DataProtector Catalog Restore Problem

[Simon Weaver]

Hi all
Wonder if you can help, VERY new to DPESS edition 3.10 SP4 on Win2k3 SP1 - single AD Server, holds data and users, connected to a DAT72 USB OBDR Tape Drive from HP.

Problem - Testing the process of restoring the catalog from its original server to a newly created server in the event of a failure.

I have a cloned image of server1 and placed it on the same hardware but off the Network.

I took a FULL BACKUP of SERVER1 on the live Network, and this completed 100%.

I have taken this tape and drive onto the new server OFF the Network - I have gone through teh wizard to restore the catalog from tape.

This does start, but then stops with an alert stating "error 3255 please restart data protector express domain server now". I press continue and eventually the catalog restore completes.

upon a reboot of the server, it comes back fine - however if I attempt to restore from the last full backup, DP knows nothing about it!! through the history version there is no record of the full backup I recently took!

I am not sure whats going on, and I would apprecaite some help.
Thank you

[D Lancaster]

Hi Simon,

I'm away from my test systems for a few days so I can't duplicate/verify. If you can attach a copy of the log from the backup job I might be able to see something.

Also, just to verify, you said this is a Domain Server, right?

Dave L

[Simon Weaver]

Hi Dave
Yes, this is a Domain Controller, running AD - its a single server running AD / Win2k3 and has a partition for Data storage.

How can I extract the log files for you?

At the moment, or last night I should say, I kicked off an IMPORT to see if DP would see the tape. Will go and see how that is doing now.......

Ok the import appears to have completed - When I look at restore specifics, I see a date and time that seems to tally up with the imported tape...

So now... will attempt to do a restore of AD!

Thanks, Simon
P.S. - do you think I am overlooking something here?

[Simon Weaver]

Dave
Just to add this this, when I went into AD Restore Mode, launched DP and attempted a restore, it appears that it NOW DOES NOT know anything about the imported Media !!
Seems that rebooting the box has removed any trace of the import process :-(((

And all I am doing is following the wizards on this! So now, I am in AD Recovery Mode, attempting an import again.

Simon

[D Lancaster]

Hi Simon,

Try something for me.

1. Insert your full backup tape in the tape drive
2. Start the Data Protector Express management GUI
3. Select Jobs and Media from the Favorites context in the left column
4. Double-click the Admin florder to open it
5. Right-click anywhere in the right-hand window and select new from the pop-up menu to create a new job
6. Select "Restore Catalog Job" from the list and set up the job to run now

The job should search the tape looking for catalog files and automatically restore any that are found.

If it is not successful we need to work on this live rather than in this forum. Please call the support number so we can get you the help you need.

Dave L

[Simon Weaver]

Hi Dave
Thanks. As per the instructions, this starts and seems to work. About 3 mins into the progress of this job I get an ALERT at the bottom right of the screen.

In the alert it states the following :

In the Summary field it shows Warning Error 3255 : Please restart Data Protector Express Domain Server now.
Objects show the server name
Description shows: One or more restored objects require the Data Protector Express Domain Server to be restarted.

you get the option to press the Continue or View This Alert Later Buttons.
When the job states its completed, I do a shutdown and restart of this server.

When it comes back up, I launch the GUI, to find that there is no record of my catalog restore, and it knows nothing of this tape.

this is dispite the fact that prior to rebooting the box, the catalog restore log shows it was successful !

Any ideas?
Simon

[D Lancaster]

Hi Simon,

This is not too surprising since the job to restore the catalog was recorded in the new catalog created as part of the reinstall.

The BIG question is, does the catalog show your other older backup jobs and tapes that would have existed before you moved to the new server? If so, the restore was successful.

Dave L

[Simon Weaver]

Dave
The previous 2 backups are showing, but the one I am looking for (which is a Full Backup of C: drive and had the catalog on) is not showing. and when I try to do a restore, DP complains about inserting correct Media - in other words, the tape I used to recover the catalog does not show the restore data from this tape
Simon

[D Lancaster]

Very curious.

A catalog obviously was restored but possibly not the right catalog. Have you tried importing the tape since you recovered the catalog?

If that doesn't work, I recommend you open a support call with HP Support. This issue is more complex than we can handle here in the forum and a phone call will get you help faster than here in the forums.

Dave L

[Clive Chapman]

Hi

wondered if you ever found a cure for this? I'm getting just the same thing.

thanks
Clive