Troubleshooting

While most of the problems you will have with this package will occur during your first installation, some will arise after SecondCopy has been in service. After you have exhausted the easy fixes, like checking the power cords, try to classify the problem. Then try to identify something that has changed in your installation. Finally, read the manual. If, during a telephone conversation, we find that you have not read the manual, we will hang up.

Please examine the following problem classifications and the examples. They may help you find your problem.

Syntax Errors

• You forgot to put double quotes around command line options that have embedded spaces in them, e.g.
  secondcopy /dev/st0 "continue ask"
• The command line options are executed left to right. The commands continue, verbose, errors, tty, compress, and patterns, must precede init, save, verify, and restore.
• You entered a restore or verify pattern that did not find a match on the tape. Use the verbose command to see if your patterns were matched.
• The programs are waiting for you to type something.
• The files were restored, but not where you expected.

• You changed the SCSI id of the controller card from 7 to 0, or changed it to match the SCSI id of the tape drive. SCSI ids must be unique for each device on a SCSI cable.
• There is a conflict between the SCSI controller card and another card for io addresses, BIOS addresses, irq lines, or dma channels.
• Your PC does not support 1st party bus master dma.
• The SCSI cable is plugged in upside down at one end.
• Terminating resistors are missing or are not found at the ends of the SCSI cable. Exactly two sets of terminating resistors are used and they must be at the ends of the cable.
• The SCSI id of the tape drive is the same as another device or the SCSI controller card.
• The write protect tab is engaged on the cartridge.
• The SCSI ribbon cable was cut when you closed the computer's case.

• The software is not in the current search path.
• The device driver is not running.
• The permissions of the executables have been changed.
• The patch bits of the executables have been changed.

• You attempted to save a file for which you do not have read permission.
• You attempted to save and clear the modify flag of a file for which you do not have both read and modify permission.
• You attempted to run scdir and were not logged in as a superuser.

• You are attempting to read/write a 1 gigabyte tape in a 1/2 gigabyte drive, or a 2 gigabyte tape in a 1 gigabyte drive.
• You are attempting to read a compressed tape in a non-compressing drive.
• You are attempting to read a cpio tape.
• The tape heads are dirty, or the tape is damaged.