Status Code: 96 , Netbackup

Status Code: 96

Unable to allocate new media for backup, storage unit has none available

A status 96 indicates a backup ran and found no media available for the backup to use.  The process for selecting media considers media previously used by the media server running the backup; new media that matches that storage unit requirements; and if configured, a “scratch” pool for additional media.

 

Table of Contents

1 Expected causes of status 96 errors.................................................................................... 2

1.1 The pool specified by the backup does not have any media available for use.................. 2

1.2 Available media is FULL, FROZEN, or SUSPENDED....................................................... 2

1.3 Incorrect retention level.................................................................................................. 3

1.4 All the qualified media are physically expired.................................................................. 4

1.5 When spanning media, there are no more available media................................................ 4

2 Error conditions which cause status code 96......................................................................... 5

2.1 Scratch pool is not properly configured.......................................................................... 5

2.2 Incorrect density in use.................................................................................................. 5

3 More information from the 6.0 troubleshooting guide............................................................. 6

1 Expected causes of status 96 errors

The majority of status 96 errors occur for a good reason. This section covers some of those reasons and gives suggestions how to correct the problem.

1.1 The pool specified by the backup does not have any media available for use.

If a status 96 occurs, check to see if the correct pool is specified in the policy and confirm the pool has tapes available for use. Keep in mind, if a tape is assigned, it may not be available for the media server in question or the policy in question. A good approach is to ensure there are unassigned media in the pool.

1.2 Available media is FULL, FROZEN, or SUSPENDED.

When nbemm attempts to allocate media for a backup job, it reviews assigned media that could be used and excludes any media that are FULL, FROZEN, or SUSPENDED. Media in these states are not considered for backups.

To determine how much media is in one of these three states, the media summary report for the media server reporting the error can be used.  This provides a count of FULL, FROZEN, and SUSPENDED media.  To see the media IDs associated with each FULL, FROZEN, or SUSPENDED media, use the media list report. 

1.3 Incorrect retention level

By default, NetBackup does not allow backups with different retention levels to use the same media.  This is done to ensure efficient tape usage. The nbemm process checks this criteria.

To override this operation on a media server:

Go into the NetBackup Administration Console, and under Host Properties, select Media Server.  Find the media server in the right hand window, and double click on it.  Go to the Media section, and set the “Allow multiple retentions per media” option.

1.4 All the qualified media are physically expired

If a volume has a physical expiration date set in the volume database, after that date, the volume is no longer usable for backups.

To change the expiration date of an individual media on a media server:

Go into the NetBackup Administration Console, and under Media and Device Management, select Media.  Find the media ID for which the expiration date needs to be changed, right-click on it, and select Change (or double-click on the media).  Set the expiration date as required. 

1.5 When spanning media, there are no more available media

In the event a backup fills up the selected tape, it needs to select a new one. If the nbemm process finds no new media, the backup fails with a status 96.  Either add more media to the volume pool or add more media to the scratch pool.

2 Error conditions which cause status code 96

2.1 Scratch pool is not properly configured

For a scratch pool to work, it must exist in the pool database, and be defined as a scratch pool within NetBackup. 

To define a pool as a scratch pool on a media server:

Go into the NetBackup Administration Console, and under Media and Device Management, select Media, and then Volume Pools.  Create a new volume pool and select the “Scratch Pool” option on the New Volume Pool dialog box. 

2.2 Incorrect density in use

If the density defined in the storage unit does not match the density of the volumes as stored in the volume database, the media  is not considered for a backup.

3 More information from the 6.0 troubleshooting guide

NetBackup Status Code: 96

Message: unable to allocate new media for backup, storage unit has none available

Explanation: The nbemm could not allocate a new volume for backups. This indicates that the storage unit has no more volumes available in the volume pool for this backup. Note that NetBackup will not change storage units during the backup.

Recommended Action: Check the NetBackup Problems report to determine the storage unit that is out of media.

1. If the storage unit is a robot and there are empty slots, add more volumes (remember to specify the correct volume pool).

• If there are no empty slots, move some media to nonrobotic and then add new volumes.
• If you are having difficulty keeping track of your available volumes, try the

available_media script:

On UNIX, this script is in:

/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/goodies/available_media

On Windows, the script is in:

install_path\NetBackup\bin\goodies\available_media.cmd

This script lists all volumes in the Media Manager volume configuration, and augments that list with information on the volumes currently assigned to NetBackup.

2. Set up a scratch volume pool as a reserve of unassigned tapes. If NetBackup needs a new tape and no more tapes are available in the current volume pool, NetBackup moves a tape from the scratch pool into the volume pool that the backup is using.

3. If the storage unit and volume pool appear to have media, verify the following: Volume is not FROZEN or SUSPENDED Check for this condition by using the NetBackup Media List report. If the volume is frozen or suspended, use the bpmedia command to unfreeze or unsuspend it (if that is desired).

• Volume has not expired or exceeded its maximum number of mounts.
• The Media Manager configuration has media in the correct volume pool and unassigned or active media is available at the required retention level. Use the NetBackup Media List report to show the retention levels, volume pools, and status (active and so on) for all volumes. Use the NetBackup Media Summary report to check for active volumes at the correct retention levels.

4. In some configurations, the NetBackup bptm process is rejected when requesting media from the vmd process (UNIX) or the NetBackup Volume Manager service (Windows) because that process or service cannot determine the name of the host that is making the request. This can be due to incorrect network configuration involving:

• Multiple network interfaces
• /etc/resolv.conf on those UNIX systems that use it
• Running DNS and not having reverse addressing configured

5. If this is a new storage unit, and this is the first attempt to use it, stop and restart NetBackup on the master server.