Exchange database not being backed up

Which Service Pack are you running for Windows 2003 Server?

it is a Small bussiness server, SP 1

The best thing is to create 2 seperate jobs one for the OS & System State and 1 for Exchange.

There was a known issue with this prior to SP1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/820272
But if your using SBS SP1 you should have Windows 2003 SP2

well i do have seperate jobs for OS and Exchange. any idea?

Do you by anychance have Volume Shadow copy enabled on the volume where the Exchange Database is?

no, the Volume Shadow copy is not  enabled on the volume where the Exchange Database is

Stating the obvious - you have ensured that there isn't an NTBACKUP session running in the background?

Simon.

hi Mestha,
yes i checked it- there is no NTBACKUP session running in background

Check your Event viewer and post any errors in there that are generated from the backup.

here are the event logs

Event Type:	Error
Event Source:	NTBackup
Event Category:	None
Event ID:	8001
Date:		23/10/2009
Time:		11:10:35
User:		N/A
Computer:	XXXSERVER
Description:
End Backup of 'XXXSERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group' 'Warnings or errors were encountered.'
 
 	Verify:  On 
 	Mode:  Append 
 	Type:  Normal 
 
Consult the backup report for more details.
 
 
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
 
 
 
 
Event Type:	Error
Event Source:	NTBackup
Event Category:	None
Event ID:	8019
Date:		23/10/2009
Time:		11:10:35
User:		N/A
Computer:	XXXSERVER
Description:
End Operation: Warnings or errors were encountered. 
Consult the backup report for more details.
 
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Select allOpen in new window

what is the command that you are running specifically?  I am wondering if the Mode Append has anything to do with it.  Since this is the first backup you are running you may want to run it without the
/A

this is the script with REPLACING
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\exchangeBkp.bks" /n "ExchangeStore.bkf created 23/10/2009 at 21:03" /d "Set created 23/10/2009 at 21:03" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "exchangeBkp" /l:s /f "M:\ExchangeStore.bkf"


and the event log is below

Event Type:	Error
Event Source:	NTBackup
Event Category:	None
Event ID:	8001
Date:		23/10/2009
Time:		21:07:54
User:		N/A
Computer:	XXXSERVER
Description:
End Backup of 'XXXSERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group' 'Warnings or errors were encountered.'
 
 	Verify:  On 
 	Mode:  Replace 
 	Type:  Normal 
 
Consult the backup report for more details.
 
 
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Select allOpen in new window

Was the error the same in the backup log?  Also I'm not so sure that the backup location is advisable

@C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\exchangeBkp.bks

That is a mouthful....why not back it up to a different directory..something a little simpler...@C:\Backups\exchangeBkp.bks

You get successful OS and System state backups?

yes i get successful OS and system state backup. i get the error even if it is not a scheduled backup.
the backups were successfull untill we had our tape drive failure and now we are using an external drive (temporarily).

did you completely uninstall the old tapedrive from the server.  I have seen this be an issue with other backup softwares.

no, i havent. but sorry but i dont know how it affects..do you mind explaining me.
thanks

Sure....I have seen it where the old drive that died or was removed or whatever is referenced within the backup program itself...statically, like with an .ini file or within the registry etc.  If you just pop out the tape drive and pop in the new one, the old drive is never removed from the software properly and backups fail when they run....regardless of whether the world seems to be OK within the GUI of the software.  I make it a point that if a drive needs to be replaced, upgraded etc. that I go in and uninstall it from the device list on the computer, then remove it physically and THEN install the new drive.

I know seemed weird to me too when I first had to do it...but it does happen.