ntbackup need more than one backup tape??

[Mandy]

I am using ntbackup and backup tape to backup my data, I
am using a batch file to run the backup job, in which the
capacity of the tape is 24GB (compressed), if the data I
backup is only 6 GB, it running properly without any
problem, however, when I try to backup 15GB of my data, I
found that there is nothing in the tape and the ntbackup
log file is empty, and the ntbackup.exe is still running
in task manager, but the tape is already eject out from
the drive, is it seems that the one tape is not enough for
the whole backup??
Or is something else cause my backup fail??
I have already use compression in the backup /hcn.

Thanks and Regards,
Mandy

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Try running the job manually in and watch it run to see if it asks you for
another tape.
Did you try getting the hw mfr's tape utility to see if there's a
compression issue on the tape? Update the firmware on the drive & theSCSI
controller? I think you posted about this issue before & that was my
suggestion.

 

[Jerold Schulman]

I am using ntbackup and backup tape to backup my data, I
am using a batch file to run the backup job, in which the
capacity of the tape is 24GB (compressed), if the data I
backup is only 6 GB, it running properly without any
problem, however, when I try to backup 15GB of my data, I
found that there is nothing in the tape and the ntbackup
log file is empty, and the ntbackup.exe is still running
in task manager, but the tape is already eject out from
the drive, is it seems that the one tape is not enough for
the whole backup??
Or is something else cause my backup fail??
I have already use compression in the backup /hcn.

Thanks and Regards,
Mandy

In addition to Laura's suggestions, are you appending or creating a new tape?
Is the second tape in the freemedia pool? See tip 7925 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at
http://www.jsiinc.com
Are you using the /UM switch on the NTBackup command line, tip 2265?



Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com

 

[Mandy]

hw mfr's tape utility..... what's that, u mean I need to
update the firmware, otherwise I can't perform compression
backup, isn't it??

Mandy

 

[Mandy]

I haven't use /UM on the command line, I have already
prepare the tape and it is under "Backup" in "Computer
Management"

Here is my script
echo off
start /wait C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE
backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\backupAdmin\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows
NT\NTBackup\data\Backup.bks" /n "FRIDAY" /d "FRIDAY" /v:no
/r:no /rs:no /hcn /l:s /m
normal /j "FRIDAYJob" /t "FRIDAY"
rsm eject /pf"FRIDAY - 1" /astart

Mandy

 

[Jerold Schulman]

I don't know what is wrong.
As an experiment, I would deallocate the current tape and prepare it again.

I haven't use /UM on the command line, I have already
prepare the tape and it is under "Backup" in "Computer
Management"

Here is my script
echo off
start /wait C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE
backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\backupAdmin\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows
NT\NTBackup\data\Backup.bks" /n "FRIDAY" /d "FRIDAY" /v:no
/r:no /rs:no /hcn /l:s /m
normal /j "FRIDAYJob" /t "FRIDAY"
rsm eject /pf"FRIDAY - 1" /astart

Mandy

Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com

 

[Mandy]

Actually, I have 5 prepared tape which for Monday to
Friday, and everyday I get the same result, thus I guess
it is not the problem of the tape.... anyways, it is not
bad to have a try, let me deallocate the current tape and
prepare it again to see the result....

I am sure, but I just guess, when the total backup size is
small, then the backup can perform successfully, when it
is large, the backup.exe still running, seems haven't
finished yet.... thus I guess, one tape is not enough for
the backup.....
Is there any way I can know how many tape I need for the
backup (except running it manually to see whether ntbackup
ask for a new tape)??

Thanks a lot : )

Mandy

 

[Jerold Schulman]

Since you already know that a Normal backup won't fit, you can count the size of
the files with their archive bit set, but the System state, which you can
approximate (as it rarely changes).

Assuming 1 partition and
using FileSize.bat from tip 5725 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at http://www.jsiinc.com


@echo off
setlocal ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
set /a total=0
for /f "Tokens=*" %%f in ('dir %systemdrive%\zipnew /a /a-d /aa /s /b') do (
call FileSize %%f size
set /a total=!total! + !size!
)
@echo total size = %total%
endlocal

Actually, I have 5 prepared tape which for Monday to
Friday, and everyday I get the same result, thus I guess
it is not the problem of the tape.... anyways, it is not
bad to have a try, let me deallocate the current tape and
prepare it again to see the result....

I am sure, but I just guess, when the total backup size is
small, then the backup can perform successfully, when it
is large, the backup.exe still running, seems haven't
finished yet.... thus I guess, one tape is not enough for
the backup.....
Is there any way I can know how many tape I need for the
backup (except running it manually to see whether ntbackup
ask for a new tape)??

Thanks a lot : )

Mandy

Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com

 

[Jerold Schulman]

........ revised ................

Since you already know that a Normal backup won't fit, you can count the size of
the files with their archive bit set, but the System state, which you can
approximate (as it rarely changes).

Assuming 1 partition and
using FileSize.bat from tip 5725 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at http://www.jsiinc.com


@echo off
setlocal ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
set /a total=0
for /f "Tokens=*" %%f in ('dir %systemdrive% /a /a-d /aa /s /b') do (
call FileSize %%f size
set /a total=!total! + !size!
)
@echo total size = %total%
endlocal

Actually, I have 5 prepared tape which for Monday to
Friday, and everyday I get the same result, thus I guess
it is not the problem of the tape.... anyways, it is not
bad to have a try, let me deallocate the current tape and
prepare it again to see the result....

I am sure, but I just guess, when the total backup size is
small, then the backup can perform successfully, when it
is large, the backup.exe still running, seems haven't
finished yet.... thus I guess, one tape is not enough for
the backup.....
Is there any way I can know how many tape I need for the
backup (except running it manually to see whether ntbackup
ask for a new tape)??

Thanks a lot : )

Mandy

Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com