Backups failing because not deleting oldest backup

[mattisontara]

I have enough disk space to hold two backups at a time of one of my sql2k databases. The maintenance plan is set to delete the oldest backup, which it did just fine, until recently. The only thing I can think of that would make this fail now is that the remaining disk space is not enough for another backup. Does sql server reserve the space for the backup before it deletes the oldest? If so this would explain my problem. Please help- if this is the case, it will justify me needed a larger disk.

 

[tlbroadbent]

I believe that the maintenance plan creates the new backup before deleting old backups. You may need to create another job to delete old backups before the backup job runs.

If you have a LAN and another server has available disk space, you could backup to the other server. Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
Computing Links:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/prog.htm

faq183-874 contains "Suggestions for Getting Quick and Appropriate Answers" to your questions.

 

[mattisontara]

I hate to sound stupid, but I have no idea how to delete the backup file through a job. Do I need a script to do this? If so, do you know where I can get one?