backup job can't remove old .BAK from disk

Hello,
I have a full database backup job that I run nightly on large database. The
database size is approx 37 GB. This job was created using the maintenance
plan wizard in Enterprise Manager. The maintenance plan is set up to retain 1
days worth of .BAK files on the server.
My problem is that occasionally(not all or the time) this backup job fails.
After taking a closer look I found that the database is actually being backed
up properly but the job fails because it is not able to delete the old backup
from the previous day. This can cause the disk drive to fill to capacity if
not monitored closely.
I have other database backup jobs that were created using maintenance plans
that work just fine.
Is there a reason why this database backup job is sometimes unable to delete
old backup files?
This has been causing me headaches for some time and I'd appreciate any
feedback you may have...
Thanks,
John
Could you please explain how do you delete the old backup file?
Are you using VB Scripts,...?
Ed
"John P" wrote:

> Hello,
> I have a full database backup job that I run nightly on large database. The
> database size is approx 37 GB. This job was created using the maintenance
> plan wizard in Enterprise Manager. The maintenance plan is set up to retain 1
> days worth of .BAK files on the server.
> My problem is that occasionally(not all or the time) this backup job fails.
> After taking a closer look I found that the database is actually being backed
> up properly but the job fails because it is not able to delete the old backup
> from the previous day. This can cause the disk drive to fill to capacity if
> not monitored closely.
> I have other database backup jobs that were created using maintenance plans
> that work just fine.
> Is there a reason why this database backup job is sometimes unable to delete
> old backup files?
> This has been causing me headaches for some time and I'd appreciate any
> feedback you may have...
> Thanks,
> John
|||Get rid of the maint plan and code it yourself. You only keep 1 copy so
you can just delete it before the backup.
It would be quicker to write the job than to have posted your question
.
I assume you are copying the backup somewhere otherwise if the backup
fails or is corrupt you are left without a backup and can lose the
database.
I try to keep at least 3 backups on disk and will zip them if they are
large.
Nigel Rivett
www.nigelrivett.net
*** Sent via Developersdex http://www.codecomments.com ***
Don't just participate in USENET...get rewarded for it!
|||Check your scheduling. Chances are, the Tape Backup client you are using on
this server or the Anti-Virus software is running scheduled jobs around the
same time as your disk database backup. All of these task try and need to
gain exclusive access to the files; so, it is better to have their
respective schedules staggard.
You probably see the problem against this database more often than the
others because of its size: the larger the file the longer the duration so
the higher the probability that there will be a conflict.
Sincerely,
Anthony Thomas

"Ed" <Ed@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:836CA9D0-E58B-49E6-A537-F4208EF376B2@.microsoft.com...
Could you please explain how do you delete the old backup file?
Are you using VB Scripts,...?
Ed
"John P" wrote:

> Hello,
> I have a full database backup job that I run nightly on large database.
The
> database size is approx 37 GB. This job was created using the maintenance
> plan wizard in Enterprise Manager. The maintenance plan is set up to
retain 1
> days worth of .BAK files on the server.
> My problem is that occasionally(not all or the time) this backup job
fails.
> After taking a closer look I found that the database is actually being
backed
> up properly but the job fails because it is not able to delete the old
backup
> from the previous day. This can cause the disk drive to fill to capacity
if
> not monitored closely.
> I have other database backup jobs that were created using maintenance
plans
> that work just fine.
> Is there a reason why this database backup job is sometimes unable to
delete
> old backup files?
> This has been causing me headaches for some time and I'd appreciate any
> feedback you may have...
> Thanks,
> John
|||"Nigel Rivett" <sqlnr@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23v0oMCi2EHA.1392@.tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Get rid of the maint plan and code it yourself. You only keep 1 copy so
> you can just delete it before the backup.
>
Umm, can I recommend deleting it AFTER a successful backup.
Otherwise you risk deleting your one good backup and having the new one
fail. :-)

> It would be quicker to write the job than to have posted your question
> .
> I assume you are copying the backup somewhere otherwise if the backup
> fails or is corrupt you are left without a backup and can lose the
> database.
> I try to keep at least 3 backups on disk and will zip them if they are
> large.
> Nigel Rivett
> www.nigelrivett.net
> *** Sent via Developersdex http://www.codecomments.com ***
> Don't just participate in USENET...get rewarded for it!