BE 12.5 giving 84af "...directory not found" type error...

[Frank_Workman]

Greetings!

BE 12.5
Win Server 2003 Std SP2
MS Exchange 2003

Until recently I was having no problem backing up Exchange to a Backup-to-Disk folder. Then the drive hosting the backup folder failed. I replaced the drive and reconfigured a new Backup-to-Disk folder. Now, the Exchange backup runs, then the verify phase runs, but the backup fails with an error message saying...

 error: 0xe00084af - The directory or file was not found, or could not be accessed.

I did a search and found the Symantec document associated with this error...

 http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH160574&actp=search&viewlocale=en_...

This doc tells me to disable the junction points and symbolic links options in the Advanced setup tab - BUT if offers NOTHING in the way of an EXPLANATION of these parameters. I'm VERY UNCOMFORTABLE simply switching off a couple of parameters that were enabled during successful backups in the past without knowing more about what I'm doing.

NOTE ALSO that someone else asked for the very same thing back in June of 2012 - AND NO ONE FROM SYMANTEC CAME FORWARD WITH ANY COMMENTS !!!

 http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/backup-exec-2010-job-fails-directory-or-file-was-not-found-ac...

So will someone please come forward with some additional information?

Thanks!

[pkh]

Junction points and symbolic links are features of Windows.  The reason why they are not explained in detail in any of the BE documentation is that they are part of Windows and not BE.  You can search the web for a detailed explanation of these terms

[Itfi]

We are having same issue with BE 2012 (with latest hotfixes) to our duplicated dedup folder (when backing up virtual machines). Only if we disable GRT then backups will run to duplicated dedup ok.

[Frank_Workman]

The issue is not simply an explanation of junction points and symbolic links - but rather HOW THESE ISSUES DOVETAIL WITH BACKUP EXEC. If your product and its behavior interacts with these features, then a brief explanation of the ramifications of enabling/disabling the associated settings is in order.

[Frank_Workman]

Thank you for your reply!

[pkh]

When you say "your product", I hope that you are not under the impression that I am a Symantec employee because I am not.  All Trusted Advisors are users just like you.

The BE 12.5 Admin Guide does explain what it means to follow junction points and symbolic links.  See page 297

http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC2284