# Bacula VTL Integration - Root Cause Analysis & Troubleshooting

## Issue Summary
Bacula Storage Daemon was unable to read slots from mhVTL (Virtual Tape Library) autochanger devices, reporting "Device has 0 slots" despite mtx-changer script working correctly when called manually.

## Environment
- **OS**: Ubuntu Linux
- **Bacula Version**: 13.0.4
- **VTL**: mhVTL (Virtual Tape Library)
- **Autochangers**: 
  - Quantum Scalar i500 (4 drives, 43 slots)
  - Quantum Scalar i40 (4 drives, 44 slots)
- **Tape Drives**: 8x QUANTUM ULTRIUM-HH8 (LTO-8)

## Root Cause Analysis

### Primary Issues Identified

#### 1. **Incorrect Tape Device Type**
**Problem**: Using rewinding tape devices (`/dev/st*`) instead of non-rewinding devices (`/dev/nst*`)

**Impact**: Tape would rewind after each operation, causing data loss and operational failures

**Solution**: Changed all Archive Device directives from `/dev/st*` to `/dev/nst*`

```diff
Device {
  Name = Drive-0
- Archive Device = /dev/st0
+ Archive Device = /dev/nst0
}
```

#### 2. **Missing Drive Index Parameter**
**Problem**: Device configurations lacked Drive Index parameter

**Impact**: Bacula couldn't properly identify which physical drive in the autochanger to use

**Solution**: Added Drive Index (0-3) to each Device resource

```diff
Device {
  Name = Drive-0
+ Drive Index = 0
  Archive Device = /dev/nst0
}
```

#### 3. **Incorrect AlwaysOpen Setting**
**Problem**: AlwaysOpen was set to `no`

**Impact**: Device wouldn't remain open, causing connection issues with VTL

**Solution**: Changed AlwaysOpen to `yes` for all tape devices

```diff
Device {
  Name = Drive-0
- AlwaysOpen = no
+ AlwaysOpen = yes
}
```

#### 4. **Wrong Changer Device Path**
**Problem**: Using `/dev/sch*` (medium changer device) instead of `/dev/sg*` (generic SCSI device)

**Impact**: bacula user couldn't access the changer due to permission issues (cdrom group vs tape group)

**Solution**: Changed Changer Device to use sg devices

```diff
Autochanger {
  Name = Scalar-i500
- Changer Device = /dev/sch0
+ Changer Device = /dev/sg7
}
```

**Device Mapping**:
- `/dev/sch0` → `/dev/sg7` (Scalar i500)
- `/dev/sch1` → `/dev/sg8` (Scalar i40)

#### 5. **Missing User Permissions**
**Problem**: bacula user not in required groups for device access

**Impact**: "Permission denied" errors when accessing tape and changer devices

**Solution**: Added bacula user to tape and cdrom groups

```bash
usermod -a -G tape,cdrom bacula
systemctl restart bacula-sd
```

#### 6. **Incorrect Storage Resource Configuration**
**Problem**: Storage resource in Director config referenced autochanger name instead of individual drives

**Impact**: Bacula couldn't properly communicate with individual tape drives

**Solution**: Listed all drives explicitly in Storage resource

```diff
Storage {
  Name = Scalar-i500
- Device = Scalar-i500
+ Device = Drive-0
+ Device = Drive-1
+ Device = Drive-2
+ Device = Drive-3
  Autochanger = Scalar-i500
}
```

#### 7. **mtx-changer List Output Format**
**Problem**: Script output format didn't match Bacula's expected format

**Impact**: "Invalid Slot number" errors, preventing volume labeling

**Original Output**: `1 Full:VolumeTag=E01001L8`
**Expected Output**: `1:E01001L8`

**Solution**: Fixed sed pattern in list command

```bash
# Original (incorrect)
list)
  ${MTX} -f $ctl status | grep "Storage Element" | grep "Full" | awk '{print $3 $4}' | sed 's/:/ /'
  ;;

# Fixed
list)
  ${MTX} -f $ctl status | grep "Storage Element" | grep "Full" | awk '{print $3 $4}' | sed 's/:Full:VolumeTag=/:/'
  ;;
```

## Troubleshooting Steps

### Step 1: Verify mtx-changer Script Works Manually
```bash
# Test slots command
/usr/lib/bacula/scripts/mtx-changer /dev/sg7 slots
# Expected output: 43

# Test list command
/usr/lib/bacula/scripts/mtx-changer /dev/sg7 list
# Expected output: 1:E01001L8, 2:E01002L8, etc.
```

### Step 2: Test as bacula User
```bash
# Test if bacula user can access devices
su -s /bin/bash bacula -c "/usr/lib/bacula/scripts/mtx-changer /dev/sg7 slots"

# If permission denied, check groups
groups bacula
# Should include: bacula tape cdrom
```

### Step 3: Verify Device Permissions
```bash
# Check changer devices
ls -l /dev/sch* /dev/sg7 /dev/sg8
# sg devices should be in tape group

# Check tape devices
ls -l /dev/nst*
# Should be in tape group with rw permissions
```

### Step 4: Test Bacula Storage Daemon Connection
```bash
# From bconsole
echo "status storage=Scalar-i500" | bconsole

# Should show autochanger and drives
```

### Step 5: Update Slots
```bash
echo -e "update slots storage=Scalar-i500\n0\n" | bconsole

# Should show: Device "Drive-0" has 43 slots
# NOT: Device has 0 slots
```

### Step 6: Label Tapes
```bash
echo -e "label barcodes storage=Scalar-i500 pool=Default\n0\nyes\n" | bconsole

# Should successfully label tapes using barcodes
```

## Configuration Files

### /etc/bacula/bacula-sd.conf (Storage Daemon)
```bash
Autochanger {
  Name = Scalar-i500
  Device = Drive-0, Drive-1, Drive-2, Drive-3
  Changer Command = "/usr/lib/bacula/scripts/mtx-changer %c %o %S %a %d"
  Changer Device = /dev/sg7
}

Device {
  Name = Drive-0
  Drive Index = 0
  Changer Device = /dev/sg7
  Media Type = LTO-8
  Archive Device = /dev/nst0
  AutomaticMount = yes
  AlwaysOpen = yes
  RemovableMedia = yes
  RandomAccess = no
  AutoChanger = yes
  Maximum Concurrent Jobs = 1
}
```

### /etc/bacula/bacula-dir.conf (Director)
```bash
Storage {
  Name = Scalar-i500
  Address = localhost
  SDPort = 9103
  Password = "QJQPnZ5Q5p6D73RcvR7ksrOm9UG3mAhvV"
  Device = Drive-0
  Device = Drive-1
  Device = Drive-2
  Device = Drive-3
  Media Type = LTO-8
  Autochanger = Scalar-i500
  Maximum Concurrent Jobs = 4
}
```

### /usr/lib/bacula/scripts/mtx-changer
```bash
#!/bin/sh
MTX=/usr/sbin/mtx

ctl=$1
cmd="$2"
slot=$3
device=$4
drive=$5

case "$cmd" in
   loaded)
      ${MTX} -f $ctl status | grep "Data Transfer Element $slot:Full" >/dev/null 2>&1
      if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
         ${MTX} -f $ctl status | grep "Data Transfer Element $slot:Full" | awk '{print $7}' | sed 's/.*=//'
      else
         echo "0"
      fi
      ;;

   load)
      ${MTX} -f $ctl load $slot $drive
      ;;

   unload)
      ${MTX} -f $ctl unload $slot $drive
      ;;

   list)
      ${MTX} -f $ctl status | grep "Storage Element" | grep "Full" | awk '{print $3 $4}' | sed 's/:Full:VolumeTag=/:/'
      ;;

   slots)
      ${MTX} -f $ctl status | grep "Storage Changer" | awk '{print $5}'
      ;;

   *)
      echo "Invalid command: $cmd"
      exit 1
      ;;
esac

exit 0
```

## Verification Commands

### Check Device Mapping
```bash
lsscsi -g | grep -E "mediumx|tape"
```

### Check VTL Services
```bash
systemctl list-units 'vtl*'
```

### Test Manual Tape Load
```bash
# Load tape to drive
mtx -f /dev/sg7 load 1 0

# Check drive status
mt -f /dev/nst0 status

# Unload tape
mtx -f /dev/sg7 unload 1 0
```

### List Labeled Volumes
```bash
echo "list volumes pool=Default" | bconsole
```

## Common Errors and Solutions

### Error: "Device has 0 slots"
**Cause**: Wrong changer device or permission issues
**Solution**: Use /dev/sg* devices and verify bacula user in tape/cdrom groups

### Error: "Permission denied" accessing /dev/sch0
**Cause**: bacula user not in cdrom group
**Solution**: `usermod -a -G cdrom bacula && systemctl restart bacula-sd`

### Error: "Invalid Slot number"
**Cause**: mtx-changer list output format incorrect
**Solution**: Fix sed pattern to output `slot:volumetag` format

### Error: "No medium found" after successful load
**Cause**: Using rewinding devices (/dev/st*) or AlwaysOpen=no
**Solution**: Use /dev/nst* and set AlwaysOpen=yes

### Error: "READ ELEMENT STATUS Command Failed"
**Cause**: Permission issue or VTL service problem
**Solution**: Check user permissions and restart vtllibrary service

## Results

### Scalar i500 (WORKING)
- ✅ 43 slots detected
- ✅ 20 tapes successfully labeled (E01001L8 - E01020L8)
- ✅ Autochanger operations functional
- ✅ Ready for backup jobs

### Scalar i40 (ISSUE)
- ⚠️ 44 slots detected
- ❌ Hardware Error during tape load operations
- ❌ 0 tapes labeled
- **Status**: Requires mhVTL configuration investigation or system restart

## References
- Bacula Documentation: https://www.bacula.org/
- Article: "Using Bacula with mhVTL" - https://karellen.blogspot.com/2012/02/using-bacula-with-mhvtl.html
- mhVTL Project: https://github.com/markh794/mhvtl

## Date
Created: 2025-12-31
Author: Warp AI Agent