vm backup failed with error code 156

[rookie11]

Hi All

master +media at NBU 7.5 OS win 2008 both. 25 VM backups failed. all of them in same policy.

Policy details: 25 VM's ,policy type FLASHBACKUP-WINDOWS,limit jobs per policy 4,perform off host backup -ON. offhost machine is media server itself which has access to disk appliance.

VMware vcenter version: 5.1. NBU not installed on it neither on any vm's. Vcenter credentials added on NBU java console-credentials-vcenter. tested credentials from master n mediaserver by telnet vcenterservername 443(port). it a success.

All vm backup failed since last 2 attempts. GUI logs:

04/15/2014 11:11:58 - granted resource  disk_appmedia
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - estimated 18588214 kbytes needed
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - begin Parent Job
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - begin Flash Backup Windows: Start Notify Script
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - Info RUNCMD (pid=36432) started
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - Info RUNCMD (pid=36432) exiting with status: 0
Operation Status: 0
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - end Flash Backup Windows: Start Notify Script; elapsed time 0:00:00
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - begin Flash Backup Windows: Step By Condition
Operation Status: 0
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - end Flash Backup Windows: Step By Condition; elapsed time 0:00:00
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - begin Flash Backup Windows: Read File List
Operation Status: 0
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - end Flash Backup Windows: Read File List; elapsed time 0:00:00
04/15/2014 11:11:59 - begin Flash Backup Windows: Create Snapshot
04/15/2014 11:12:02 - Info bpbrm (pid=22697) vm123 is the host to backup data from
04/15/2014 11:12:02 - Info bpbrm (pid=22697) reading file list from client
04/15/2014 11:12:02 - Info bpbrm (pid=22697) start bpfis on client
04/15/2014 11:12:02 - Info bpbrm (pid=22697) Starting create snapshot processing
04/15/2014 11:12:06 - Info bpfis (pid=37184) Backup started
04/15/2014 11:12:06 - snapshot backup of client vm123 using method VMware
04/15/2014 11:12:01 - started process bpbrm (pid=22697)
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - Critical bpbrm (pid=22697) from client vm123: FTL - VMware_freeze: Unable to connect to server  vcentermgmtserver: SYM_VMC_FAILED_TO_CREATE_SNAPSHOT
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - Critical bpbrm (pid=22697) from client vm123: FTL - snapshot processing failed, status 156
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - Critical bpbrm (pid=22697) from client vm123: FTL - snapshot creation failed, status 156
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - Warning bpbrm (pid=22697) from client vm123: WRN - ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES is not frozen
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - Info bpfis (pid=37184) done. status: 156
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - end Flash Backup Windows: Create Snapshot; elapsed time 0:00:13
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - Info bpfis (pid=0) done. status: 156: snapshot error encountered
04/15/2014 11:12:15 - Info bpbrm (pid=22746) Starting delete snapshot processing
04/15/2014 11:12:15 - Info bpfis (pid=0) Snapshot will not be deleted
04/15/2014 11:12:12 - end writing
Operation Status: 156

[Will_Restore]

policy type FLASHBACKUP-WINDOWS

shouldn't that be VMware ?

[rookie11]

No it need not be.

NBU snapshot client guide. pg 49 to 64

offhost backup methods:flashbackup and alternate client.

For VMware virtual machines, select FlashBackup-Windows

[Marianne]

Double-check connectivity:

Critical bpbrm (pid=22697) from client vm123: FTL - VMware_freeze: Unable to connect to server  esmadsys17: SYM_VMC_FAILED_TO_CREATE_SNAPSHOT

PS: You may want to download NetBackup 7.5.0.x for VMware Administrator's Guide  http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC5605 

It explains all the new features that comes with VMware policy type.

[Will_Restore]

rookie, does your environment meet these requirements?

For NetBackup 7.5 environments (master server, media server, and backup host
all at 7.5), VCB backups are not supported. VCB backups are supported only when
the backup host (NetBackup client) is 7.1 or earlier. For VCB-based backups with
7.1 or earlier backup hosts, you can use the FlashBackup-Windows policy type as
described in the NetBackup for VMware Administrator's Guide, version 7.1 or 7.0.