Alternative to using SBS Backup?

For a few hundred dollars?  No.  Not really.  You can normally purchase base packages, but then the adders are what kill you.

Can you paste your NtBackup logs so we can take a look?

leew: I already have done. The only problem is off-site storage, hard drives won't be suitable and because they have moving parts inside, clients would have to take extra care with them.

The logs are as follows:


24/01/2007 00:00
-------------------------------
Date: 24/01/2007
Time: 00:00
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
NTMS session started successfully.
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_LIBRARY) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 3 media libraries found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
Found an enabled library.
InventoryNtmsLibrary(NtmsInventoryOmid) succeeded.
Identify Media completed
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_PHYSICAL_MEDIA) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 1 media types found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsPhysicalMediaInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsMediaTypeInfo) succeeded.
Found a tape media type in the library (4mm DDS).
Launching NTBackup: ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Backup\Small Business Backup Script.bks" /d "SBS Backup created on 24/01/2007 at 00:00" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:on /m normal /j "Small Business Server Backup Job" /l:s /p "4mm DDS" /UM
NTBACKUP LOG FILE: C:\Documents and Settings\SBS Backup User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\backup08.log
=====================<BEGIN NTBACKUP LOG FILE>=====================
=======================<END NTBACKUP LOG FILE>=====================
NTBackup finished the backup with errors.

For more information about failed backups, see the article on troubleshooting your backup at the following Web page: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18414

Backup ended at 24 January 2007 00:33
Backup Runner finished.



25/01/2007 00:00
-------------------------------
Date: 25/01/2007
Time: 00:00
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
NTMS session started successfully.
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_LIBRARY) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 3 media libraries found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
Found an enabled library.
InventoryNtmsLibrary(NtmsInventoryOmid) succeeded.
Identify Media completed
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_PHYSICAL_MEDIA) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 1 media types found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsPhysicalMediaInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsMediaTypeInfo) succeeded.
Found a tape media type in the library (4mm DDS).
Launching NTBackup: ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Backup\Small Business Backup Script.bks" /d "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:on /m normal /j "Small Business Server Backup Job" /l:s /p "4mm DDS" /UM
NTBACKUP LOG FILE: C:\Documents and Settings\SBS Backup User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\backup09.log
=====================<BEGIN NTBACKUP LOG FILE>=====================
Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: 4mm DDS
Media name: "Media created 25/01/2007 at 00:01"

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
Backup (via shadow copy) of "C: System"
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Media name: "Media created 25/01/2007 at 00:01"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 25/01/2007 at 00:04.
Backup completed on 25/01/2007 at 00:17.
Directories: 3375
Files: 28369
Bytes: 3,964,840,624
Time:  13 minutes and  34 seconds
Backup (via shadow copy) of "D: Paging"
Backup set #2 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Media name: "Media created 25/01/2007 at 00:01"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 25/01/2007 at 00:17.
Backup completed on 25/01/2007 at 00:17.
Directories: 5
Files: 5
Bytes: 42,658
Time:  1 second
Backup (via shadow copy) of "E: Data"
Backup set #3 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Media name: "Media created 25/01/2007 at 00:01"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 25/01/2007 at 00:17.
Backup completed on 25/01/2007 at 02:17.
Directories: 3809
Files: 39866
Bytes: 25,532,634,768
Time:  1 hour,  59 minutes, and  57 seconds
Backup of "RRS1\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group"
Backup set #4 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Media name: "Media created 25/01/2007 at 00:01"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 25/01/2007 at 02:17.
Backup completed on 25/01/2007 at 02:38.
Directories: 4
Files: 5
Bytes: 4,784,825,134
Time:  21 minutes and  22 seconds
Backup (via shadow copy) of "System State"
Backup set #5 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Media name: "Media created 25/01/2007 at 00:01"

Backup Type: Copy

Backup started on 25/01/2007 at 02:38.
Backup completed on 25/01/2007 at 02:40.
Directories: 266
Files: 2817
Bytes: 605,132,210
Time:  1 minute and  33 seconds

----------------------

Verify Status
Operation: Verify After Backup
Active backup destination: 4mm DDS

Verify of "C:"
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Verify started on 25/01/2007 at 02:42.
Verify completed on 25/01/2007 at 04:22.
Directories: 3375
Files: 28369
Different: 0
Bytes: 3,964,840,624
Time:  1 hour,  39 minutes, and  41 seconds

Verify of "D:"
Backup set #2 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Verify started on 25/01/2007 at 04:22.
Verify completed on 25/01/2007 at 04:22.
Directories: 5
Files: 5
Different: 0
Bytes: 42,658
Time:  1 second

Verify of "E:"
Backup set #3 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 25/01/2007 at 00:00"
Verify started on 25/01/2007 at 04:22.

Error: An inconsistency was encountered on the requested media.
Verify completed on 25/01/2007 at 19:01.
Directories: 2758
Files: 26812
Different: 0
Bytes: 15,965,761,670
Time:  14 hours,  39 minutes, and  33 seconds

----------------------

=======================<END NTBACKUP LOG FILE>=====================
NTBackup finished the backup with errors.

For more information about failed backups, see the article on troubleshooting your backup at the following Web page: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18414

Backup ended at 25 January 2007 19:07
Backup Runner finished.

What I don't understand is how nothing got logged for the 1st log file, but then the 2nd one shows a failure. Notice how the 2nd one fails after the job has been running from midnight into mid-afternoon the same day!!

23/01/2007 00:00
-------------------------------
Date: 23/01/2007
Time: 00:00
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
NTMS session started successfully.
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_LIBRARY) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 3 media libraries found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
Found an enabled library.
InventoryNtmsLibrary(NtmsInventoryOmid) succeeded.
Identify Media completed
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_PHYSICAL_MEDIA) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 1 media types found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsPhysicalMediaInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsMediaTypeInfo) succeeded.
Found a tape media type in the library (4mm DDS).
Launching NTBackup: ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Backup\Small Business Backup Script.bks" /d "SBS Backup created on 23/01/2007 at 00:00" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:on /m normal /j "Small Business Server Backup Job" /l:s /p "4mm DDS" /UM
CreateFile(LOGFILE, READ) failed. (0x80070020)
NTBackup finished the backup with no errors.
Backup ended at 23 January 2007 22:00
Backup Runner finished.



20/01/2007 00:00
-------------------------------
Date: 20/01/2007
Time: 00:00
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
NTMS session started successfully.
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_LIBRARY) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 3 media libraries found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
Found an enabled library.
InventoryNtmsLibrary(NtmsInventoryOmid) succeeded.
GetTapeMediaPoolName failed. (0x800710d8)
GetBackupDestination failed. (0x800710d8)
LaunchNTBackup failed. (0x800710d8)
NTBackup finished the backup with errors.

For more information about failed backups, see the article on troubleshooting your backup at the following Web page: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18414

Backup ended at 20 January 2007 00:00
Backup error finished with error code 0X800710D8.



19/01/2007 00:00
-------------------------------
Date: 19/01/2007
Time: 00:00
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
NTMS session started successfully.
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_LIBRARY) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 3 media libraries found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
Found an enabled library.
InventoryNtmsLibrary(NtmsInventoryOmid) succeeded.
GetTapeMediaPoolName failed. (0x800710d8)
GetBackupDestination failed. (0x800710d8)
LaunchNTBackup failed. (0x800710d8)
NTBackup finished the backup with errors.

For more information about failed backups, see the article on troubleshooting your backup at the following Web page: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18414

Backup ended at 19 January 2007 00:00
Backup error finished with error code 0X800710D8.



16/01/2007 00:00
-------------------------------
Date: 16/01/2007
Time: 00:00
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
NTMS session started successfully.
EnumerateNtmsObject(NTMS_LIBRARY) succeeded.
Will enumerate on 3 media libraries found.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
GetNtmsObjectInformation(NtmsLibraryInfo) succeeded.
Found an enabled library.
InventoryNtmsLibrary(NtmsInventoryOmid) succeeded.
GetTapeMediaPoolName failed. (0x800710d8)
GetBackupDestination failed. (0x800710d8)
LaunchNTBackup failed. (0x800710d8)
NTBackup finished the backup with errors.

For more information about failed backups, see the article on troubleshooting your backup at the following Web page: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18414

Backup ended at 16 January 2007 00:00
Backup error finished with error code 0X800710D8.

For the record the server, a Dell PowerEdge 400SC, has the latest BIOS and driver updates. The backup drive, a Dell PowerVault 100T, is using the latest firmware and drivers (WHQL).

Another thing, http://www.taznetworks.com/rss/2006/01/sbs-backup-error-code-0x800710d8.html has a solution, which I've tried already and still the same problem occurs!

Vis-a-vis the "Inconsistency" error:

Usually that you are backing up to a UNC path that is being backed up.

Can also be that the place you're backing up to has a bad sector, or that the disk is full.  

The tapes are brand new and the drive is using compression to 72GB, and there's only 50GB of data?

Your tapes are 36/72.  Depending on what type of file you're backing up, you are not going to see anywhere near 72GB worth of space on them.  50GB is pushing it, in a lot of cases, unless you're somehow holding a steady 1.4/1 compression ratio.

Notice your "15 hours" was on the verification of the component of your backup which had that error.  

Would it be possible to move this drive and scsi card to another machine, to rule out any possiblities of it being the setup you have there.

Any workstation running XP Pro will also do. Perhaps you have a workstation yourself, install the drive and use ntbackup to backup the data. See if you get the same results.. This is your next best step.

NTBackup is great, unless you need the functions to backup agents and different operating systems with one application, ntbackup is sufficient.

Hmm, so would you suggest hard drives over tapes? Something digital, i.e. with no moving parts would be ideal, such as a USB stick, but the cost involved would probably be enormous.

Is there anyway to lock down the hard drive so the backed up data cannot be used?

The big question is would it be secure and reliable, more than tape drives? Another thing is if the drive is removed the next day and reconnected again, wouldn't it be given a different drive letter?

Is NTBACKUP able to encrypt the drive or would you suggest using EFS? However doesn't using EFS mean you can't use NTFS?

Sorry, I posted before you made your second comment.

My client who has a problem using the tape drive had no problem using USB2 300GB hard drives for years! He only swapped as it was thought that tapes were better. Personally I only use an 80GB USB2 external hard drive for my own server and for the past year and a half, it's been the most reliable and easy-to-use option. Infact I've never had a problem and, as I said, neither did he until he moved over to tapes.

Would you suggest using external drives or internal (hot-plug) drives? Then again, hot plug drives would need to be running on RAID 5 or 10 wouldn't they to become plug & play? Is that right?

Fair comment... the company I used to work for used tape drives and they seemed like a reliable solution. Why I suggested using tape drives instead? Good question - I kinda thought it was a good idea but it's turned out to be a problem.

I appreciate all your time and support with this issue - thank you! You've all been a great help! :-)

no problem... sorry if I gave you a hard time with this... but you were really making it much more difficult than it should be.  :-)

Jeff
TechSoEasy

Hehe.. fair comment.

Cheers Jeff!

DReade: Because you still run into the people who advocate tape drives over everything else.  I spent nearly 6 months trying to get anyone to tell me why tape drives were better than external drives for small businesses.  I ended with a lot of people sputtering at me saying the equivalent of, "Because!!"  One poster here (have it saved somewhere) gave me a good reason for massive amounts of data, but I've to this day seen nothing -- after MANY hours of research -- that would justify forcing people into the hell that can be tape drives and their maintenance.  Just IMO though. :)

Yeah I see what you mean. To be honest the company I used to work for used tapes and tape drives in all their servers. They were fine when the worked but when they went wrong it wasn't good at all. Maintenance is a bummer too, having to format tapes every few years, clean the drive etc...