Restore Notes Mail file on Arcserve 2000

[Guest_imported]

We had problems restoring mailfiles with Arcserve 2000 when using a SDLT tape unit. When we tried to restore mailfiles that where somewhat further up on the tape, for example somebody who's name started with T, after about an hour we got several SCSI port errors and the restore failed. The problem wasn't solved by installing the latest compaq SCSI drivers.

I did get the restore to work thought, using the next solution: together with the mail file I want, I now also restore the first mail file in the session, in our case a test account that isn't very big. The restore of the last mail file in the session now finishes within 5 minutes!

I saw several people with more or less similar problems, I hope for some of you this solutions helps.

 

[Guest_imported]

I just resolved this exact problem today.
The problem is that during the installation of the Notes Agent on the backup server, the wrong path, (or the incorrect server.id file) was placed in the required fields of the install setup program.
You need to look in the Notes.ini file to find the current active path and correct <Server>.id file. Print the notes.ini for referance,then re install the Notes agent.
Place the correct path to the Notes.ini when asked, (Default is c:\Notes) then add the path to the <Server>.id file. if your Notes server starts automatically after rebooting then you do not need to have a password entered in the password protected field. If you need to enter a password to start the Notes server after reboot, this is the password that the agent is looking for.
The curious part of troubleshooting this issue is that you probably assumed that the SCSI errors indicated a hardware issue. Who wouldn't? well, you probably jumped through hoops with SCSI drivers, Tape device firmware, service packs etc. and the issue did not go away.
And moreover, why did it let you back up in the first place if the agent did not work?
First, understand that tha file was probably backed up by circumventing the Notes agent, and the good old BAOF took care of spanning the mailbox to tape, so the backup seemed to be fine. It was only when you attempted the restore that things went south. When you restored the mailbox file. you naturally select the session, then head directly for the Notes agent and explicitly tell ArcServe to restore using the Notes agent. The agent can not authenticate with the proper <Server>.id security context and sits there hooking the operating system, locking the SCSI calls and caches hundreds of SCSI Bus resets, when it finally gives up, The poorly written agent releases the ring one hook, the SCSI errors are dumped to the log, and the Backup job is cancelled. The hardware is not the issue here, one would hope that the agent would be a little smarter, and not let this issue occur (Like during the agent install...!)

Hope this helps!

Vern

 

[Guest_imported]

I just resolved this exact problem today.
The problem is that during the installation of the Notes Agent on the backup server, the wrong path, (or the incorrect server.id file) was placed in the required fields of the install setup program.
You need to look in the Notes.ini file to find the current active path and correct <Server>.id file. Print the notes.ini for referance,then re install the Notes agent.
Place the correct path to the Notes.ini when asked, (Default is c:\Notes) then add the path to the <Server>.id file. if your Notes server starts automatically after rebooting then you do not need to have a password entered in the password protected field. If you need to enter a password to start the Notes server after reboot, this is the password that the agent is looking for.
The curious part of troubleshooting this issue is that you probably assumed that the SCSI errors indicated a hardware issue. Who wouldn't? well, you probably jumped through hoops with SCSI drivers, Tape device firmware, service packs etc. and the issue did not go away.
And moreover, why did it let you back up in the first place if the agent did not work?
First, understand that tha file was probably backed up by circumventing the Notes agent, and the good old BAOF took care of spanning the mailbox to tape, so the backup seemed to be fine. It was only when you attempted the restore that things went south. When you restored the mailbox file. you naturally select the session, then head directly for the Notes agent and explicitly tell ArcServe to restore using the Notes agent. The agent can not authenticate with the proper <Server>.id security context and sits there hooking the operating system, locking the SCSI calls and caches hundreds of SCSI Bus resets, when it finally gives up, The poorly written agent releases the ring one hook, the SCSI errors are dumped to the log, and the Backup job is cancelled. The hardware is not the issue here, one would hope that the agent would be a little smarter, and not let this issue occur (Like during the agent install...!)

Hope this helps!

Vern