Server installed mid January.  Proliant ML360 G5, quad core Xeon, 4 gigs of RAM, 6x 15,000rpm SAS drives...first two RAID 1 for the OS, remaining 4 RAID 5 for a big E data partition.

 

Backing up to a Dell PowerVault RD1000 internal removable disk drive, connected via SATA. It's shared out as "vault"..so backup goes to this drive via UNC path, as I do with my other similarly setup servers.

 

Approx 1 out of every 3 backups.....has the lovely red Failed mark on it.   No pattern to the failures.

 

I have done chkdsk on this partition...and a defrag..due to thinking there was a possible corruption issue.

 

Here is a copy of a failed log

 

"3/31/2008 11:00 PM
-------------------------------
Date: 3/31/2008
Time: 11:00 PM
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------
Backup Runner started.
Launching NTBackup: ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Backup\Small Business Backup Script.bks" /d "SBS Backup created on 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "Small Business Server Backup Job" /l:s /f "\\-sbs\Vault\Backup Files\Small Business Server Backup (02).bkf" /UM
NTBACKUP LOG FILE: C:\Documents and Settings\SBS Backup User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\backup04.log
==========================================
Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: File
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (02).bkf created 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM"

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
Backup (via shadow copy) of "C: "
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM"
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (02).bkf created 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM.
Backup completed on 3/31/2008 at 11:44 PM.
Directories: 3824
Files: 38798
Bytes: 19,259,925,125
Time:  43 minutes and  10 seconds
Backup (via shadow copy) of "E: DATA"
Backup set #2 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM"
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (02).bkf created 3/31/2008 at 11:00 PM"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 3/31/2008 at 11:44 PM.

Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
Error reported: Invalid command.
There may be a hardware or media problem.
Please check the system event log for relevant failures.
The operation was ended.
Backup completed on 4/1/2008 at 12:25 AM.
Directories: 2787
Files: 147386
Bytes: 19,188,772,919
Time:  41 minutes and  14 seconds

Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.
----------------------
The operation did not successfully complete.
----------------------
============================================
NTBackup finished the backup with errors.
For more information about failed backups, see the article on troubleshooting your backup at the following Web page: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18414
Backup ended at Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:25 AM
Backup Runner finished."

Adding to the mix......here's an observation I just made.  Looking at the history of the backup..the "failed" jobs always end at 12:24 or 12:25 am.

The completed jobs always end at 1:11 or 1:12 am. 

No manua/scheduledl scans at that time. 

 

Hmmm...they do run some maintenance program for their LOB insurance package.....I don't think it's at that time period..but I"ll check....now that you got me thinking down that path.

'Moted in this morning and reset the backup to 0500. 

 

Backup failed last night....but night before that was complete.   It's just irregular as heck.

 

This server went through a few lockups when the onboard Broadcom NIC failed....and was replaced.  Curious if the file tables on the E partition got a little wonky.  Hence my running several checkdisks. 

 

Also they've complianed about a shared application running slow..which is run from this E drive.  When this server was installed...the application ran like a champ.  

Update..may have found possible cause..the client had ordered...or was misled by the Dell sales kid...incorrect additional cartridges.  Seems he received some 80/160 carts.  I had sold a box of 160/320 cartridges with the server.....he was going to order a few more...another 3x pack..to beef up the rotation.  We're noticing that the days of failure seem to be regular..although it's only keeping a log of the past 10x backups...but seems to error when the 80 drives are in.

 

Odd though...I would think the backup would spit out a different error..such as "install another media device", or "not enough free space".

 

Not some access/permission issue to the 2nd partition.