SIMS .Net upgrade - database backup problems

[WithoutMotive]

I was just about to do the February upgrade today via SOLUS.

This being the best time as it's half term.

 

As always, I backup the database from System Manager first.

Usually goes ok, however, today I had a message saying that the "Operation cannot complete when the object is closed" and the backup is abandoned.

 

On running SOLUS, the download goes ok and the upgrade is fine until the actual database upgrade when it automatically start backing it up first. At this point, it told me that the database was locked and it cannot be backed up.

 

Now, as it's half term, I was the only one in the building apart from the caretaker so there was definitely no one logged into SIMS .Net. All the computers were off. So how was the database locked and how to I stop this from happening in the future?

 

I had to backup the database files manually and run DBUPGRADE /NOBACKUP to complete the upgrade.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[GrumbleDook]

Although it is never written down or sent out in upgrade instructions it is always a good idea to reboot the server before doing the backup and then upgrade.

 

I tend to do a ghost backup before the monthly upgrade, just in case.

 

This has saved me more times than I care to think.

[eejit]

You take a ghost of your SIMS server before an upgrade? Wow.

How do you get the time to schedule in that kind of downtime?

[MkII]

hehe - yes - My SIMS server is in use from 8:30am to 6pm weekdays, and sporadically at weekends - I have to book downtime then.

[john]

Do my methods (all be it, i use Facility), force the users off from the system manager screen, then "whoopse, my foot caught the power lead"

[Simcfc73]

DB locking always used to be a problem with my previous Sims School. I found easiest to scheduel a reboot in the middle of the night and do a backup on startup.

 

Rebooting is Windows best friend/worst enemy.

 

I see with Solus2 you can schedule installs now. Might be a god send

[kingswood]

Yes- a reboot usually fixes that one. As for ghosting the SIMS server: isn't that a bit extreme? I can understand extreme hesitation with any SIMS update, but just a system backup with System State etc should be enough to recover things surely?

 

The latest update went really well for us- traditionally we have minor client update issues after updates but this one sent us none. Read that again. None!

 

Great :-)

[WithoutMotive]

Thanks for all your input... however, I've just found an article on Capitas support website that seemed to do the trick. Posting it here in case anyone else has the same problem ever:

 

 

KB24748 - Backup failed unlocking database

Created 27/05/2004

Last Updated 24/02/2006

 

Affected Products SIMS .net Installation & Upgrade

Notes

Backup failed

Unlocking database

 

Error occurs when a backup is being performed before the SQL database is upgraded.

Additional Notes

 

CAUSES

1. The backup fails due to insufficient space on the server.

 

Or

 

2. The SQL log file is so large that there is insufficient space to create the backup.

 

3. Full SQL has been installed on 2 seperate drives eg Program Folders on C: and Data & Backup folders on D:. SIMS has been coded to use a default installation of SQL ie All folders installed to one location and therefore fails when it tries to access the Backup folder.

 

Or

 

4. SIMS Infrastructure has not been installed and therefore the backup file cannot be zipped as Dynazip is missing.

Advice

FIX 1: Check there is sufficient space on the partition where SQL is installed. Also check the system partition has sufficient space as temporary files can be created during the backup.

 

FIX 2: Check the size of the SQL Log file eg SIMS.LDF. If excessively large use SHRINKDBLOG.BAT to shrink the log file.

 

FIX 3: Workaround:

 

Take a copy of the sims.mdf and sims.ldf. This will act as the backup for the upgrade.

 

At a dos prompt change directory to the location of SQL eg C:\program files\Microsoft SQL server\MSSQL$SIMS\binn.

 

Then type DBUPGRADE /NOBACKUP

 

This will run the DBUpgrade Tool and the /nobackup switch will upgrade the database with no backup.

 

FIX 4: Install SIMS Infrastructure.