Backup to Disk folder small issue seperate SATA HDD's
Hi everyone, I have a small issue that isn't critical but I wanted to see if there is a reason for it happening.
My configuration is BE2010r2 for SBS server. I'm using backup to disk folders setup on 3 seperate HDD's that are on a SATA Promise hotswap controller, the Disks are bound to drive F:\ and i've set them up according to this article using the Option 2 method (same drive letter but different physical HDD's with different B2d directories on the physical disks.
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH38839
So I have Disk A, Disk B and Disk C they are setup using backup to disk on drive F:\ and each different HDD has the corrosponding B2d Folder as follows
Physical HDD A = f:\disk_A\(backup media here)
Physical HDD B = f:\disk_B\(backup media here)
Physical HDD C = f:\disk_C\(backup media here)
I use 1 disk per week, then at the next full backup I swap out to a new HDD. after 3 weeks OPP ends and the media is recyclable.
Now this config works great each disk has the corresponding folder and apon inserting the HDD into the server the Device shows as online, while the others show as offline, they are in a device pool and it backs up to the device that is available and it works like a charm.
Now to the little issue. Say I have Disk_A inserted and Disk_B and Disk_C are offline. Disk_A only has 1 directory on it which is f:\disk_A. Just as it should.
Now if I restart the backup exec services, or say there is a power failure and the UPS shuts down the servers, after comming back online, backup exec shows all disks as online (even though only disk_A is inserted) and it will also create the Disk_B and Disk_C directories on the current disk that is physically inserted. So under devices all 3 B2d folders show as online and the physical Disk_A now has 2 new directories Disk_B and Disk_C on the HDD when looking at it under windows explorer.
As it stands if the services stop and restart or power failure happends and server reboots, i have to go into be2010 look at the devices, all will be online. I then go into windows explorer to drive F and delete the 2 directories BE added to Disk_A then I have to take physical Disk_B and Disk_C and pull out disk_A (it will then show as offline) then insert Disk_B, then pull out Disk_B (it will then also show as offline) and same for disk_C. Then I can put in Disk_A again and all is back to normal.
Any reason for this happening?
For you information even before seeing your post I had an outstanding internal query about the accuracy of the content of the TECH article you refer to.
As such I would suggest that you might need to set the disks on different drive letters to solve your problem or possibly use a Removable B2D device on the disks instead of a standard one - however I am not sure your hardware is specified in the Removable B2D section of our hardware Compatibility List so there might be an issue with that.
Note there have been changes in BackuP Exec 2010 R2 that have been desigend to cover for customers rotating USB disks in the way you are doing (although the drive letters don't need to be fixed) Your SATA setup however might not be covered by the USB enhancements as it might be nearer the Removable B2D device ones - but then it might need to be on our compatibility list.
To explain standard B2D was deigend for disks presented as fixed devices. Removable B2D was desigend for cartridge or platter based removable media (So RDX, Iomega disks or CD/DVD R-W etc). At the time B2D support was designed, USB was not a mainstream option for disk connectivity and SATA was not even on the horizon. Bacause a USB disk is a complete device, standard B2D is more appropriate (unless it is a USB connected RDX or similar device anyway) and you must be running BackuP Exec 2010 R2 (which you are) Hiowever your SATA HotPlug sounds more like the technology for removable cartridges so it might Removable B2D might be more appropriate.
