w2k server ntbackup problem

[Robert]

I am getting a ntbackup error when a scheduled incremental backup is ran on
a w2k file server. Here is the error message found in the backup log:
"Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
Error reported: Unknown error."

Here is the dos command used to invoke the scheduled incremental backup...

C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator.PRIVATE\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\S2 Incremental backup.bks" /a /d
"Incremental backup" /v:yes /r:yes /rs:no /hcff /m incremental /j "S2
Incremental backup.job" /l:s /f "\\s1\backup\S2\Normal.bkf"

Here are two other dos backup commands that do work (the daily differential
and monthly normal backups):

C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator.PRIVATE\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\S2 Differential Backup.bks" /n
"Differential Backup" /d "Differential Backup" /v:yes /r:yes /rs:no /hcff
/m differential /j "S2 Differential Backup.job" /l:s /f
"\\s1\backup\S2\Differential.bkf"

C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator.PRIVATE\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\S2 Differential Backup.bks" /n
"Normal Backup" /d "Normal Backup" /v:yes /r:yes /rs:no /hcff /m normal /j
"S2 Normal Backup" /l:s /f "\\s1\backup\S2\Normal.bkf"

Anyone know why this isn't working?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I am getting a ntbackup error when a scheduled incremental backup is ran on
a w2k file server. Here is the error message found in the backup log:
"Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
Error reported: Unknown error."

Here is the dos command used to invoke the scheduled incremental backup...

C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator.PRIVATE\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\S2 Incremental backup.bks" /a /d
"Incremental backup" /v:yes /r:yes /rs:no /hcff /m incremental /j "S2
Incremental backup.job" /l:s /f "\\s1\backup\S2\Normal.bkf"

Here are two other dos backup commands that do work (the daily differential
and monthly normal backups):

C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator.PRIVATE\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\S2 Differential Backup.bks" /n
"Differential Backup" /d "Differential Backup" /v:yes /r:yes /rs:no /hcff
/m differential /j "S2 Differential Backup.job" /l:s /f
"\\s1\backup\S2\Differential.bkf"

C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator.PRIVATE\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\S2 Differential Backup.bks" /n
"Normal Backup" /d "Normal Backup" /v:yes /r:yes /rs:no /hcff /m normal /j
"S2 Normal Backup" /l:s /f "\\s1\backup\S2\Normal.bkf"

Anyone know why this isn't working?

I note that you're backing up to a file on a shared drive..
This raises two questions:
- Have you tried backing up to a local file?
- Does the account used to run the backup job have sufficient
access to the .bkf file?

 

[Robert]

I note that you're backing up to a file on a shared drive..
This raises two questions:
- Have you tried backing up to a local file?
- Does the account used to run the backup job have sufficient
access to the .bkf file?

No, I haven't tried backing up to a local drive (there isn't enough room on
any local hdd). However, two other backups are done successfully and stored
to the same network path. Could the reason be that I'm trying to append the
incremental backup to the normal backup file?

The account used for all scheduled backups on this server is the domain
administrator so there should be more than enough permissions to perform
this function. However, I did verify the ntfs permissons just to make sure
and the administrator account has full permissions for the network share
where the backup files are being written.

Rob

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

No, I haven't tried backing up to a local drive (there isn't enough room on
any local hdd). However, two other backups are done successfully and stored
to the same network path. Could the reason be that I'm trying to append the
incremental backup to the normal backup file?

The account used for all scheduled backups on this server is the domain
administrator so there should be more than enough permissions to perform
this function. However, I did verify the ntfs permissons just to make sure
and the administrator account has full permissions for the network share
where the backup files are being written.

Rob

I have never tried incremental backups. You should start with
simple and small backups, them move towards your goal until
you discover the problem. Use the Task Scheduler only after
you have everything sorted out!
1. Perform a normal backup to a file on a local drive.
2. Make it incremental to this same file.
3. Perform a normal backup to a file on a shared drive.
4. Make it incremental to this same file.
5. Repeat Steps 1..4 but this time use the Task Scheduler.