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Storage > Tape Drive Testing

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The procedures that are presented in this section outline the process for testing your tape drive for proper functionality with the Microsoft Windows operating system. These procedures use the Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK) and Driver Test Manager (DTM). To ensure full functionality, you must run all of the tests that the DTM identifies as requried for the device. If your product provides bus-specific support, you must run the appropriate bus-specific tests in addition to the standard tests.

Note  You must use the latest version of the WDK to compile your driver in order for it to pass testing and obtain a logo.

Note  This test kit will be removed in 2010, at which point the Unclassified category should be used for this device type.

Tape Drive Tests

The tests that you need to run depend on the capabilities of the device or system that you are testing. To see the complete list of tests that could be required for your device, see Tape Drive Tests.

If your device connects through iSCSI, you might also need the following tests:

If your device is connected through 1394, you might also need the following test:

If your device is connected through Cardbus, you might also need the following tests:

If your device is connected through USB, you might also need the following tests:

Run time: approximately 4-8 hours

Hardware Requirements

The following hardware is required for tape drive testing. You might need additional hardware if the test device provides bus-specific support. See the test description for each bus-specific test to determine if there are additional hardware requirements.

  • One computer with the following:

    • For Windows Vista or Windows XP.

      • One dual-core or equivalent processor

Note An equivalent processor is any processor that contains the specified number of CPUs, according to the Windows operating system. You can achieve this type of processor through one or more physical microprocessors.

      - 2 GB memory.

  - *For Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003.*

  - 
  -  - One quad-core or equivalent processor

Note An equivalent processor is any processor that contains the specified number of CPUs, according to the Windows operating system. You can achieve this type of processor through one or more physical microprocessors.

      - 6 GB memory

  - One logo-compliant ACPI BIOS, with ACPI enabled by default.

  - One host controller with the appropriate bus interface for the test device.

Note If you are testing an iSCSI tape drive, the host controller must be a Gigabit Ethernet adapter.

  - One monitor, one keyboard, and one mouse (or any pointing/drawing device).

  • One tape drive (that is, the test device).

  • One DVD or CD drive (with at least 8X speed).

  • One hard disk drive, with at least 36 GB of space.

  • One cable to connect the test device to the host controller.

  • Two blank tape cartridges that are ready for use.

  • One USB 2.0 high-speed hub (if the device is connected through USB).

Important All hardware (except the test device) must be included in the Windows Catalog.

Note  Testing a device to obtain a logo for Server Device qualification requires that the system being used to test the device supports four processors and a minimum of 1 GB of RAM. These system capabilities are required for the "Dynamic Partitioning (DP) Simulator and Test" and the "Multiple Processor Group" test to run. You do not need a system that actually supports DP capabilities or has greater than 64 processors to test your device.

If a pool of systems is used to test devices, at least one system in the pool must contain four processors and a minimum of 1 GB of RAM. Additionally, that system must contain the device and driver being tested. As long as the driver is the same on all systems in the pool, the schedule will be created to run against all systems.

For those tests that do not include a driver to test, such as testing a hard drive, the Driver Test Manager (DTM) scheduler will constrain the DP test to run on the default system. This system should also be manually configured to have multiple processor groups. The default system is the first one listed. Test personnel, in this case, should ensure that this first system meets these minimum hardware requirements.

Note  Except for Para-Virtualization drivers (as defined by Logo Requirement Policy-0020), physical devices and their associated drivers being tested for Server Logo or Signature may not be tested in virtual machines using any form of virtualization. This is because not all virtualization products support the underlying functionality needed to pass the tests relating to Multiple Processor Groups, Device Power Management, Device PCI functionality, etc.

Software Requirements

The following software is required to run the tape drive tests:

  • One of the following operating systems:****
    • Windows Vista
    • Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, with SP1
    • Microsoft Windows Server XP Professional x64 Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Any drivers that are not shipped with the operating system
  • The current release of the Windows Driver Kit (WDK)
  • If you are testing an iSCSI tape drive, you also need:
    • The latest version of the Microsoft iSCSI software initiator. To download the iSCSI software initiator, search for “iSCSI software initiator” at the Bb961732.internet_link_sm(en-us,MSDN.10).gifMicrosoft Download Center.
    • The latest version of the Microsoft iSNS server.
      To download the Microsoft iSNS server, search for “iSNS” at the Bb961732.internet_link_sm(en-us,MSDN.10).gifMicrosoft Download Center.
    • The Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1, which is available from the Bb961732.internet_link_sm(en-us,MSDN.10).gifMicrosoft Download Center.

Tester Knowledge Requirements

To run the tape drive tests, testers must know how to:

  • Read test logs and event logs.
  • Report bugs in a standard bug format.
  • Format and partition a hard disk drive.
  • Prepare a blank tape cartridge for use.
  • Install a tape drive and host controller.
  • Install the appropriate Windows operating system from the product CD.
  • Install DTM client
  • Start tests from the Device Console window in DTM Studio (in Submission mode).
  • If you are testing an iSCSI tape drive:
    • Set up an iSCSI environment and record the IP addresses and target names of the devices.
    • Set the secret for one-way and mutual Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) (if supported).
    • Configure an iSCSI tape drive to use an iSNS server.
    • Log on to an iSCSI target device.
    • Install the operating system from the product CD.
    • Download and install Microsoft iSCSI software initiator, Microsoft iSNS server, and Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1.

This section includes:

Preparing to Test Tape Drives

Running the Tape Drives Tests

Troubleshooting Tape Drive Testing

Related Links

Bb961732.internet_link_sm(en-us,MSDN.10).gifWindows Marketplace Tested Products List

Bb961732.internet_link_sm(en-us,MSDN.10).gifWindows Debugging Tools

Bb961732.internet_link_sm(en-us,MSDN.10).gifWindows Symbol Files

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