NTBackup - The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Damon
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Damon

Guest
Hi,

I'm having some problems with NTBackup. We currently have 5 servers which we
have two NTBackup jobs set-up on each server. One backup job for each server
is for backing up system state. The next backup job which runs after that
backs up the files and then the system state backup.

The problem that I am getting is that on some days the backups on different
servers fail, its currently random as to which backup will fail and on what
day. When they fail the error log always contains the following:

Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
Error reported: Unknown error.

Then if it was an exchange backup

Error: SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group is not a valid
drive, or you do not have access.

If it was a file backup (the drive letter will change depending on where the
files are being backed up.

Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.

If I go and run that schedule task again it will succeed. Because the
backups can run perfectly I think that the error which is being reported is
not correct because obviously the drives are accessible. What I'm thinking
it could be (I'm guessing here) is that maybe this is the error that you get
when doing a backup across the network and maybe the network connection
drops out for a second.

I really need to get this sorted and working, does anyone have any ideas on
what I should do here?

Cheers

Damon
 
Re: NTBackup - The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.


"Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:C5591EA6-3203-4C98-B4E3-0F5C306DD20D@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm having some problems with NTBackup. We currently have 5 servers which
> we have two NTBackup jobs set-up on each server. One backup job for each
> server is for backing up system state. The next backup job which runs
> after that backs up the files and then the system state backup.
>
> The problem that I am getting is that on some days the backups on
> different servers fail, its currently random as to which backup will fail
> and on what day. When they fail the error log always contains the
> following:
>
> Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
> Error reported: Unknown error.
>
> Then if it was an exchange backup
>
> Error: SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group is not a
> valid drive, or you do not have access.
>
> If it was a file backup (the drive letter will change depending on where
> the files are being backed up.
>
> Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.
>
> If I go and run that schedule task again it will succeed. Because the
> backups can run perfectly I think that the error which is being reported
> is not correct because obviously the drives are accessible. What I'm
> thinking it could be (I'm guessing here) is that maybe this is the error
> that you get when doing a backup across the network and maybe the network
> connection drops out for a second.
>
> I really need to get this sorted and working, does anyone have any ideas
> on what I should do here?
>
> Cheers
>
> Damon
>

Instead of scheduling ntbackup.exe directly, embed it in a batch
file as below, then examine the contents of c:\test.log after the
next failure.
@echo off
echo Start of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
net use >> c:\test.log
copy c:\test.log "{Destination}" 1>>c:\test.log 2>>&1
ntbackup /.. /..
echo End of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
echo. >> c:\test.log

Replace {Destination} with the drive\folder that the backup job
itself uses.
 
Re: NTBackup - The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.


Hi Pegasus,

I've done that bat but it is not telling me anything new. Firstly I'm not
using mapped network drives I am connecting to UNC shares across the
network.

Secondly when the I am getting the error it is happening during the backup.
I.E. I might get 7MB into it, or 9MB of the bakup file across the network
before the backup fails.

So I guess to narrow it down, a backup job will start running fine (copying
data across the network) then it will hit a point and then stop with the
error.

I had a look in the event logs on the server that is trying to do the backup
and I found that this occurs at the same time the job fails:

{Delayed Write Failed} Windows was unable to save all the data for the file
\Device\LanmanRedirector. The data has been lost. This error may be caused
by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to
save this file elsewhere.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Cheers

Damon


"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:%23DVtraD0IHA.5108@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
> "Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
> news:C5591EA6-3203-4C98-B4E3-0F5C306DD20D@microsoft.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm having some problems with NTBackup. We currently have 5 servers which
>> we have two NTBackup jobs set-up on each server. One backup job for each
>> server is for backing up system state. The next backup job which runs
>> after that backs up the files and then the system state backup.
>>
>> The problem that I am getting is that on some days the backups on
>> different servers fail, its currently random as to which backup will fail
>> and on what day. When they fail the error log always contains the
>> following:
>>
>> Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
>> Error reported: Unknown error.
>>
>> Then if it was an exchange backup
>>
>> Error: SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group is not a
>> valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>
>> If it was a file backup (the drive letter will change depending on where
>> the files are being backed up.
>>
>> Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>
>> If I go and run that schedule task again it will succeed. Because the
>> backups can run perfectly I think that the error which is being reported
>> is not correct because obviously the drives are accessible. What I'm
>> thinking it could be (I'm guessing here) is that maybe this is the error
>> that you get when doing a backup across the network and maybe the network
>> connection drops out for a second.
>>
>> I really need to get this sorted and working, does anyone have any ideas
>> on what I should do here?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Damon
>>
>
> Instead of scheduling ntbackup.exe directly, embed it in a batch
> file as below, then examine the contents of c:\test.log after the
> next failure.
> @echo off
> echo Start of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
> net use >> c:\test.log
> copy c:\test.log "{Destination}" 1>>c:\test.log 2>>&1
> ntbackup /.. /..
> echo End of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
> echo. >> c:\test.log
>
> Replace {Destination} with the drive\folder that the backup job
> itself uses.
>
 
Re: NTBackup - The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.


On on that event log error the source was: MRxSmb

Cheers

Damon

"Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:84BB9B76-3311-4BCD-ADDC-E6CA036A483B@microsoft.com...
>
> Hi Pegasus,
>
> I've done that bat but it is not telling me anything new. Firstly I'm not
> using mapped network drives I am connecting to UNC shares across the
> network.
>
> Secondly when the I am getting the error it is happening during the
> backup. I.E. I might get 7MB into it, or 9MB of the bakup file across the
> network before the backup fails.
>
> So I guess to narrow it down, a backup job will start running fine
> (copying data across the network) then it will hit a point and then stop
> with the error.
>
> I had a look in the event logs on the server that is trying to do the
> backup and I found that this occurs at the same time the job fails:
>
> {Delayed Write Failed} Windows was unable to save all the data for the
> file \Device\LanmanRedirector. The data has been lost. This error may be
> caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection.
> Please try to save this file elsewhere.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Cheers
>
> Damon
>
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
> news:%23DVtraD0IHA.5108@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
>> news:C5591EA6-3203-4C98-B4E3-0F5C306DD20D@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm having some problems with NTBackup. We currently have 5 servers
>>> which we have two NTBackup jobs set-up on each server. One backup job
>>> for each server is for backing up system state. The next backup job
>>> which runs after that backs up the files and then the system state
>>> backup.
>>>
>>> The problem that I am getting is that on some days the backups on
>>> different servers fail, its currently random as to which backup will
>>> fail and on what day. When they fail the error log always contains the
>>> following:
>>>
>>> Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
>>> Error reported: Unknown error.
>>>
>>> Then if it was an exchange backup
>>>
>>> Error: SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group is not a
>>> valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>>
>>> If it was a file backup (the drive letter will change depending on where
>>> the files are being backed up.
>>>
>>> Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>>
>>> If I go and run that schedule task again it will succeed. Because the
>>> backups can run perfectly I think that the error which is being reported
>>> is not correct because obviously the drives are accessible. What I'm
>>> thinking it could be (I'm guessing here) is that maybe this is the error
>>> that you get when doing a backup across the network and maybe the
>>> network connection drops out for a second.
>>>
>>> I really need to get this sorted and working, does anyone have any ideas
>>> on what I should do here?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Damon
>>>
>>
>> Instead of scheduling ntbackup.exe directly, embed it in a batch
>> file as below, then examine the contents of c:\test.log after the
>> next failure.
>> @echo off
>> echo Start of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
>> net use >> c:\test.log
>> copy c:\test.log "{Destination}" 1>>c:\test.log 2>>&1
>> ntbackup /.. /..
>> echo End of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
>> echo. >> c:\test.log
>>
>> Replace {Destination} with the drive\folder that the backup job
>> itself uses.
>>
>
 
Re: NTBackup - The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.

There are a number of elements in the chain that performs the
backup process, and any one of them could cause this type of
problem. Here are the elements I'm thinking of:
- The server's network adapter
- The driver for this adapter
- The CAT5 cable from the server to the switch
- The switch or one of its ports
- The destination network adapter
- The driver for that adapter
- The CAT5 cable to that adapter
- The hard disk at the destination
- Some rogue device that broadcasts noise on the network
some of the time.

If this was my show then I would go through a process
of elimination until I found the culprit. I would probably
start by installing a second network adapter in the server
and use it for a direct connection to a dedicated PC that
would act temporarily as the destination for the backup data.
If this works then you can restore the original components
one at a time until things fail again.

"Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:84BB9B76-3311-4BCD-ADDC-E6CA036A483B@microsoft.com...
>
> Hi Pegasus,
>
> I've done that bat but it is not telling me anything new. Firstly I'm not
> using mapped network drives I am connecting to UNC shares across the
> network.
>
> Secondly when the I am getting the error it is happening during the
> backup. I.E. I might get 7MB into it, or 9MB of the bakup file across the
> network before the backup fails.
>
> So I guess to narrow it down, a backup job will start running fine
> (copying data across the network) then it will hit a point and then stop
> with the error.
>
> I had a look in the event logs on the server that is trying to do the
> backup and I found that this occurs at the same time the job fails:
>
> {Delayed Write Failed} Windows was unable to save all the data for the
> file \Device\LanmanRedirector. The data has been lost. This error may be
> caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection.
> Please try to save this file elsewhere.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Cheers
>
> Damon
>
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
> news:%23DVtraD0IHA.5108@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
>> news:C5591EA6-3203-4C98-B4E3-0F5C306DD20D@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm having some problems with NTBackup. We currently have 5 servers
>>> which we have two NTBackup jobs set-up on each server. One backup job
>>> for each server is for backing up system state. The next backup job
>>> which runs after that backs up the files and then the system state
>>> backup.
>>>
>>> The problem that I am getting is that on some days the backups on
>>> different servers fail, its currently random as to which backup will
>>> fail and on what day. When they fail the error log always contains the
>>> following:
>>>
>>> Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
>>> Error reported: Unknown error.
>>>
>>> Then if it was an exchange backup
>>>
>>> Error: SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group is not a
>>> valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>>
>>> If it was a file backup (the drive letter will change depending on where
>>> the files are being backed up.
>>>
>>> Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>>
>>> If I go and run that schedule task again it will succeed. Because the
>>> backups can run perfectly I think that the error which is being reported
>>> is not correct because obviously the drives are accessible. What I'm
>>> thinking it could be (I'm guessing here) is that maybe this is the error
>>> that you get when doing a backup across the network and maybe the
>>> network connection drops out for a second.
>>>
>>> I really need to get this sorted and working, does anyone have any ideas
>>> on what I should do here?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Damon
>>>
>>
>> Instead of scheduling ntbackup.exe directly, embed it in a batch
>> file as below, then examine the contents of c:\test.log after the
>> next failure.
>> @echo off
>> echo Start of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
>> net use >> c:\test.log
>> copy c:\test.log "{Destination}" 1>>c:\test.log 2>>&1
>> ntbackup /.. /..
>> echo End of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
>> echo. >> c:\test.log
>>
>> Replace {Destination} with the drive\folder that the backup job
>> itself uses.
>>
>
 
Re: NTBackup - The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.

Hi Pegasus,

It's happening across multiple servers on both side (I.E. multiple servers
backup to multiple different servers) so would that point primarlly to:

- The switch or one of it's ports
- The CAT5 cable
- Some rogue device that broadcasts noise on the network some of the time

Cheers

Damon

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:O4jbZ5V0IHA.5516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> There are a number of elements in the chain that performs the
> backup process, and any one of them could cause this type of
> problem. Here are the elements I'm thinking of:
> - The server's network adapter
> - The driver for this adapter
> - The CAT5 cable from the server to the switch
> - The switch or one of its ports
> - The destination network adapter
> - The driver for that adapter
> - The CAT5 cable to that adapter
> - The hard disk at the destination
> - Some rogue device that broadcasts noise on the network
> some of the time.
>
> If this was my show then I would go through a process
> of elimination until I found the culprit. I would probably
> start by installing a second network adapter in the server
> and use it for a direct connection to a dedicated PC that
> would act temporarily as the destination for the backup data.
> If this works then you can restore the original components
> one at a time until things fail again.
>
> "Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
> news:84BB9B76-3311-4BCD-ADDC-E6CA036A483B@microsoft.com...
>>
>> Hi Pegasus,
>>
>> I've done that bat but it is not telling me anything new. Firstly I'm not
>> using mapped network drives I am connecting to UNC shares across the
>> network.
>>
>> Secondly when the I am getting the error it is happening during the
>> backup. I.E. I might get 7MB into it, or 9MB of the bakup file across the
>> network before the backup fails.
>>
>> So I guess to narrow it down, a backup job will start running fine
>> (copying data across the network) then it will hit a point and then stop
>> with the error.
>>
>> I had a look in the event logs on the server that is trying to do the
>> backup and I found that this occurs at the same time the job fails:
>>
>> {Delayed Write Failed} Windows was unable to save all the data for the
>> file \Device\LanmanRedirector. The data has been lost. This error may be
>> caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection.
>> Please try to save this file elsewhere.
>>
>> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
>> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Damon
>>
>>
>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
>> news:%23DVtraD0IHA.5108@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>> "Damon" <enlighten@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
>>> news:C5591EA6-3203-4C98-B4E3-0F5C306DD20D@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I'm having some problems with NTBackup. We currently have 5 servers
>>>> which we have two NTBackup jobs set-up on each server. One backup job
>>>> for each server is for backing up system state. The next backup job
>>>> which runs after that backs up the files and then the system state
>>>> backup.
>>>>
>>>> The problem that I am getting is that on some days the backups on
>>>> different servers fail, its currently random as to which backup will
>>>> fail and on what day. When they fail the error log always contains the
>>>> following:
>>>>
>>>> Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to
>>>> media.
>>>> Error reported: Unknown error.
>>>>
>>>> Then if it was an exchange backup
>>>>
>>>> Error: SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group is not a
>>>> valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>>>
>>>> If it was a file backup (the drive letter will change depending on
>>>> where the files are being backed up.
>>>>
>>>> Error: E: is not a valid drive, or you do not have access.
>>>>
>>>> If I go and run that schedule task again it will succeed. Because the
>>>> backups can run perfectly I think that the error which is being
>>>> reported is not correct because obviously the drives are accessible.
>>>> What I'm thinking it could be (I'm guessing here) is that maybe this is
>>>> the error that you get when doing a backup across the network and maybe
>>>> the network connection drops out for a second.
>>>>
>>>> I really need to get this sorted and working, does anyone have any
>>>> ideas on what I should do here?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>>
>>>> Damon
>>>>
>>>
>>> Instead of scheduling ntbackup.exe directly, embed it in a batch
>>> file as below, then examine the contents of c:\test.log after the
>>> next failure.
>>> @echo off
>>> echo Start of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
>>> net use >> c:\test.log
>>> copy c:\test.log "{Destination}" 1>>c:\test.log 2>>&1
>>> ntbackup /.. /..
>>> echo End of job: %date% %time% %UserName% >> c:\test.log
>>> echo. >> c:\test.log
>>>
>>> Replace {Destination} with the drive\folder that the backup job
>>> itself uses.
>>>
>>
>
>
 
NTBackup fails

NTBackup fails

Hi Damon

I am experiencing the exact problem(s) you are having;Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
Error reported: Unknown error.;have been for a month or two now.
I have been looking for solutions all over the web and no luck. I am glad to have stumbled across someone with the same problem.

Anyway, i am having the same(exact) problem you are having, as i mentioned earlier. However, in my situation the backups succeed on certain days - random days, at an irregular pattern. But the backups fail more than they succeed; 6-2 ratio.
I was wondering if perhaps the problem might be with the source hard disk; fragmentation in particular? The thing is, i used defragmenter to analyze the exchange server(source) hard disk and i sicovered that 17GB of contiguouse disk space are fragmented - i can't defrag them neither even though there is sufficient disk space remaining for defragmenter to operate.
What i don't get is how come the backup(s) occur(s) without any problems on cartian days, but then fails agian(most of the time)? What could be different on the days on which the backup(s) succeed to the the days on which the backup(s) don't succeed?

Try the following links: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555613;
http://www.backupassist.com/KnowledgeBase/;
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817688 - perhaps the hotfix might help you. It did me no good.

Any luck with trying to replace the network cables and switch? Please let me know. I really need help and must get the bakcups running.

By the way, i am a home school student. I work 8am to 5/6pm and self-study at home. I work at a college. I am doing my MCSE - recently passed my 70-270 exam and i am an MCP(Whooooo!!!!!). Not bad for a youngster.
But please help!!!!!!! Anyone.
 
NTBackup failure(s)

NTBackup failure(s)

Hi Damon

I am experiencing the exact problem(s) you are having;Error: The device reported an error on a request to write data to media.
Error reported: Unknown error.;have been for a month or two now.
I have been looking for solutions all over the web and no luck. I am glad to have stumbled across someone with the same problem.

Anyway, i am having the same(exact) problem you are having, as i mentioned earlier. However, in my situation the backups succeed on certain days - random days, at an irregular pattern. But the backups fail more than they succeed; 6-2 ratio.
I was wondering if perhaps the problem might be with the source hard disk; fragmentation in particular? The thing is, i used defragmenter to analyze the exchange server(source) hard disk and i sicovered that 17GB of contiguouse disk space are fragmented - i can't defrag them neither even though there is sufficient disk space remaining for defragmenter to operate.
What i don't get is how come the backup(s) occur(s) without any problems on cartian days, but then fails agian(most of the time)? What could be different on the days on which the backup(s) succeed to the the days on which the backup(s) don't succeed?

Try the following links: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555613;
http://www.backupassist.com/KnowledgeBase/;
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817688 - perhaps the hotfix might help you. It did me no good.

Any luck with trying to replace the network cables and switch? Please let me know. I really need help and must get the bakcups running.

By the way, i am a home school student. I work 8am to 5/6pm and self-study at home. I work at a college. I am doing my MCSE - recently passed my 70-270 exam and i am an MCP(Whooooo!!!!!). Not bad for a youngster.
But please help!!!!!!! Anyone.
 
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