Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled

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AParker83

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Hello,

We are having problems with our Shadow Copy service running as scheduled.
Shadow Copy is configured to run every morning at 3am. The "Next Run Time"
column indicates that it is scheduled, but when that time passes, the copy
does not appear, and the "Next Run Time" increments to the next day.

This problem started happening after we ran low on disk space on our OS
partition. Shadow Copy actually quit running because of the lack of disk
space. That has since been corrected, but this problem has popped up since.

We've tried disabling Shadow Copies, then reenabling, and that does not help
either. We're really at a loss here.

Any suggestions?
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled


"AParker83" <AParker83@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1754DDA6-ECD0-4B16-AD67-6FE41BA03E45@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> We are having problems with our Shadow Copy service running as scheduled.
> Shadow Copy is configured to run every morning at 3am. The "Next Run
> Time"
> column indicates that it is scheduled, but when that time passes, the copy
> does not appear, and the "Next Run Time" increments to the next day.
>
> This problem started happening after we ran low on disk space on our OS
> partition. Shadow Copy actually quit running because of the lack of disk
> space. That has since been corrected, but this problem has popped up
> since.
>
> We've tried disabling Shadow Copies, then reenabling, and that does not
> help
> either. We're really at a loss here.
>
> Any suggestions?

Try this batch file:
@echo off
echo Job started on %date% at %time% >> c:\shadow.log
YourCommand.exe 1>> c:\shadow.log 2>>&1
echo Job ended on %date% at %time% >> c:\shadow.log

Now examine c:\shadow.log to see what's going on. You
should also examine the log file generated by the Task Scheduler.

About running out of space on your OS partition: If you run
a robust show then you MUST check the amount of free
space of every server partition on a weekly basis. You might,
for example, automate the job by getting a scheduled task to
send you a brief summary by EMail.
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

> Try this batch file:
> @echo off
> echo Job started on %date% at %time% >> c:\shadow.log
> YourCommand.exe 1>> c:\shadow.log 2>>&1
> echo Job ended on %date% at %time% >> c:\shadow.log
>
> Now examine c:\shadow.log to see what's going on. You
> should also examine the log file generated by the Task Scheduler.
>
> About running out of space on your OS partition: If you run
> a robust show then you MUST check the amount of free
> space of every server partition on a weekly basis. You might,
> for example, automate the job by getting a scheduled task to
> send you a brief summary by EMail.
>
Perhaps I'm being dense here, but what needs to go at "YourCommand.exe"?
Using this obviously errors out, as that's obviously not a valid command.
The log files says:

Job started on Tue 06/10/2008 at 8:49:40.24
'YourCommand.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Job ended on Tue 06/10/2008 at 8:49:40.30

Not only am I missing something here with the appropriate command, but it
appears as if it's picking up on the last manual ShadowCopy we ran. Since we
haven't been able to get them to run via the Scheduler, we've been running
them twice a day manually.
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled

What is the command you currently use for your shawow copy process?


"AParker83" <AParker83@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:86433462-8C73-4327-91B0-AF2F33A8DA6B@microsoft.com...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>> Try this batch file:
>> @echo off
>> echo Job started on %date% at %time% >> c:\shadow.log
>> YourCommand.exe 1>> c:\shadow.log 2>>&1
>> echo Job ended on %date% at %time% >> c:\shadow.log
>>
>> Now examine c:\shadow.log to see what's going on. You
>> should also examine the log file generated by the Task Scheduler.
>>
>> About running out of space on your OS partition: If you run
>> a robust show then you MUST check the amount of free
>> space of every server partition on a weekly basis. You might,
>> for example, automate the job by getting a scheduled task to
>> send you a brief summary by EMail.
>>
> Perhaps I'm being dense here, but what needs to go at "YourCommand.exe"?
> Using this obviously errors out, as that's obviously not a valid command.
> The log files says:
>
> Job started on Tue 06/10/2008 at 8:49:40.24
> 'YourCommand.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
> operable program or batch file.
> Job ended on Tue 06/10/2008 at 8:49:40.30
>
> Not only am I missing something here with the appropriate command, but it
> appears as if it's picking up on the last manual ShadowCopy we ran. Since
> we
> haven't been able to get them to run via the Scheduler, we've been running
> them twice a day manually.
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

> What is the command you currently use for your shawow copy process?
>

Excuse my ignorance, but I honestly have no idea. We've always just setup
our Shadow Copies through the GUI. I'm not being much help, I know. :)
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled


"AParker83" <AParker83@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:72FBE2EF-09EF-402D-AB57-6E7622C3D227@microsoft.com...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>> What is the command you currently use for your shawow copy process?
>>
>
> Excuse my ignorance, but I honestly have no idea. We've always just setup
> our Shadow Copies through the GUI. I'm not being much help, I know. :)

How do you invoke the GUI? Through a shortcut? What
lies behind the shortcut?
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled

> How do you invoke the GUI? Through a shortcut? What
> lies behind the shortcut?
>
> Right-click My Computer --> Manage. Richt click Shared Folders --> All Task -->Configure Shadow Copies.

It is from this GUI that we have been configuring our scheduling (via the
"Settings" button --> "Scheduling" button) and executing the shadow copies
manually for the time being.
 
Re: Shadow Copy not executing as scheduled


"AParker83" <AParker83@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EE61DB55-915B-4F0D-9274-F02A3CA1BF49@microsoft.com...
>> How do you invoke the GUI? Through a shortcut? What
>> lies behind the shortcut?
>>
>> Right-click My Computer --> Manage. Richt click Shared Folders --> All
>> Task -->Configure Shadow Copies.
>
> It is from this GUI that we have been configuring our scheduling (via the
> "Settings" button --> "Scheduling" button) and executing the shadow copies
> manually for the time being.

If you scheduled the shadow copy process to execute just
once some time in the future then you could examine its
command line in the Task Scheduler via the Control
Panel. It would be something like this:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\vssadmin.exe Create Shadow /AutoRetry=5
/For=\\?\Volume{86bc41ae-8a0b-11d8-a1ee-806e6f6e6963}\

This is the command line you've been looking for all along.
Put it into the batch file I suggested right at the start, then
do this:
- Run the batch file manually and watch what happens.
- Use the Task Scheduler to schedule the batch file, then
examine the logs I mentioned in my first reply.
If this does not get you anywhere then I recommend you
get professional help. Saving money by having the
backup process managed by untrained staff is a very
expensive option.
 
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