SOS :: Problems with Back ups

[Sidrp]

Hi..
Well this is for all the backup gurus out there..I am new to this company and the backup system. I am having the following problems with backup for last few days
1. The data has exceeded the 12GB tape capacity so i had to use 2 tapes with overwrite protection set. (thanks to the previous forums)
2. When I try to backup data (last 3 days) it stops at around 12GB and throws the follwing error on the screen
"Windows was unable to save all the data for the file /Device1/.../.../. The data has been lost....Please try and save the fiel else where."

I dont understand this. This has started happening just recently. I am using Veritas Backup Exec 8.6 on win 2000 Server.

This is kinda urgent as we havent got a good backup for 2-3 days now.
Any help will be appriciated.

thanks
sid

 

[nettech101]

Your lucky.
We've been trying to get this crap software working for about a year now, and I think I have 3 successfull backups.
All others have failed.

Veritas is no help at all, unless you spend more money for support. They didn't even want to help with the intial install.

I hope they file for chapter 11 soon.

I recommend you find another solution.

 

[SQLBill]

Are you using an autoloader or a single tape device?

Are the tapes set to allow append?

How much data is being backed up?

Is compression turned on?

It sounds like the backup job is filling up one tape and there isn't another tape available within the allotted amount of time (I don't know how long BE waits for a new tape). Or, if append is allowed, the job might be putting a small amount of the backup on the end of one tape, filling up the second, and be looking for a third.

Look at the job history in BE and the event logs in the operating system. Those might give more clues, especially the job history.

-SQLBill

 

[Sidrp]

>>Are you using an autoloader or a single tape device?
Its a single tape device
>>Are the tapes set to allow append?
Tapes are set to overwrite protection time of 5 hrs

>>How much data is being backed up?
around 14-15Gigs

>>Is compression turned on?
Yes..but i donot think the drive supports it

>>It sounds like the backup job is filling up one tape and >>there isn't another tape available within the allotted >>amount of time (I don't know how long BE waits for a new >>tape). Or, if append is allowed, the job might be >>putting a small amount of the backup on the end of one >>tape, filling up the second, and be looking for a third.

You are right..But as i am using the sytem set up by someother user, who no longer works here, I odnt have much clue abt the settings..
This is my scenario..I am backing up the main server of my company whihc has around 14GB of data. We used to get good backups with one 12GB DDS3 tape as long as we were below the 12GB limit. Now with increased data we need to insert 2 tapes. as the back up is scheduled in the night around 4 AM...the first one to walk in the office at 8 AM puts another disc.
I need to know what are the optimum settings for this scnerio to work smoothly.


>>Look at the job history in BE and the event logs in the >>operating system. Those might give more clues, >>especially the job history.
The job history talks about backing c: correctly and havnig trouble backing system?state I dont know what this means

-SQLBill
Thanks for your help so far..
sid

 

[SQLBill]

MY understanding is that System state is the state of the OS itself.

In the morning, is there an alert window saying 'Please insert a new tape' or something similar to that? There will also be a button 'Respond OK'.

Also, check the Alerts Tab.

If someone 'turned off' the Alert pop-ups, which I think may have happened, BE thinks you answered OK. So, it thinks you already replaced the tape.

But the bottom line is that BE needs a second tape and isn't getting it when it expects it.

-SQLBill

 

[Sidrp]

Well it seems that someone turned the notifications tab..so it just throws the tape out and says loading media..I have set that to show alert..might help..I am going to change the settings and see if this solves the problem..

Can you tell me if the settings I gave above are ok or not..I am not sure about the over write protection...do i need to change them to make the system work ok..we havent had a good backup for 3-4 days and i need to get this up asap..

Thanks SQL Bill

Thanks a million for your help..

 

[SQLBill]

Overtime setting should be good, you are only doing one full backup a day (correct?). So, by the time you do your next full backup the time has expired.

Changing the notification should correct the problem. I have found that if I don't see the notification about needing a new tape, etc. BE automatically assumes I responded OK to the alert.

Do you need overwrite protection on? Not really. The tape will not overwrite during the same job. So let's say you backup up 10GB to the 12GB tape. Then you run the next backup. It puts 2 GB on that tape, IT WILL NOT OVERWRITE THE TAPE FOR THE LAST 10 GB (caps are for emphasis). It will require a new tape for that last 10GB.

Overwrite protection mainly says...don't use this tape again unless there isn't any tape to append to and even then don't overwrite unless this amount of time has expired.

Best of luck...

-SQLBill

 

[Sidrp]

Well..
I tried this...it started backing up and boom..same thing..it gave me an error message...and as soon as i clicked ok..the job was terminated..it never waited on me for a new Tape.

i think i need to create a new schedule with fresh settings..can some one help me here, starting from scratch..

I am re-iterating the requirements.
I have to back up on 2 tapes (12GB) as the data is more than 12 GB..
I tried backing up only a portion of the HDD and it worked..only while spanning across 2 tapes it screws up..
Any help will is welcome..
thanks
sid

 

[Sidrp]

Hi..
well this error popped up again..
Delayed Write failure...I am total at sea in understanding what is going wrong..i even removed a lot of unwanted stuff from the server to make the used space < 12Gb so it fits on one DDS3 tape.
It even gave me one good backup during day time..and thats it..we havent got any good backup since then...over night backups all end up failed...
PLease if someone can suggest a solution or something that will help me..it will be greatly appriciated...
thanks
sid

 

[StockcarsRus]

Hi...
I too started with a company that uses BE. I had terrible problems for months.

If you take a look at, or print out the log file for the job that keeps failing. (Do that in the job monitor tab. Double-click the failed job and click on the log file tab.)

The errors usually have a bunch of ^^^^ before or after the text of the problem.

I used the veritas.com website knowledge base to look up a lot of the errors that I was experiencing. I also emailed support from their website. They were very helpful.

You may have already done all of this. SQLBill had asked for you to look at the log files. If you have not already done this, it would help to have the details from there.

-StockcarsRus

 

[Sidrp]

Thanks StockCarsRus (is that the company u work for..?)
Ya i emailed their support..they are working on it.meanwhile i tried a few things that wored..actually We have a ghost drive attached to server..the backup is supposed to write to the tape and the ghost drive..
BE was trying to copy the ghost file too ...which was in use and hence it threw the delayed write error..so i took the ghost off the backup schedule..its worked for me twice after that...
anyway thanks to u and sqlbill for your concern..

thanks
sid

 

[SQLBill]

I'm glad you solved it.

-SQLBill

 

[dogmata]

SQLBill: In reference to your question about the system state:

It backs the folowing up:

- registry
- COM+ files
- system files

On a DC , the above + AD database + Sysvol

On a cluster (and if nodes are DC's) all the above + quoram drive

Hope this helps

Cheers
Dog