Re: back not backing up

I note that you took a lot of help to locate the ntbackup
log files. You also required a lot of patient help to
identify the command line used by the Task Scheduler.
I let you draw your own conclusions. Your closing
remark confirms that your strong area of expertise
lies in a field other than server maintenance. I'm afraid
I cannot follow you to these dizzy heights of intellectual
debate.


"alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:BA32C6B5-DB73-4F0D-A7D4-9099396B244F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Your script doesn't work and who the hell are you to judge how good my
skills
> are at anything?!
>
> I have been running servers and doing IT for 10 years now! I remember
> ntbackup when it was for NT Server i never had any problems out of it but
> some where along the Microcrap lost it's way with that app. just ftp for
iis
> and frontpage. That's why i am going to pull the funds out of my own
pocket
> and buy the best backup server software i can buy. YOU WAISTED MY TIME AND
> SOLVED JACK CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
> > It is possible that RSM is currently confused and does not know if
> > a tape is inserted or not. Rebooting the server should clear this
> > condition.
> >
> > When you run ntbackup manually then you press certain buttons
> > to tell the job to use the current tape. This option is not available
> > when ntbackup runs under the Task Scheduler. You need to use
> > the /um switch - see here: http://www.jsiinc.com, tips 5955 and 2265.
> >
> > I suggest you now do this:
> > - Add the /um switch so that your batch file line looks like so:
> > C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and
> > Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows
> > NT\NTBackup\data\backup.bks" /n "Media created on %date% at %time:~0,5%"
/d
> > "Backup" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "backup" /l:f /p "4mm
DDS"
> > /um
> > This is, of course, one long line. I have added a couple of
> > %variables% so that the tape is tagged with today's date and time.
> > - Run this batch file from a Command Prompt.
> > - If it works, run the batch file via the Task Scheduler.
> >
> > Your strong area of experience and expertise appears to
> > lie in areas other than server management. Given this situation,
> > it is only a matter of time until your business suffers a major
> > data loss or a security breach. There is now a need for you or
> > for your manager to make a business decision. What is most
> > cost effective for your business:
> > a) To leave things as they are and accept a major loss within
> > a year or two?
> > b) To pay for you to attend a professional server management
> > course?
> > c) To pay for a qualified professional to assist in the management
> > of your servers?
> >
> > If you accept option a) then here is a typical example of what
> > can and will happen, taken from a recent post in this forum.
> > ================
> > I am currently using windows sbs 2003. I have foolishly gone and used
> > shadow copy without researching it properly. I have reverted my entire
> > file server back to a date that was a month ago. I had no knowledge
> > that i could not undo this. I was thinking the whole process would be
> > like an Xp restore point. That is, I could restore the server to a month
> > ago to retrieve a single file. Then revert back to now. Problem is,
> > because i have reverted the entire drive, there were lots of files that
i
> > have lost alot of saved changes. I need to be able to get those files
back.
> > Is there ANYTHING i can do in this case. Or would you say i am truly
> > screwed!
> >
> > ================
> >
> > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:8D372387-9EF1-4EE5-9F8B-A3134B60C146@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > here's the batch file
> > >
> > > C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and
> > > Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows
> > > NT\NTBackup\data\backup.bks" /n "Media created 11/18/2005 at 12:05 AM"
/d
> > > "Backup" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "backup" /l:f /p
"4mm
> > DDS"
> > >
> > > here is the line from the task scheduler
> > > C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and
> > > Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows
> > > NT\NTBackup\data\backup.bks" /n "Media created 11/18/2005 at 12:05 AM"
/d
> > > "Backup" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "backup" /l:f /p
"4mm
> > DDS"
> > >
> > > here's what was in the .log file
> > > Cannot locate the specified media or backup device. This backup
operation
> > > will terminate.
> > >
> > > and yes the test folder was made.
> > >
> > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I see. The purpose of the batch file was to run your backup
> > > > command in a closely controlled environment. It seems you
> > > > did not really do this.
> > > >
> > > > Now open the task in the Task Scheduler that performs the
> > > > backup. In the "Run" box it has a very, very long line. This
> > > > is called the "Command Line": It is what gets executed at the
> > > > scheduled time. Highlight it, press Ctrl+C, then open the
> > > > batch file I suggested, go to the line that starts with "ntbackup",
> > > > create an empty line, then press Ctrl+V. You have now
> > > > pasted the command line into the batch file. Remove my
> > > > own line starting with "ntbackup" - it is a sample only. And
> > > > while you're at it, paste the command line into your reply
> > > > in this thread.
> > > >
> > > > Now use use Task Scheduler to run the batch file, then
> > > > report the things I suggested before:
> > > > - Post the whole ntbackup command line
> > > > - Post c:\test.err
> > > > - Post the backup??.log pertaining to this run.
> > > > - State if the folder ?:\Test was successfully created
> > > >
> > > > Make sure to report on everything, not just a subset of
> > > > the above items. This thread is getting very long, largely
> > > > because of a lack of feedback.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > > > news:F417BF14-9EEF-44C4-9CBB-AE0F6BB9534B@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > ntbackup command line? I am a little confused, i don't have a
batch
> > file
> > > > that
> > > > > run's the ntbackup. I use use the Task Scheduler to run to
ntbackup
> > which
> > > > was
> > > > > setup from within ntbackup. I ran your batch file and it gave
Command
> > Line
> > > > > Problem: A valid backup operation was not specified on the command
> > line.
> > > > So
> > > > > now what?
> > > > >
> > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > This is like pulling a wisdom tooth . . . I wrote in my previous
> > > > > > reply "Post the whole ntbackup command line". You responded
> > > > > > by saying "A valid backup operation was not specified on the
> > > > > > command line.". Very well - but where is this command line?
> > > > > > Your treating it as if it was a dark secret!
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:B58FF87D-042A-47D7-8FAE-1B9C3F082801@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > the log had this in it
> > > > > > > Command Line Problem: A valid backup operation was not
specified
> > on
> > > > the
> > > > > > > command line.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > and the test folder did get created
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > There is a time lapse of 2 minutes between the start and the
end
> > > > > > > > of your batch file. Presumably this is the time it took for
> > ntbackup
> > > > > > > > to figure out that it was unable to complete the task. The
next
> > > > > > > > steps are obvious:
> > > > > > > > - Post the whole ntbackup command line
> > > > > > > > - Post c:\test.err
> > > > > > > > - Post the backup??.log pertaining to this run.
> > > > > > > > - State if the folder ?:\Test was successfully created.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > > > > > > > news:A7D64FA5-52DC-45E6-868F-63B00C957990@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > I just did it and the log put this out
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Fri 11/18/2005 20:32:00.46 Start of task
> > > > > > > > > User=wink, Path=C:\Program Files\Windows Resource
> > > > > > > >
> > Kits\Tools\;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem
> > > > > > > > > ErrorLevel of c:\Tools\YourTask.exe=87
> > > > > > > > > Fri 11/18/2005 20:32:02.50 End of task
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > "alex" wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > I forgot about that i am doing full back-ups of system
state
> > and
> > > > all
> > > > > > > > > > information on the server drives which are local not
> > networked
> > > > > > drives. I
> > > > > > > > am
> > > > > > > > > > using the main administrator account which has access to
> > > > everything
> > > > > > so
> > > > > > > > that
> > > > > > > > > > rules out your thinking of networked drives and the
account
> > > > without
> > > > > > > > correct
> > > > > > > > > > permissions. I will give your idea a try and report
back...
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > I'm glad to read that the backup log files were there
> > after
> > > > > > > > > > > all. If you're serious about your backup operation
then
> > > > > > > > > > > you will have to examine them once a week.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > You're not telling us what you're backing up to. I
suspect
> > > > > > > > > > > it's a networked drive. I also suspect that you're
using
> > > > > > > > > > > an account for the scheduled task that has
insufficient
> > > > > > > > > > > access rights to that drive. Copy the command line
from
> > > > > > > > > > > the scheduled task into the following batch file:
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > @echo off
> > > > > > > > > > > echo %date% %time% Start of task > c:\test.log
> > > > > > > > > > > echo User=%UserName%, Path=%path% >> c:\test.log
> > > > > > > > > > > md x:\Test 1>>c:\test.log 2>c:\test.err
> > > > > > > > > > > ntbackup @... / / / 1>>c:\test.log 2>c:\test.err
> > > > > > > > > > > echo ErrorLevel of c:\Tools\YourTask.exe=%ErrorLevel%
>>
> > > > > > c:\test.log
> > > > > > > > > > > echo %date% %time% End of task >> c:\test.log
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Where it says "md x:\Test", place your actual backup
drive
> > > > letter.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Now run this batch file under the Task Scheduler, then
> > examine
> > > > > > > > > > > the two log files. I suspect it will make it very
clear
> > why
> > > > your
> > > > > > > > > > > jobs fail.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message
> > > > > > > > > > >
news:EC96587E-4A56-4B60-8F89-70F4B9E5F5B9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > > > > they say Cannot locate the specified media or backup
> > device.
> > > > > > This
> > > > > > > > backup
> > > > > > > > > > > > operation will terminate.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > When i do it myself it works but what can i do to
make
> > it
> > > > work
> > > > > > by
> > > > > > > > Task
> > > > > > > > > > > > Scheduler ?
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Look in "c:\documents and settings" for files
called
> > > > > > > > > > > > > "backup*.log". They are located in the profile
folder
> > > > > > > > > > > > > of the account under which you ran the backup job.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > The command
> > > > > > > > > > > > > dir /s "%userprofile%\..\backup*.log"
> > > > > > > > > > > > > will find them for you if you still think they are
not
> > > > there.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > What do they contain?
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> > message
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > news:177B17EA-FD7B-4650-B7A9-31CF1AC45447@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > I don't have log files and the event log doesn't
say
> > > > much
> > > > > > > > besides RSM
> > > > > > > > > > > was
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > started and then the next event says RSM was
> > stopped.
> > > > Like
> > > > > > it
> > > > > > > > tried
> > > > > > > > > > > but
> > > > > > > > > > > > > did
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > go....
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "alex" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
in
> > > > message
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > news:4A1A3314-45C4-4F8E-B6D3-38D535A5BA9A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > All of our servers are running w2k3 and
using
> > the
> > > > > > back-up
> > > > > > > > software
> > > > > > > > > > > > > that
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > comes
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > with it, i have it the servers to be backed
up
> > with
> > > > > > > > Scheduled
> > > > > > > > > > > Tasks
> > > > > > > > > > > > > and do
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > full back-ups and overwrite whatever is on
the
> > tape
> > > > but
> > > > > > it's
> > > > > > > > not
> > > > > > > > > > > > > working.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > i do manually it works fine what can i do to
> > make
> > > > this
> > > > > > work?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There are three types of logs that relate to
> > scheduled
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > backup jobs that use ntbackup.exe:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - The event logger
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - backupxx.log in your profile folder
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - The log maintained by the Task Scheduler
under
> > > > > > "Advanced".
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > What do they report?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > >


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