status: 96: unable to allocate new media for backup

Problem

Backup jobs are failing with Status Code 96 even though the following checklist are true:

• The Backup Policy Volume Pool contains AVAILABLE Media
• The Volumes Status are not FROZEN or SUSPENDED or FULL
• The Volumes are Robotic and physically exist in the Tape-Library
• The Volume Type (tape media) and tape drive match the Storage Unit Drive-density
• The ACTIVE Media previously used and Retention-Level match the Schedule Retention-level

Error Message

Example: Failed job detail show the following messages:

05/21/2015 10:59:14 - granted resource 000174
05/21/2015 10:59:14 - granted resource HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.001
05/21/2015 10:59:14 - granted resource nbmedia1-hcart3-robot-tld-0
05/21/2015 10:59:14 - end writing; write time: 007:13:11
05/21/2015 10:59:14 - mounting 000174
05/21/2015 11:00:04 - Info bptm (pid=5892) media id 000174 mounted on drive index 3, drivepath {2,0,3,0}, drivename HP.ULTRIUM5-SCSI.001, copy 1
05/21/2015 11:00:04 - mounted; mount time: 000:00:50
05/21/2015 11:00:12 - positioning 000174 to file 1
05/21/2015 11:00:33 - positioned; position time: 000:00:21
05/21/2015 11:00:33 - begin writing
05/21/2015 16:43:35 - current media 000174 complete, requesting next media Any
05/21/2015 16:45:08 - Info bptm(pid=5892) EXITING with status 96 <----------
05/21/2015 16:45:44 - Info bpbkar32(pid=904) done. status: 96: unable to allocate new media for backup, storage unit has none available

Cause

When examining the AVAILABLE Media in the Volume Pool using the following command:

nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid <media-id>

Note: The location of this command is is follows...

UNIX/Linux: /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/
Windows: install_path\NetBackup\bin\admincmd\

The Volume Expiration date was set and the date value has been reached i.e. pass the current date.

This parameter Volume Expiration sets the Physical Volume Expiration on specific Media/Tape, which could  prevent NetBackup from selecting the Media for Backup or duplication when the set date is reached.

Example:

# /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid 000157

====================================================================
Media GUID:                     c6ece531-4cb8-4698-9136-0f3b53879d3f
Media ID:                       000157                              
Partner:                        -                                   
Media Type:                     DLT                                 
Volume Group:                   001_00000_TLD                       
Application:                    Netbackup                           
Media Flags:                    1                                   
Description:                    Added by Media Manager              
Barcode:                        000157                              
Partner Barcode:                --------                            
Last Write Host:                NONE                                
Created:                        05/16/2013 16:14                    
Time Assigned:                  -                                   
First Mount:                    06/26/2013 02:24                    
Last Mount:                     10/06/2014 15:05                    
Volume Expiration:              10/06/2014 12:01                    
Data Expiration:                -                                   
Last Written:                   05/25/2014 02:25                    
Last Read:                      10/06/2014 15:05                    
Robot Type:                     TLD                                 
Robot Control Host:             x13                                 
Robot Number:                   0                                   
Slot:                           124                                 
Side/Face:                      -                                   
Cleanings Remaining:            -                                   
Number of Mounts:               58                                  
Maximum Mounts Allowed:         0                                   
Media Status:                   ACTIVE                              
Kilobytes:                      0                                   
Images:                         0                                   
Valid Images:                   0                                   
Retention Period:               -                                   
Number of Restores:             0                                   
Optical Header Size Bytes:      0                                   
Optical Sector Size Bytes:      0                                   
Optical Partition Size Bytes:   0                                   
Last Header Offset:             0                                   
Adamm Guid:                     00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Rsm Guid:                       00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Origin Host:                    NONE                                
Master Host:                    x13                                 
Server Group:                   -                                   
Upgrade Conflicts Flag:                                             
Pool Number:                    9                                   
Volume Pool:                    NetBackup_LTO5                      
Previous Pool Name:             -                                   
Vault Flags:                    -                                   
Vault Container:                -                                   
Vault Name:                     -                                   
Vault Slot:                     -                                   
Session ID:                     -                                   
Date Vaulted:                   -                                   
Return Date:                    -                                   
Media on Hold:                  0

Solution

The Best Solution:

• Determine whether the Tape is old or exceeded the maximum usage set by the customer.
  • Examine the output of the command above (nbemmcmd -listmedia -mediaid <media-id>) and calculate the Tape age by viewing the Value of First Mount and Last Mount
  • Also examine the value of Number of Mounts
  • If this is true, then replace the Tape after the Backup images on the Media Expire
• The other option is to extend the Physical Expiration by increasing the Volume Expiration date and/or Maximum Mounts Allowed counter

Example, using NetBackup Admin Console:

• Go to Media and Device Management > Media
• Select the Media, such as 000157, right-click the mouse and select Change
• Then update "Expiration Date" to Never, or future date and Maximum mounts to unlimited or a high number.