Why is 35GIG getting used up on Full backup?

[zoeythecat]

Hi All,

I have BackupExec8.6 and have a 35GIG tape drive. I backup about 21GIG of folders/files on 5 servers in my network. I do a full backup each Wednesday. Question is if I am only backing up 21GIG of data, why after the backup runs it displays over 34GIG (close to 35GIG which is the max I can backup)? I have removed some folders from the backup and it went down to about 32GIG but is now backup close to 35GIG. I have verified all the folders that I backup is roughly 21 - 22GIG. Has anyone run into this problem? Is there anywhere in Backup Exec that I can verify why over 34GIG is being backed up? Can anyone help make sense of this? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Zoey

 

[Zelandakh]

the log file should detail each volume - just add them up.

can you post more info from the log file?

 

[zoeythecat]

Thanks for your reply. I will post more info with the log files when I'm back in work tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[zoeythecat]

Guess this is a common problem. There is an article from the knowledgebase and some feedback from Veritas Tech Support regarding this.
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http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/199542.htm

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As a preliminary step, we suggest you to ensure that the hardware
compression method is selected in the Backup Exec. This option is available
under Tools >> Options >> Backup >> Compression Type.

If the hardware compression is selected, then you would like to refer the
following technote as the ideal backup ratio 2:1 cannot be achieved.

Title:- "Backups fail to get double the amount of the native capacity

recorded to a media, even when hardware compression is being utilized."
Meantime, you may like
to perform same backup on blank/new/erased tapes and revert back with the
results.

Please Note: -
When using compression it is important to remember
that the 2:1 compression
ratio frequently assumed or stated in technical
documentation is an ideal seldom reached as a practical average. Some files
compress better than others. Text files are probably the most compressible
files in general while high density graphics files like files
with .jpg, .gif, .zip, or .cab extensions are not likely to compress at
all. Also, many programs, including some database and mail programs,
already compress the files they control.