When a backup fails, the media(s) used by the failed backup are reused for the next backups, which subsequently failed with Media Position error 86 where BPTM shows EOM encountered

Problem

When a backup fails, the media(s) used by the failed backup (medias would have been successfully mounted) are reused by the next set of backups which run on the same media server. This new backups will fail with BPTM shows EOM encountered, which causes a Media Position Error 86.

This scenario is for NDMP backups but it also applies to normal backups.  Issue only seems to occur to Netbackup 6.5.6 version only.

Error Message

STATUS CODE 86 - Media Position Error

Cause

Log info below shows a specific tape, that was filled up during a backup that eventually failed. It was reused and received a POSITION ERROR as BPTM found it was trying to write the new backup image to the EOM loaction. Later however the same tape was listed by EMM as Blank again, and was successfully reused for a different backup

In some cases, those medias that failed with MEDIA POSITION ERROR will get frozen and cannot be reused again.

Solution

Engineering provided EEB for this fix

Applies To

Master/Media: RedHat Linux ES release 4 with NetBackup Version 6.5.6