Re: EMERGENCY: Portal creation failed, yet no log to look at

From: Bill English [MVP] (bill_at_mindsharp.com)
Date: 11/08/04 

Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 22:06:30 -0600

I don't understand. The portal indexes are not held in the SQL database,
rather they are on the file system. The site indexes are held in the SQL
database, so perhaps you're referring to them.

Removing and reinstalling the binaries on the WFE servers is nearly
irrelevant to the restoring of a portal server. I'm not trying to be mean
or demeaning with that statement, just trying to help everyone who reads
this post to understand that the entire architecture of SharePoint is
modular. As you describe, the problem is with the integrity of the
databases.

Do you have a backup of the databases from before your defrag operation? If
so, restore that copy.

I had this same problem earlier this week in Atlanta - in front of the
entire class. In addition, even though I could open the shared services
portal, the error message in the backup program stated that the virtual
server wasn't properly extended. Hmmm........

So, it ended up that the only way I could re-build to a working state was to
tear down the farm and work with a new configuration database. This didn't
include re-installing the binaries, but instead, removing all the servers
from the current farm, creating a new config db, then assign the servers to
the new farm and restore the databases.

This took about 1.15 hours. It's not difficult, but it is a bit time
consuming.

HTH. 

-- 
Bill English
www.mindsharp.com
www.mindsharpblogs.com
sharepointdiscussions@yahoogroups.com
"SizzleMaster" <larry@datasculpting.com> wrote in message 
news:elxtA58wEHA.1976@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
>
> After defragging my SQL server box, the indexes were blown out.  I removed 
> SharePoint on the front end web server and re-installed it yet can't 
> restore one of my portals.  I can restore one of the two and it logs it 
> successfully.  I recieve the error: Portal creation failed. Please see the 
> portal creation log for more details.  I click the link and it says file 
> not found.  I've searched for the log and it wasn't created.  I also 
> looked at the other computer logs and no mention of a any problem.
>
> Any suggestions would be helpfull.  I'm rather desperate here.  The 
> portal's been down all day.
>
Loading