-Button Disaster Recovery.
???If necessary, specialist technical help can be obtained from the HP Customer Call
Centers. Contact details can be found at www.hp.com.
