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Arcserve 11.5 SP4 Backup does not start on first tape in group
Hi
We are running Arcserve 11.5 SP4 on a 2003 server SP1, destination is an overland Neo 2000.
Our weekly backups are split into 3 jobs.
Job 1 only uses 1 tape.
Job 2 group has access to use the rest of the slots in the first magazine (slots 4-14).
Job 3 group has access to use all of the slots in the second magazine (slots 15-28).
The backups have been running fine for a while, but a few months back Job 2 started using the tape in the 2nd slot in it's group (slot 5) as it's first tape and then if necessary running over to slot 2.
This wasn't a big issue, it doesn't usually run over so I was inserting the first tape for the backup job into slot 3.
Recently though Job 3 has started doing something similar, but instead of starting on slot 16 it starts on slot 25 and then runs through 28, begins again on 15 and then finishes on slot 22 or 23!
We're at a loss as to why this would be.
All of the weekly tapes are formatted on a Thursday and ejected once that is done.
The daily backup which use slots 1 & 2 don't have this same problem, but the way things are going I am expecting this to start any time soon!
Any suggestions anyone can make would be most appreciated.
Thanks
We are running Arcserve 11.5 SP4 on a 2003 server SP1, destination is an overland Neo 2000.
Our weekly backups are split into 3 jobs.
Job 1 only uses 1 tape.
Job 2 group has access to use the rest of the slots in the first magazine (slots 4-14).
Job 3 group has access to use all of the slots in the second magazine (slots 15-28).
The backups have been running fine for a while, but a few months back Job 2 started using the tape in the 2nd slot in it's group (slot 5) as it's first tape and then if necessary running over to slot 2.
This wasn't a big issue, it doesn't usually run over so I was inserting the first tape for the backup job into slot 3.
Recently though Job 3 has started doing something similar, but instead of starting on slot 16 it starts on slot 25 and then runs through 28, begins again on 15 and then finishes on slot 22 or 23!
We're at a loss as to why this would be.
All of the weekly tapes are formatted on a Thursday and ejected once that is done.
The daily backup which use slots 1 & 2 don't have this same problem, but the way things are going I am expecting this to start any time soon!
Any suggestions anyone can make would be most appreciated.
Thanks
ASKER
Hi Daniel
Thanks for the fast response.
I'm only just getting into the backups so am not sure of every aspect but I will get the info I am not sure about and let you know.
I do know that the Database pruning job runs daily at midnight.
The 3 jobs I mentioned are just the weekly / monthly jobs.
We have a different backup job for the daily's.
Job 1 backs up the exchange and sql and has its destination set to group 1
Jobs 2 & 3 back up various data servers and have their destinations set to groups 2 and 3 respectively.
We split the data backup into 2 jobs so they could run simultaneously and get the backups done faster.
The issue with job 2 starting on the wrong slot has also been happening on the monthly backups. These are always run with brand new tapes.
I have yet to see if the issue with job 3 also happens with the monthly backup, but I will test as soon as I can and respond.
Thanks
Matt
Thanks for the fast response.
I'm only just getting into the backups so am not sure of every aspect but I will get the info I am not sure about and let you know.
I do know that the Database pruning job runs daily at midnight.
The 3 jobs I mentioned are just the weekly / monthly jobs.
We have a different backup job for the daily's.
Job 1 backs up the exchange and sql and has its destination set to group 1
Jobs 2 & 3 back up various data servers and have their destinations set to groups 2 and 3 respectively.
We split the data backup into 2 jobs so they could run simultaneously and get the backups done faster.
The issue with job 2 starting on the wrong slot has also been happening on the monthly backups. These are always run with brand new tapes.
I have yet to see if the issue with job 3 also happens with the monthly backup, but I will test as soon as I can and respond.
Thanks
Matt
Hey Matt
Since you split the jobs to let them run simultaneously im guessing you have 2+ tape streamers.
Do you have the global scratch set enabled? Or can the jobs only use scratch media belonging to specific media pools(default)?
Im almost positive that eventhough you assign a group of slots to a group in ARCserve, then you can never be sure which slot it will use first. It sends a SCSI cmd to the library and will use the slot the library tells the system to use. I dont know of anyway to set a preferred order which is what you want. That is why i suggested the above setup because this eliminates that specific issue + less maintenance for you (you can put any scratch tape anywhere in the library).
You don't have to use 3 different groups. Create one with all slots, then enable global scratch set if not already enabled and you just have to set the options for the jobs to overwrite same media name,blank first then any media for first and additional media (only required to set this for non-GFS jobs). Set the media retention time on the mediapools and use the globalscratchset report to see which tapes can be reused, very easy to administrate this way.
The above setup is running on 5 of our minor sites and works like a charm
For bigger sites, it becomes a bit more complex.
also if possible attach the <Install dir>\Log\Brighstor.log and the tape.log if its not too big.
Cheers
Daniel
Since you split the jobs to let them run simultaneously im guessing you have 2+ tape streamers.
Do you have the global scratch set enabled? Or can the jobs only use scratch media belonging to specific media pools(default)?
Im almost positive that eventhough you assign a group of slots to a group in ARCserve, then you can never be sure which slot it will use first. It sends a SCSI cmd to the library and will use the slot the library tells the system to use. I dont know of anyway to set a preferred order which is what you want. That is why i suggested the above setup because this eliminates that specific issue + less maintenance for you (you can put any scratch tape anywhere in the library).
You don't have to use 3 different groups. Create one with all slots, then enable global scratch set if not already enabled and you just have to set the options for the jobs to overwrite same media name,blank first then any media for first and additional media (only required to set this for non-GFS jobs). Set the media retention time on the mediapools and use the globalscratchset report to see which tapes can be reused, very easy to administrate this way.
The above setup is running on 5 of our minor sites and works like a charm
For bigger sites, it becomes a bit more complex.
also if possible attach the <Install dir>\Log\Brighstor.log and the tape.log if its not too big.
Cheers
Daniel
ASKER
Hi Daniel
As we don't use media pools we don't have either of these options set.
The backup should just send the data to to backup groups.
I remember a while back we did have 1 group for the whole backup, but this was changed I believe to make the admin easier and because we found issues when running jobs simultaneously to a single group.
I've removed all entries prior to Wednesday from our log file and attached.
From what you say though, it sounds as though our tape library could be giving the wrong tape when the backup starts?
Matt
BrightStor.log
As we don't use media pools we don't have either of these options set.
The backup should just send the data to to backup groups.
I remember a while back we did have 1 group for the whole backup, but this was changed I believe to make the admin easier and because we found issues when running jobs simultaneously to a single group.
I've removed all entries prior to Wednesday from our log file and attached.
From what you say though, it sounds as though our tape library could be giving the wrong tape when the backup starts?
Matt
BrightStor.log
Hey Matt
Ok i dont really see any specific errors related to this issue in the log, i need the tape.log for that.
I dont understand why you're not using mediapools and globalscratch as this really eliminates human error. Anyway, since you're not using this what are the global options for each job on the Backup media tab like, the default will result in an issue with your setup?
options.png
Ok i dont really see any specific errors related to this issue in the log, i need the tape.log for that.
I dont understand why you're not using mediapools and globalscratch as this really eliminates human error. Anyway, since you're not using this what are the global options for each job on the Backup media tab like, the default will result in an issue with your setup?
options.png
ASKER
Thanks Daniel
We have the Overwrite Same Media Name, or Blank Media set for both First and Additional media.
Tape log fine attached.
TAPE.LOG
We have the Overwrite Same Media Name, or Blank Media set for both First and Additional media.
Tape log fine attached.
TAPE.LOG
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Hey Matt,
Did my above explanation make any sense to you? :-)
/Daniel
Did my above explanation make any sense to you? :-)
/Daniel
ASKER
Hi Daniel
Some sense yes :)
I'm just waiting to discuss with the team lead to see what he thinks and will let you know how we get on.
Thanks
Matt
Some sense yes :)
I'm just waiting to discuss with the team lead to see what he thinks and will let you know how we get on.
Thanks
Matt
Alright,
Let me know if i can be of any further assistance :-)
Since you're at it, i would also encourage you to upgrade to R12.5 or R15 as these support windows 2008 R2 (R12 is enough for win2k8 SP2) and have alot better funtionality like better reports, dashboards and AD integrated logins to name a few.
Cheers
Daniel
Let me know if i can be of any further assistance :-)
Since you're at it, i would also encourage you to upgrade to R12.5 or R15 as these support windows 2008 R2 (R12 is enough for win2k8 SP2) and have alot better funtionality like better reports, dashboards and AD integrated logins to name a few.
Cheers
Daniel
Your issue happens as a mix of media pool retention time / the split groups / Available scratch media locked to media pools. This creates a complex setup with no room for error with regards to handling the tapes. The job jumps to another slot because the tapes in the previous slots are locked by retention time on its media pool and thus wont be used untill Database pruning job releases the tape. (You do have the Pruning job running right?)
What are those 3 jobs doing? 1 for daily, 1 for weekly and the 3rd? To me it looks like you've made the setup a lot more complex than need be.
How many tape streamers are connected to the Neo2000
I'd recommend to enable the globalscratchset and 1or more GFS (daily, weekly and monthly, incr mon - thu and full on fri) job and set the destination on tape library group level rather than on slot level (create one parent group with all slots instead of 3 split groups). Use the retention time on the mediapools to control when a daily/weekly/monthly tape can be overwritten.
Cheers
Daniel