IDR on Windows Server 2003 Std SP1 from Sony SDX-550V - no go

[Joachim_Breuer]

I'm trying to set up IDR to reload a "all-in-one" (i.e., the tape device is directly connected) server.

The problem is that when I boot via the IDR medium and eventually the Recovery Wizard starts, no restore devices are detected. The tape drive runs flawlessly during normal operation.

I'll describe the steps I've taken to arrive at this roadblock:

1. Installed WS2k3SP1 (en), integrated installation medium from MS (no OEM modifications); I do not have an installation medium of WS2k3 Std en without SP1 available

2. Installed Backup Exec 10.0, installed all relevant hotfixes via Veritas Update. I did not install the hotfixes pertaining to NetWare, Exchange, Lotus Notes, Desktop/Laptop as this functionality is not used here.

3. Installed the latest Veritas Driver set, to get support for the SDX-550V (Firmware version is shown as '0100'; connected to an Adaptec 29160).

4. Did a full backup to the SDX-550V.

5. Ran the IDR Boot CD creation Wizard, it complains that 51SSETUP1.EN_ is missing. Using my detective skills, I track down the changes between 51SSETUP.DEU and TXTSETUP.SIF on a German W2k3 Server Std CD and use these to create a 51SSETUP1.ENU. As far as I could determine, in the entries 181 through 185 are added, in the portion marked as 'Added by VERITAS', as well as the complete section . I could not discern any other relevant change.

6. Ran the IDR Boot CD creation Wizard again, now it completes.

7. Burn the .ISO image to a CD (the server itself does not have a writer).

8. Boot from the IDR CD, pressing F2 to enter ASR.

9. The text-mode setup portion completes as expected; in the graphical setup portion the Recovery Wizard is shown. Following the prompts I get to the point where it tries to detect a "local meda device", with a progress bar shown hanging a few seconds on 'trscsi.sys', before showing that no restore device was found.

A bit of analysis at this point (with Shift-F10 you can get a command prompt and from there regedit able to show the hardware enumeration entries - unfortuanetly compmgmt.msc is not available) shows that the SDX-550V is recognized on the SCSI chain, the driver file (sonysdx.sys, by Veritas as of 11/11/2004) is present in %system32%\drivers. But still...

During my odyssee I also noticed that old copies of asr.sif, asrpnp.sif, -DiskConfig.txt and .dr are put in the CD image as opposed to the files available at the time the image is created. Digging after this using FileMon etc. I could not find out where these outdated copies come from - is there a way to force the IDR wizard to regenerate all IDR data, is is done on its first run?

A timely solution would be very much appreciated.

[Chaitanya_Khurj]

Hi,

Install Hotfix 23 on the media server and push out the remote agent to the remote machine or install it locally.

10.0 5484 Hotfix 23 - Remote Agent (After restoring a Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 computer, the computer no longer boots up) *Requires Backup Exec 10.0.5484 Service Pack 1

http://support.veritas.com/docs/276540

Deactivate any firewalls if any.

Try restoring now. Also refer to the related documents section.

Hope this helps.

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[Joachim_Breuer]

Hotfix 23 was installed of Step 2 as outlined above. Also, I managed to obtain a non-SP1-integrated OS CD in the mean time.

Further analysis shows apparent interference between the driver pack and Hotfix 23.

Depending on installation order of the hotfix and the driver pack I wind up with one of two scenarios:

- The "correct" versions of the SP1-fixed files are copied to the CD (bedrwiz.ex_ as of 20/04/05); in that case my tape drive is not recognized during the IDR procedure.

OR

- An older version of bedrwiz.ex_ is copied to the CD, in that case the tape drive is recognized and restoration from tape is possible, but the system turns out unusable (cannot load kernel DLL as outlined in another KB article).

It seems that one cannot have the SP1 fix and the Tape Driver Pack working at the same time in IDR.

[Renuka_-]

Hello,


Is the disk installed on a RAID array or raid card. If so the drivers would need to be loaded sepeartely. as they are not included in the windows cd.

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[Joachim_Breuer]

The disk is connected to a RAID controller, the relevant drivers are loaded explicitly (using F6 on boot) during IDR.

(With the disk drivers missing, the IDR process aborts way before starting the IDR wizard anyway.)

With the drivers loaded, IDR works up to the IDR wizard, which then loads drivers for the tape drive (trscsi.sys etc. are displayed in a progress window) and then tells me that it could not find a tape drive.

[Renuka_-]

Hello,

Please use the windows boot Cd and check if it works instead of the idr Cd


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[Joachim_Breuer]

Yes, the ordinary Windows 2003 Std. SP1 boot CD works fine.

[towwei_lim]

joachim,

i have encountered similar problem with IDR restore on windows 2003 (no sp1). the problem is on the scsi card. try using another scsi card.

i had an IBM server with the IBM ultra320 card. once we have changed the ultra320 card with IBM ultra160 card, IDR restore was able to detect the tape drive.

have also contacted veritas support bout this issue. seems like they are working on the issue (it has been 1 month with no replies). hopefully they are really looking into that.

maybe you wanna try IDR restore on windows 2003 with no SP to confirm that it is not a service pack related issue 1st before switching the scsi card you are using currently

[Amruta_Purandar]

Hello,

Please try the above mentioned solution and update us on the status of the issue.

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[Joachim_Breuer]

As I already stated, the behavior is as follows:

If I create an IDR restore disk based on 2003 without SP, the IDR Wizard detects the tape drive and restores the system installation (with SP1) from tape, but the resulting installation blue-screens on boot. This, apparently, is known behaviour.

If I create an IDR restore disk based on 2003 SP1, the IDR Wizard running from the CD does not detect the tape drive and IDR cannot continue. The machine is unusable until restored from an Ghost image or reinstall.

The SCSI adapter is an Adaptec 29160, well supported by 2k3.

[Renuka_-]

Hi Joachim,

It is a good idea to use another SCSI card it is known to resolve the issue several times.

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[Joachim_Breuer]

We have also tried with a known-good LSI Logic LVD320 SCSI card.

The behaviour is exactly the same.

[Deepali_Badave]

Hello,

Have you used the SP1 integrated Windows 2003 CD while creating a IDR media.
If so, then SP1 integrated Windows 2003 CD is not supported.

================================================
Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm


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[Joachim_Breuer]

As already stated:

- If I use an SP1-Integrated Windows 2003 Server installation CD to base IDR on, the tape drive is not detected.

- If I use a Windows 2003 Server installation CD *without* SP1 the IDR wizard completes successfully, but the system locks up with a blue screen when rebooting after IDR. The problem looks like the one addressed by 10.0 5484 Hotfix 23; that hotfix is installed but the problem still occurs.

[uz]

did you try updating BE to version 10 build 5520, rerun the IDR prep wizard and create a new CD.
Run IDR.

(5520 already contains HF 23 and as well new driver sets.)

Maybe this works (if you did not yet try this.)

Regards

uz

[Shyam_Sundar]

Hello,

You can install the latest build 10.0 5520 which has hotfix 23 which has a resolution to this issue. You can check the following document :

http://support.veritas.com/docs/276379

http://support.veritas.com/docs/277181


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Thanks.

[Johannes_Richte]

Hallo,

I have the same problem like you, I have also tried backup to second hdd. So there is no difference if I use a streamer or if I use the hdd. The symantec support has got a lot of screen shots but they were not able to fix this problem. The last test I have made with ServicePack3.