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Microsoft Windows SBS 2008 backup fails with "incorrect function" on punctured RAID array
Hello, all,
I am running SBS 2008 and have been using the integrated backup software without incident for the life of the server. At one point the backups were failing, which, after research, led me to notice that they had one failed RAID drive, and another in predicted fail. Replaced both drives (one by one) without incident and am now showing a healthy array.
Dell Poweredge server
RAID-5 array with three (3) physical disks
No other RAID arrays on the system
However, backups still continue to fail with the dreaded "incorrect function" error message. They always fail at exactly the same spot on the c: drive, 49.31 MB into the backup, and the entire backup aborts. Reviewing the application log doesn't yield anything helpful, but reviewing the system log shows an error message the recurs every few hours about a punctured RAID array, and specifically calls out physical disk 1. Strangely, physical disk 1 is the only disk of the three that I DID NOT replace. However, I know bad parity can copy from one disk to another in a double-fault situation.
I am aware that the only way to truly repair a punctured RAID is to completely reinitialize the RAID array and start from scratch. However, the puncture is not affecting anything on the server, and it's running fine since I replaced the disks. Reformatting would be an insurmountable task at this point, and is not an option, nor is it necessary as the server is running fine.
So my question is this:
1) Is the puncture causing the backups to fail, or should I be looking elsewhere? I mean, Is it possible that SBS backups are so FRAGILE that they completely abort because of a simple bad block or RAID puncture?
2) If the puncture is at fault, how can I tweak the backups so that they complete despite the puncture.
3) If it's not at fault, how can I correct the "incorrect function" error?
I am willing to post event logs or provide any other information that you deem vital to the situation. Thanks in advance for the help!
I am running SBS 2008 and have been using the integrated backup software without incident for the life of the server. At one point the backups were failing, which, after research, led me to notice that they had one failed RAID drive, and another in predicted fail. Replaced both drives (one by one) without incident and am now showing a healthy array.
Dell Poweredge server
RAID-5 array with three (3) physical disks
No other RAID arrays on the system
However, backups still continue to fail with the dreaded "incorrect function" error message. They always fail at exactly the same spot on the c: drive, 49.31 MB into the backup, and the entire backup aborts. Reviewing the application log doesn't yield anything helpful, but reviewing the system log shows an error message the recurs every few hours about a punctured RAID array, and specifically calls out physical disk 1. Strangely, physical disk 1 is the only disk of the three that I DID NOT replace. However, I know bad parity can copy from one disk to another in a double-fault situation.
I am aware that the only way to truly repair a punctured RAID is to completely reinitialize the RAID array and start from scratch. However, the puncture is not affecting anything on the server, and it's running fine since I replaced the disks. Reformatting would be an insurmountable task at this point, and is not an option, nor is it necessary as the server is running fine.
So my question is this:
1) Is the puncture causing the backups to fail, or should I be looking elsewhere? I mean, Is it possible that SBS backups are so FRAGILE that they completely abort because of a simple bad block or RAID puncture?
2) If the puncture is at fault, how can I tweak the backups so that they complete despite the puncture.
3) If it's not at fault, how can I correct the "incorrect function" error?
I am willing to post event logs or provide any other information that you deem vital to the situation. Thanks in advance for the help!
SBSWindows Server 2008Storage SoftwareServer HardwareStorage Hardware
Last Comment
noxcho
if you can't reformat and restore from backup why are you even running backups?
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ASKER
David: Backups have been failing for so long now that they are not a viable recovery option; they're over 2 months out of date at this point.
Rindi/noxcho: I'll try running a chkdsk on the server and let you know what it turns up.
Rindi/noxcho: I'll try running a chkdsk on the server and let you know what it turns up.
ASKER
Update:
I ran a chkdsk on the c: drive during the after-hours using the startup scan. Ran a test backup afterwards and it completed on C: for the first time since the drive issues, but then hung up on D: with an incorrect function message again. I'm hoping a similar scan on the D: partition fixes that failure as well. I'll try this again tonight and let you know. Thanks!
I ran a chkdsk on the c: drive during the after-hours using the startup scan. Ran a test backup afterwards and it completed on C: for the first time since the drive issues, but then hung up on D: with an incorrect function message again. I'm hoping a similar scan on the D: partition fixes that failure as well. I'll try this again tonight and let you know. Thanks!
Yes, and if you have more partitions on that drive - scan all of them.