Re: SBS W2k Losing Disk Space For No Apparent Reason

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From: Ken Bowman (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 08/06/04

  • Next message: James Tarnat: "Changing internal NIC" 
    Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 23:35:58 -0700

    Hi David,

    I updated this posting last night however checking it
    this morning it has not been updated. The following
    message is an update from actions I took using the
    information you provided. The point of this update is to
    advise you that I am leaving on a long weekend this
    morning, back Tuesday. I will check this posting then.
    It would be great to bottom out the media backup issue
    and the very frustrating application log full message.

    Thank you for all your help thus far.

    Regards,

    Ken.
     
    >-----Original Message-----
    >Hi David,
    >
    >Having read the links I tried an experiment, ran a
    Normal
    >backup against the Exchange First Storage Group then
    >checked the log files - success, they have gone from
    using
    >over 1GB of disk space down to 700MB, all the log files
    >prior to today have been deleted. I also followed the
    >instructions for moving the transaction logs to another
    >location, now on the D: drive, have now gained an
    >astounding 4.5GB of free disk space on the C: drive. I
    >can actually run things like disk defrag etc now.
    >
    >So as it stands at present I still have to issues, the
    >media issue and for some reason I just cannot get the
    >Application log in the Event logs to stop coming up with
    >the Application log full message. I have set group
    >policies, changed the options / filter within the
    >application log properties but it always reports every
    >event and ignores the overwrite when appropraite option.
    >
    >Obviously the media issue is my main concern at present,
    I
    >look forward to hearing back from you David, and much
    >appreciate your help.
    >
    >Regards,
    >
    >Ken.
    >
    >
    >>-----Original Message-----
    >>Hi Ken,
    >>
    >>It helps in so far as confirming that this is not the
    way
    >to do it. Have a
    >>look through the links previously posted - these will
    >provide a far clearer
    >>explanation of how it should be getting done.
    >>
    >>The problem with the media not being used correctly is
    >another issue [which
    >>many, many of us here have experienced - indeed, I am
    >currently 'suffering'
    >>from this myself for the first time in ages...] that we
    >can address but
    >>first step is to get your backup file correct. Once
    this
    >is in place, it can
    >>be run manually and your log files will disappear if it
    >is carried out
    >>successfully. Once we get to this stage, we can
    >investigate the media issue.
    >>
    >>Regards,
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>David
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>"Ken Bowman" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
    wrote
    >in message
    >>news:05a301c47ab4$7d3fed60$a501280a@phx.gbl...
    >>> Hi David,
    >>>
    >>> I used the backup wizard from system tools to create a
    >>> selective files / folders backup set to run on a
    >>> scheduled daily basis. The scheduled job backs up the
    >>> selected files / folders - system state data, to a
    file
    >>> on the D: drive. This runs in the evening. The next
    >>> morning this backup file is manually saved to tape.
    >>> (Have not as yet figured out how to get the morning
    >>> backup to run as an automated job. It always fails
    >>> complaining the inserted media is not the right one)?
    >>> When I get the error running manually I just tell it
    to
    >>> use the existing tape. (4mm DDS tape).
    >>>
    >>> Part of this automated backup does include the "M"
    >drive.
    >>> You say not to back this up?
    >>>
    >>> Unfortunately I am not in front of the machine at
    >>> present, how do I select the first storage group for
    >>> backup, is it in a particular folder? Will have a
    look
    >>> when I get back in this morning.
    >>>
    >>> The backup reports show that a number of files in the
    >>> MDBDATA folder are being skipped due to being in use
    e.g
    >>> E00.log, priv1.edb, priv1.stm, pub1.edb, pub1.stm.
    >>> However all the E0000xxx log files are backed up. The
    >>> DB0000XX.DAT files in the MTADATA folder are all
    skipped
    >>> due to being in use as well. There is a couple of
    other
    >>> files in this folder skipped as well due to being in
    >use.
    >>>
    >>> Does this help?
    >>>
    >>> I will now go and have a look at the link you provided
    >>> David.
    >>>
    >>> Regards,
    >>>
    >>> Ken.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> >-----Original Message-----
    >>> >Hi Ken,
    >>> >
    >>> >Don't touch that dial! - those log files *may* be
    your
    >>> best 'safety net'
    >>> >until we resolve the problem with your Exchange not
    >>> being backed up
    >>> >properly.
    >>> >
    >>> >The way Exchange works is that if it is fully backed
    >up,
    >>> the log files are
    >>> >automatically deleted. If Exchange is not properly
    >>> backed up, the log files
    >>> >exist to allow you to get things restored fully in
    the
    >>> event of a failure.
    >>> >It would basically take the form of back to your last
    >>> successful backup and
    >>> >the log files 'file in the gaps' to where you are
    now,
    >>> if you see what I
    >>> >mean.
    >>> >
    >>> >So NO - don't manually delete these just yet. Once we
    >>> resolve the problem
    >>> >with Exchange not being backed up, the Exchange logs
    >>> will be cleared
    >>> >automatically.
    >>> >
    >>> >More info here:
    >>> >http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=74 -
    >>> How do I backup and
    >>> >restore Exchange
    >>> >
    >>> >With regards your NTBackup, how is this being
    >performed?
    >>> Is it a backup file
    >>> >created within NTBackup and scheduled from there
    also
    >to
    >>> run automatically
    >>> >or have you created a batch file to do the job? Is
    this
    >>> backing up your
    >>> >Exchange data properly - you should *NOT* select the
    M:
    >>> drive but you should
    >>> >ensure that the First Storage Group is selected for
    >>> Exchange to be backed
    >>> >up. What do your backup logs show?
    >>> >
    >>> >More info on Backup procedures for SBS can be found
    >here:
    >>> >http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=38 -
    >>> How to backup your SBS
    >>> >2000 Server [same applies to 2003]
    >>> >
    >>> >Those should get you on the right track. If you are
    >>> already doing things
    >>> >this way, then we'll have to suss out what the
    problem
    >>> is and why your
    >>> >backups ain't getting done properly... post back your
    >>> findings for the group
    >>> >in any case.
    >>> >
    >>> >Hope that helps!
    >>> >
    >>> >
    >>> >David
    >>> >
    >>> >
    >>> >
    >>> >
    >>> >"Ken Bowman" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
    >wrote
    >>> in message
    >>> >news:00ad01c47a44$a4dc1cb0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
    >>> >> Hi,
    >>> >>
    >>> >> The C: drive is 8GB, RAID 5 across 3 x 36GB
    disks.
    >D:
    >>> >> drive is 54GB (approx) RAID 5 over the same 3 x
    36GB
    >>> >> disks.
    >>> >>
    >>> >> Have checked the folder MDBDATA and it has 1,004x
    5MB
    >>> log
    >>> >> files in it. Found the missing space. Can I just
    go
    >>> >> ahead and delete these?
    >>> >>
    >>> >> The badmail folder had around 50 files in it total
    >>> space
    >>> >> used 4MB's.
    >>> >>
    >>> >> If I can manually delete / move these files is
    there
    >>> any
    >>> >> particular ones I must not delete / move?
    >>> >>
    >>> >> You say the backup is not configured correctly -
    how
    >>> >> should it be configured?
    >>> >>
    >>> >> I thought ntbackup.exe automatically handled
    Exchange
    >>> >> temporary file deletion.
    >>> >>
    >>> >> Look forward to your reply.
    >>> >>
    >>> >> Ken.
    >>> >>
    >>> >>
    >>> >> >-----Original Message-----
    >>> >> >First, you don't indicate your disk partition
    sizes.
    >>> How
    >>> >> big is your C:
    >>> >> >drive? D: drive?
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >To see if Exchange is a culprit, open up C: /
    >Program
    >>> >> Files / Exchsrvr /
    >>> >> >MDBDATA directory and see how many .log files
    >appear.
    >>> If
    >>> >> you have a ton of
    >>> >> >them, then your backup is not configured
    correctly.
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >If you do not have a lot of .log files, it may be
    >that
    >>> >> your Exchange stores
    >>> >> >are just growing rapidly. You may wish to consider
    >>> >> relocating your Exchange
    >>> >> >files to another partition, as well as any shared
    >>> >> user/company folders.
    >>> >> >There are documents on how to move them available
    on
    >>> >> Microsoft's web site.
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >Finally, if the above is not the issue, you may
    then
    >>> >> need to determine if
    >>> >> >your system is being used (spammed/relayed) by
    >others.
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >--
    >>> >> >Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]
    >>> >> >"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are
    >>> seldom
    >>> >> long"
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >"Ken Bowman" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
    >>> wrote
    >>> >> in message
    >>> >> >news:beca01c479eb$633f3a20$a401280a@phx.gbl...
    >>> >> >> Hi,
    >>> >> >>
    >>> >> >> I believe Exchange is on the C: drive, I use
    >Backup
    >>> as
    >>> >> >> supplied with the operating system (ntbackup, I
    >>> believe
    >>> >> >> it is Exchange-aware).
    >>> >> >>
    >>> >> >> It is 07:20am here at present, I will not be on-
    >site
    >>> >> >> until lunchtime (12:00). Once on-site I will
    >check
    >>> >> this
    >>> >> >> out and post back.
    >>> >> >>
    >>> >> >> Regards,
    >>> >> >>
    >>> >> >> Ken.
    >>> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
    >>> >> >> >Are your Exchange databases on the C: drive?
    Are
    >>> you
    >>> >> >> performing an
    >>> >> >> >Exchange-aware backup?
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >Browse to your MDBDATA folder - are there lots
    of
    >>> log
    >>> >> >> files of 5Mb?
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >Post back and we'll see if we can find out the
    >>> cause.
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >Regards,
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >David
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >"Ken Bowman"
    ><anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
    >>> >> wrote
    >>> >> >> in message
    >>> >> >> >news:baea01c4798e$806cfe00$a501280a@phx.gbl...
    >>> >> >> >> Hi,
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> I have a SBS W2K server that is using up disk
    >>> space
    >>> >> on
    >>> >> >> >> the C: drive for no apparent reason. For
    >example
    >>> >> today
    >>> >> >> >> nearly 80MB's disappeared when nothing had
    been
    >>> >> added.
    >>> >> >> >> There was only a skeleton staff working today
    >>> with
    >>> >> only
    >>> >> >> >> one person doing work on the server, and
    that
    >was
    >>> >> >> >> clearing off some old files on the D: drive.
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> Checked all temp folders / recycle bin etc
    but
    >>> only
    >>> >> by
    >>> >> >> >> doing a system reboot did it actually
    recover
    >any
    >>> >> disk
    >>> >> >> >> space and that was only 3MB's. The problem
    >only
    >>> >> seems
    >>> >> >> to
    >>> >> >> >> be on the C: drive.
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> I have noticed some one else has logged a
    >similar
    >>> >> >> problem
    >>> >> >> >> on a W2K DC server in the Windows General
    >>> newsgroup.
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> Any ideas on how to stop this loss of disk
    >space
    >>> and
    >>> >> >> how
    >>> >> >> >> to get it back would be much appreciated.
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> Disks are running in RAID 5, dynamic
    >>> configuration.
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> Regards,
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >> Ken.
    >>> >> >> >>
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >> >.
    >>> >> >> >
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >
    >>> >> >.
    >>> >> >
    >>> >
    >>> >
    >>> >.
    >>> >
    >>
    >>
    >>.
    >>
    >.
    >

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