Illegal request issues accessing a VTL when using lin_tape, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.3 and 6.4 and Emulex HBAs

Solution Unverified - Updated

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.3
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 prior to kernel version 2.6.32-358.18.1.el6
  • IBM lin_tape driver 2.3.0 or later
  • Emulex HBAs / lpfc driver

Issue

  • When a backup to tape is run using lin_tape, the backup process might halt at some point before completion, with the VTL backup software reporting "Illegal request"

Resolution

  • Update to kernel version 2.6.32-358.18.1.el6 or later, as previous kernel versions seem to be unsupported for lin_tape 2.3.0 or later
  • Contact IBM support for further assistance if the issue still persists

Root Cause

  • The following IBM TechNote indicates lin_tape version 2.3.0 or later only support kernel version 2.6.32-358.18.1.el6 or later:

lin_tape does not currently support RHEL 6.3
Content from www-01.ibm.com is not included.http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21637892

Selected excerpt:

There is an incompatibility introduced with RHEL 6.3 and lin_tape that has prevented RHEL 6.3 in the lin_tape compatibility matrix. 
[...]
Use RHEL 6.4 (kernel version 2.6.32-358.18.1.el6 or later) with lin_tape 2.3.0 or later

Diagnostic Steps

  • Verify logs such as the following in /var/log/messages
XXX  X XX:XX:XX <hostname> kernel: lin_tape: IBMtape1-----00059 driver_byte 08, host_byte 07, msg_byte 00, status_byte 01
XXX  X XX:XX:XX <hostname> kernel: lin_tape: IBMtape3-----00063 driver_byte 08, host_byte 07, msg_byte 00, status_byte 01
XXX  X XX:XX:XX <hostname> kernel: lin_tape: IBMtape2-----00061 driver_byte 08, host_byte 07, msg_byte 00, status_byte 01
XXX  X XX:XX:XX <hostname> kernel: lin_tape: IBMtape0-----00057 driver_byte 08, host_byte 07, msg_byte 00, status_byte 01
XXX  X XX:XX:XX <hostname> kernel: lin_tape: IBMtape1-----00059 driver_byte 08, host_byte 07, msg_byte 00, status_byte 01
  • Verify currently used kernel version:
# uname -r
2.6.32-358.el6.<arch>
  • Verify installed lin_tape version
# rpm -q lin_tape
lin_tape-3.0.0-1.<arch>
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