Imergancy - oracle 8 backup failing consistantly 1

[ddiamond]

We have been running the same backup scripts for the last ten years without problem, but all of a sudden they are not working. Now, we are doing cold backups using the DOS xcopy command, so this isn't really an oracle question, but I don't what forum to turn to... Occasionally (once every couple of years) the xcopy will get confused and prompt for (file or directory)? As soon as someone response to this message everything is good. The only problem is that starting July 2nd, 2008, that prompt has occurred daily. I have currently set my alarm at 1:00 am to login every night and respond to this this prompt, but I can't keep this up for long. Any advice? And if this it the wrong forum for this question, please suggest an alternate; I am desperate.

 

[SantaMufasa]

DDiamond,

I imagine that the error you are receiving is something like:

Does (filename) specify a file name or directory name on the target?
(F = file, D = directory)

This typically means that the target (path) you are specifying does not exist at invocation time of the xcopy command. Therefore, xcopy cannot determine if the target is a directory into which it should copy the source files individually, or if the target is a file into which it should consolidate all of the source files. For example:

C:\Temp>xcopy test.txt c:\ddiamond
Does C:\ddiamond specify a file name
or directory name on the target
(F = file, D = directory)? D
C:test.txt
1 File(s) copied

To avoid this problem, modify your xcopy command(s) to read, instead:

C:\Temp>xcopy test.txt c:\ddiamond\..
C:test.txt
1 File(s) copied

Notice that by adding the "\.." to the end of your xcopy-target argument, xcopy knows, unambiguously, that you want the source files to reside in a directory named, "ddiamond"...and if the directory doesn't already exist, that it should create "ddiamond".

Let us know if this resolves your problem(s) on this issue.


Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm. You will still be at risk and find yourself without liberty.”

 

[SantaMufasa]

Hey, DDiamond, it's "The Fourth of July"...don't they celebrate it there on the East Coast? <grin>

Go have a fun day with your family!

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm. You will still be at risk and find yourself without liberty.”

 

[ddiamond]

Thanks for the tip, Santa. And yes, I am off for the 4th, but my pager went off this morning telling me that oracle was down (as it did the previous 2 nights) so I posted this message. As DBA, I'm on the hook 24-7 when something goes wrong, even holidays.

 

[ddiamond]

Dave,

I had implemented your solution, and the backup has run fine for a week now. Thanks again.

- Dan