SQL Agent no longer connects after updating SQL Servers to SP4

[Jeffrey_Miller]

We recently installed SQL 2000 Service Pack 4 on our sql servers. After updating we can still connect to the servers to backup data but cannot connect via the sql agent to backup the sql databases. We get the following error:

An error was encountered while attempting to browse the contents of SERVERNAME. An unknown error occurred within the NDMP subsystem.

We have one remaining SQL server that we haven't applied SQL 2000 Service Pack 4 to and can still back that up just fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Jeffrey_Miller]

Currently 9.x versions are not compatible with SQL 2000 SP4. There is no time table given when they will be compatible.

Please see the following KB article regarding compatiblity:
http://support.veritas.com/docs/261695

This article details how to do flat file backup of SQL 2000:
http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/248649.htm

[Joshua_Small]

Can I ask what the use of this SQL agent actually is then?

Seriously, to be unable to apply the latest service pack for "no time table given" amount of time really causes problems, especially when someone has just paid so much for this agent, to then be told they should go and do a flat file backup.

[Jeffrey_Miller]

I agree with you and I was so surprised that SQL 2000 SP 4 was not listed as compatible. You pay a lot of money for add-on agents and for it not to work is really not acceptable.

I found out this information after calling Veritas Support (and learned version 10 is compatible). They make service packs for a reason and the most important is security updates.

I thought it would be helpful to post an answer because I did a lot of troubleshooting and research of this issue and if I had known that it wasn't compatible I would have saved myself a lot of time and effort.

[Joshua_Small]

Hi Jeffrey,

My post definitely wasn't a dig at you.

Veritas do this sort of thing, and postings from people like you seem to be the only way the useful information ever gets distributed.

Note: Discussions about intimacy are not considered "useful".

[Jeffrey_Miller]

Found out from Veritas sales and support that there are no plans to update v9.1 SQL Agent to be compatible with SQL 2000 SP4.

BE AWARE if you update your SQL 2000 server to SP4 you will no longer be able to utilize the SQL Agent. You will only be able to backup via flat file. In order to backup SQL 2000 SP4 you will need to upgrade to BackupExec v10.

[Paul_Blakeway]

This has caused me a major problem and If this is the case then why did they reply on the 20th may, and this is a direct cut and paste:

Hello,

The latest Service Pack for SQL 2000 i.e Service Pack 4 has been released by Microsoft for download.
And it is supported by Backup exec.
Refer teh following links as an additional information:-

URL: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8e2dfc8d-c20e-4446-99a9-b7f0213f8bc5&DisplayLang=en

The ReadMe Link for the Service pack:

URL: http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/B/D/1BDF5B78-584E-4DE0-B36F-C44E06B0D2A3/ReadmeSql2k32sp4.htm

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