troubleshooting vmware backups

Hello,

first, if you have NBU 7.6 or higher, take advantage of Logging Assistant (last container in NBU console). Create a new record and refer to job ID of failed job. The tools activates and then gathers required logs.

Generally, VMware related troubleshooting is usually logged on "VMware backup host". This is usually one of your Media Servers. You can determine this server in Policy Attributes, VMware Tab.

But, error 84 is usually related related rather to backup storage (tape, disk, dedup storage etc.), not VMware side.

Regards

Status 84 is Media Write error. Nothing to do with client-side of the backup.

This happens when an I/O error occurs on the media server while writing to the backup storage (disk or tape).

Create bptm log folder under ..netbackup\logs.

Next time you see status 84, look in the log file for more info.
Device-related errors may also be logged in Event Viewer logs on the media server.

If you are performing backups over SAN, double-check that datastores and backup devices are not zoned to the same HBA on the media server.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Our media server is a Netbackup appliance, and it is also the vmware backup host. Where would the logs be in this case?

In /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bptm folder on the Appliance.

Why did you select Windows as OS?

well it doesnt really state who's operating system to put in..

the vm guest OS and the master are both windows.

Point taken.

You may want to have a good look at the NetBackup Process flow diagram.

The 1st step in Troubleshooting is to understand where the failure occurred - Master, media server or client.

You will notice in Job Details that bptm process is reporting status 84.
bptm runs on a media server.

Here is a generic Process Flow diagram: NetBackup 7.x Process Flow 

There are more detailed diagrams in relevant NBU version manuals and  Nuts and bolts in NetBackup for Vmware series.

thank very much, I will certainly take a look.

just one last question, How do I access the logs? logging to the appliance via ssh, I get a menu interface and can't navigate to the logs. 

I would like if possible to access the logs in a way that can be copied to a window computer for viewing (via ftp for example - which I tried and failed)

To access the appliance logs from a Windows host then on the Appliance:

/ Support / Logs / Share Open

....then on a Windows host:

> net use L: \\appliance-name\logs /user:appliance-name\admin

...and enter the password when prompted.

for some reason it keeps telling me that username or password are incorrect.