NTBackup Scheduled Jobs never run

[rhyno2k]

Hi,


I have a constant problem with scheduled jobs using NTBackup on Windows 2000 Server. It's a simple setup -- one server with one HP tape drive installed. I'm only looking to do a full backup once a week (I used network-based backup for the dailys).

The job is defined correctly, but when I check the logs, all I see every time is:

"The operation was not performed because no unused media
was available."

The Removable Storage section of Computer Managment is a *mess*, IMHO. Idle, Active, Allocated, Free, Mount, Dismount; Free, Unrecognized, Import blah blah BLAH. I try many combinations of these and nothing works. My latest attempt for tonight is "Idle, available".

It does this for every tape that has data on it (that I want to erase, then do a full backup on top). For new tapes, it works for the first time.

How can I set this up to just WORK when I put in a tape in the rotation?


Thanks!

 

[rhyno2k]

Anyone? Bueller?

 

[WindowsWoes]

Try appending the scheduled job command with the /um parameter (Use Media) this uses any available media it finds in the drive.

Hope this helps

Dave

 

[rhyno2k]

Thanks Dave, I'll give it a shot tonight!

 

[rhyno2k]

Hummmm...
Didn't work Got the same error.

Here's my full command line:
"C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\FULL Backup.bks" /n "Media created 2/5/2003 at 4:27 PM" /d "FULL Set created 2/5/2003 at 4:32 PM" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hcn /m normal /j "FULL Backup.job" /l:f /p /um "4mm DDS"

I'm trying removing the "Media created..." and "Full set created..." entries and see what happens tonight.

Other suggestions?

Oh, would I feel so much safer if this WORKS! (been flying without backup)


RHYNO

 

[WindowsWoes]

Rhyno,

One thing I can see wrong here is the "4mm DDS" is in the wrong place, your command should read:

"C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\FULL Backup.bks" /n "Media created 2/5/2003 at 4:27 PM" /d "FULL Set created 2/5/2003 at 4:32 PM" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hcn /m normal /j "FULL Backup.job" /l:f /p "4mm DDS" /um

The /p parameter denotes the pool name to draw the media from, in this case "4mm DDS" so ensure the tape you want to use shows in the 4mm DDS pool under the Backup media pool in Removable Storage.

Also if you right click the 4mm DDS media pool ensure the 'draw media from free pool' is checked.

What I would do is create a job to just backup the system state data and try running this in the day interactively via the command prompt just to check the tape is recognised.

Once the tape works once it will work every time, so keep at it!.

Regards
Dave

 

[rhyno2k]

Hi Dave, Thanks for the tips. However, different attempts in each of the past 3 business days have all failed. The dreaded "The operation was not performed because no unused media was available." greets me daily.

I think the problem might lie in Removable Storage. I have four different Media Pools: Free, Import, Unrecognized, and Backup. On the Backup media pool, the "draw media from free pool" is checked. However, this option is simply greyed out of the Free media pool.

And the status of the tape is usually "Loaded, Available" -- I would think this sounds right to be ready to load! I've tried just about every combination of Idle, Allocated, Mounted, Prepared, blah blah blah...

I have been doing System State backups to disk every week with no problems, so that tells me NTBackup and Scheduling are working.

I'll try an interactive System State -> tape backup after hours today... any other suggestions are welcome!


Thanks,
--RHYNO

 

[WindowsWoes]

The correct status for your tape is idle,allocated and the tape should show in the 4mmDDS pool under backup. If it doesn't it will either be in unrecongnized, imported or Free media pools, find the tape right click it and prepare it. It should then be in the free pool, it should work from here but you can drag the tape into backup\4mmDDS to be sure.
Don't mount the tapes manually the program mounts and unmounts automatically and can't use a pre-mounted tape.
Make sure the tape in removable media is the one in the drive as it doesn't autorefresh very well and can be a bit slow.
Hope this helps