ipendlebury
asked on
NTBackup problem
SBS2003
The tape drive in this server failed. So I have installed a new one. It is listed in RSM as 'Hewlett Packard DDS4 drive'.
If I manually backup with NTBackup it works fine. What I can't seem to do is automate a backup. Previously with the old drive I used to use a scheduled task which called a batch file. This batch file teminates immediately leaving the following line in the log file:
' The operation was not performed because an invalid Removable Storage backup destination was specified.'
Here's the relevent line in my batch file:
ntbackup backup c:\data /p "Hewlett Packard DDS4 drive" /n "Daily Backup" /l:s /v:yes
If I schedule a backup within NTBackup, the backup again fails, and puts the following line in the log file:
'Cannot locate the specified media or backup device. This backup operation will terminate.'
I've just set a manual backup going. It seems fine. So why won't either of my methods for scheduling a backup work?
The tape drive in this server failed. So I have installed a new one. It is listed in RSM as 'Hewlett Packard DDS4 drive'.
If I manually backup with NTBackup it works fine. What I can't seem to do is automate a backup. Previously with the old drive I used to use a scheduled task which called a batch file. This batch file teminates immediately leaving the following line in the log file:
' The operation was not performed because an invalid Removable Storage backup destination was specified.'
Here's the relevent line in my batch file:
ntbackup backup c:\data /p "Hewlett Packard DDS4 drive" /n "Daily Backup" /l:s /v:yes
If I schedule a backup within NTBackup, the backup again fails, and puts the following line in the log file:
'Cannot locate the specified media or backup device. This backup operation will terminate.'
I've just set a manual backup going. It seems fine. So why won't either of my methods for scheduling a backup work?
did you try rerunning the wizard for creating a backup again. you may just need to delete the current schedule and create the new one-will only take a minute or two :-)
ASKER
Yes I only created the schedule because the batch file wouldn't work. It seems really odd because like I say I can back up fine manually.
Have you applied SP1 to your server? If not, you probably want to because there are a number of NTBackup bugs that were fixed.
Otherwise, just patch it with http://support.microsoft.com/kb/831664 for now.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
Otherwise, just patch it with http://support.microsoft.com/kb/831664 for now.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
Hi Jeff,
We applied sp1 several months back. It gave us other problems that we could not resolve. So this server has been rebuilt without sp1.
I've just applied that patch as you suggested. It didn't change anything i'm afraid.
We applied sp1 several months back. It gave us other problems that we could not resolve. So this server has been rebuilt without sp1.
I've just applied that patch as you suggested. It didn't change anything i'm afraid.
Rebuilt? From scratch?
Also, SP1 fixes a lot of issues.... did you just apply Server 2003's SP1? or SBS's?
More info on that here: http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=236
Jeff
TechSoEasy
Also, SP1 fixes a lot of issues.... did you just apply Server 2003's SP1? or SBS's?
More info on that here: http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=236
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
When I applied sp1, it was the full SBS package.
Just for your information, sp1 gave us two issues that we couldn't resolve:
1. Client pc's would be intermittently disconnected from the server during the day. MS support gave me a hotfix to cure an RPC problem, but this was only partially successful. Their best advice susequently, was to ask me to wait for sp2.
2. There are a couple of client pc's that connect to a remote Citrix Server. After installing sp1, they could no long connect. I spent a lot of time trying to resolve this without success.
I reinstalled from scratch rather than uninstalling sp1 and the risking that everything would be ok. Apart from NtBackup, everything is fine now. We won't be applying sp1 again.
Just for your information, sp1 gave us two issues that we couldn't resolve:
1. Client pc's would be intermittently disconnected from the server during the day. MS support gave me a hotfix to cure an RPC problem, but this was only partially successful. Their best advice susequently, was to ask me to wait for sp2.
2. There are a couple of client pc's that connect to a remote Citrix Server. After installing sp1, they could no long connect. I spent a lot of time trying to resolve this without success.
I reinstalled from scratch rather than uninstalling sp1 and the risking that everything would be ok. Apart from NtBackup, everything is fine now. We won't be applying sp1 again.
Well, the intermittent disconnection is probably due to a DNS misconfiguration or that the client machines were not joined by using http://<servername>/connectcomput
As for the Citrix Outbound connection, I'm sure that there would be a fairly easy answer for that since I sit behind a SBS and have full access to a multitude of networks. If you have SBS premium with ISA, then there's lots of help over at http://isaserver.org as well elsewhere in the SBS community.
So now, instead, you're dealing with backup issues... it's always something, isn't it? :-)
Anyhow... can you please look at your event log and see what errors that NTBackup is throwing in there... it would help to know the event ID's along with any other pertinent info.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
As for the Citrix Outbound connection, I'm sure that there would be a fairly easy answer for that since I sit behind a SBS and have full access to a multitude of networks. If you have SBS premium with ISA, then there's lots of help over at http://isaserver.org as well elsewhere in the SBS community.
So now, instead, you're dealing with backup issues... it's always something, isn't it? :-)
Anyhow... can you please look at your event log and see what errors that NTBackup is throwing in there... it would help to know the event ID's along with any other pertinent info.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
The intermittent disconnection only started when we applied sp1. MS support couldn't fix it.
As regards, the Citrix problem, I sought advice in here and elswhere. All I found was, that other people had got similar problems and couldn't find a solution anywhere. I'd opened the correct ports in ISA. It stopped working when we applied sp1.
When I run my Batch file, NTBackup is logging Event 8017: The operation failed. Consult the Backup Report for more details.
As I said previously, The log file simply states: ' The operation was not performed because an invalid Removable Storage backup destination was specified.'
I just had a flash of inspiration... Since a manual backup is the only way that currently works, then perhaps I should take a look at the destination being used there. When I checked, it was listed as '4mm DDS'. I put this into my batch file and it works! I'm surprised at this because RSM lists it as Hewlett Packard DDS 4 Drive. My batch file previously worked using the device name listed in RSM.
Scheduling a job within NTBackup still doesn't work. I'm suprised by this because it list 4mm DDS as the backup destination, just like it does when I do a manual backup.
I could live with this now, but I'd rather know why I can't scehdule a backup. If you've no further suggestions, i'll award the points.
As regards, the Citrix problem, I sought advice in here and elswhere. All I found was, that other people had got similar problems and couldn't find a solution anywhere. I'd opened the correct ports in ISA. It stopped working when we applied sp1.
When I run my Batch file, NTBackup is logging Event 8017: The operation failed. Consult the Backup Report for more details.
As I said previously, The log file simply states: ' The operation was not performed because an invalid Removable Storage backup destination was specified.'
I just had a flash of inspiration... Since a manual backup is the only way that currently works, then perhaps I should take a look at the destination being used there. When I checked, it was listed as '4mm DDS'. I put this into my batch file and it works! I'm surprised at this because RSM lists it as Hewlett Packard DDS 4 Drive. My batch file previously worked using the device name listed in RSM.
Scheduling a job within NTBackup still doesn't work. I'm suprised by this because it list 4mm DDS as the backup destination, just like it does when I do a manual backup.
I could live with this now, but I'd rather know why I can't scehdule a backup. If you've no further suggestions, i'll award the points.
Okay... perhaps I've missed something here... you've mentioned two methods to creating a backup: 1> Manually, and 2> scheduling a job within NTBackup. Have you used the Small Business Server Backup Wizard yet?
Jeff
TechSoEasy
Jeff
TechSoEasy
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ASKER
I hadn't thought about the SBS backup wizard. I tried it and yes it can see the drive. It makes it all the more strange that the NTBackup schedule backup can't.
I don't like the SBS backup wizard. It is quite unwieldy when dealing with exceptions to what you want to backup.
I'm going to run that Hive Cleanup Utility. If it's still wrong i'm not going to worry about it. At least my batch file works. Thanks for your help.
I don't like the SBS backup wizard. It is quite unwieldy when dealing with exceptions to what you want to backup.
I'm going to run that Hive Cleanup Utility. If it's still wrong i'm not going to worry about it. At least my batch file works. Thanks for your help.
ipendlebury,
The SBS Backup wizard has no problems with EXCEPTIONS to what you want to back up... it has a separate screen just for doing that. It DOES, however, create a FULL backup each night (with the exception of the exceptions, that is). So perhaps you want an incremental backup? Or a specific SQL backup? You can add those separately via the regular methods with no problem.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
The SBS Backup wizard has no problems with EXCEPTIONS to what you want to back up... it has a separate screen just for doing that. It DOES, however, create a FULL backup each night (with the exception of the exceptions, that is). So perhaps you want an incremental backup? Or a specific SQL backup? You can add those separately via the regular methods with no problem.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
I didn't explain myself very well. There are so many exceptions to what I want to back up. It's far easier to specify what I DO want to backup. You can't do this with the SBS backup wizard. I going to close this question now. I have my batch file working. So thanks for all of your help.