Backup failing on Exchange server 2003

[park_bench]

Hi all,

 

Anybody any ideas why my exchange server backup is failing with the following errors:

 

Backup Status

Operation: Backup

Active backup destination: File

Media name: "ExchsrvrBack20-08-07.bkf created 20/08/2007 at 11:45"

 

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.

Backup of "PHS-SERV1\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group"

Backup set #1 on media #1

Backup description: "Set created 20/08/2007 at 11:45"

Media name: "ExchsrvrBack20-08-07.bkf created 20/08/2007 at 11:45"

 

Backup Type: Normal

 

Backup started on 20/08/2007 at 11:45.

The 'Microsoft Information Store' returned 'A disk I/O error occurred.' from a call to 'HrESEBackupRead()' additional data '-'The 'Microsoft Information Store' returned 'A disk I/O error occurred.' from a call to 'HrESEBackupRead()' additional data '-'

The operation was ended.

Backup completed on 20/08/2007 at 11:49.

Directories: 0

Files: 1

Bytes: 1,588,462,320

Time: 3 minutes and 48 seconds

 

----------------------

 

The operation did not successfully complete.

 

----------------------

 

I am trying to backup the Microsoft information store and the system state with NTBackup on Windows 2003 server.

 

Thanks for any input.

[plock]

I have had issue previously with backing up Exchange. However, my errors were not directly the same as your errors. The issue was due to inactive Mailboxes on the system. Purging the Mailboxes fixed the issue.

 

Hope that helps.

[park_bench]

Thanks Paul,

 

I have given that a try but am still getting the same error. I have also tried dismount/re-mounting the store and the obligotory magic reboot.

 

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Ben

[plock]

A quick search picked up this:

 

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs/browse_thread/thread/d5e5ceba8b4ff45b/d93572ea352c58a8?lnk=st&q=%27The+%27Microsoft+Information+Store%27+returned+%27A+disk+I%2FO+error+occurred.%27+&rnum=1&hl=en#d93572ea352c58a8

 

I'm not saying this will cure the issue at all, but perhaps take into account what else is happening around that time.

 

The above posts don't give an answer, nor do they even say if changing the backup time worked; but never the less, maybe give that ago?

[plock]

Also, perhaps a corrupt message in the information store is causing this. Perhaps try ESEUTIL to check integrity and repair the problem.

 

Here are some support articles to help:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;182903

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301460&Product=exch2003

 

I also picked this up a second ago, it may help:

 

This issue is mostly related to the antivirus application running on the server. I suggest you disable all the third-party tools, especially the antivirus applications, and then try to manually perform the backup process.

 

Also, please check if there are third-party e-mail disclaimer applications installed on the server, which may also cause this issue. For more information, refer to the following article:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=840013

 

If the issue persists, please check if the Exchange database is correct using the following:

 

1. Run eseutil /g to test if the status of Exchange databases is OK.

 

2. Run Isinteg -fix -test -alltests again to verify there is no error/warning.

 

In addition, we suggest you configure the antivirus software excluding the following items from being scanned:

 

- Exchange databases and log files.

 

- Exchange .mta files (default location: \Exchsrvr\Mtadata).

 

- Exchange message tracking log files (default location: \Exchsrvr\.log).

 

- Virtual server folders (default location: \Exchsrvr\Mailroot).

 

- Site Replication Service (SRS) files (default location:

\Exchsrvr\Srsdata).

 

- Internet Information Service (IIS) system files (default location:

\%SystemRoot%\System32\Inetsrv).

 

- Internet Mail Connector files (default location: \Exchsrvr\IMCData).

 

- The working folder that is used to store streaming temporary files that are used for message conversion. By default, this working folder is located at \Exchsrvr\MDBData.

 

- A temporary folder that is used in conjunction with offline maintenance utilities such as Eseutil.exe. By default, this folder is the location that you run the .exe files from, but you can configure this when you run the utility.

 

More info here:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=245822

 

Now, finally, hopefully somewhere amongst this you’ll find the answer!

 

Good Luck!

[park_bench]

Hi Paul,

 

These utilities highlighted corruption in the exchange database and "fixed" them.

 

The backup still crashed out with an disk IO error. I therefore ran a checkdisk on the harddrive, only to find a bad cluster in the middle of the exchange db. This was fixed, data integrity was checked again with eseutil and eventually I got my backup!

 

Thank you very much for your help.

 

Ben

[plock]

You're welcome!

 

Glad to hear you're back up and running!