Avamar Transaction Log Backup Issue

  • Hi,

    We just recently started using Avamar to backup everything including an hourly SQL server transaction log backup. The issue we’re having is that since we started using Avamar, the transaction file (LDF) file keeps growing very large. Has anyone experienced this issue before? If not, any idea?

    Thanks,

  • I haven't used Avamar, but if the log file is growing, either you have a growing workload that needs more log space, or the log isn't being marked as backed up.

    An hourly backup (diff/incremental) from Avamar, doesn't mean that it is performing a SQL Server log backup properly. It needs to be marked in msdb.

    Have you checked MSDB to see if the log backups are being noted by SQL Server? If not, it's not doing them correctly.

  • Steve Jones - SSC Editor (2/4/2013)


    I haven't used Avamar, but if the log file is growing, either you have a growing workload that needs more log space, or the log isn't being marked as backed up.

    An hourly backup (diff/incremental) from Avamar, doesn't mean that it is performing a SQL Server log backup properly. It needs to be marked in msdb.

    Have you checked MSDB to see if the log backups are being noted by SQL Server? If not, it's not doing them correctly.

    Thanks for getting back to me on this.

    How do I check that in MSDB?

  • Look for backup history for any of the databases. The restore dialog might be the easiest if you haven't done it before.

    See if you have options to restore transaction logs.

  • Jysafe Lerroy (2/4/2013)


    Hi,

    We just recently started using Avamar to backup everything including an hourly SQL server transaction log backup. The issue we’re having is that since we started using Avamar, the transaction file (LDF) file keeps growing very large. Has anyone experienced this issue before? If not, any idea?

    Thanks,

    We ran into this once a few years back and found that the Avamar backup was not backing up the t-log despite running. We went with native SQL Backup for t-logs and then backed up those files using Avamar.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • Thank you both for getting back to me.

    SQLRNNR, what version of Avamar are you running and have you contacted EMC with this issue? If so, what was their response.

    Steve, I'm curious to know if there is a script that I can run against the MSDB table to check if the t-log is being backed up?

  • This was 2+ years ago. I don't recall the version. We did contact EMC and got nothing in return.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • This should help:

    SELECT T1.Name AS DatabaseName,

    Isnull(Max(T2.recovery_model), 'No Backup Taken') AS recovery_model,

    'Log' AS BackupType,

    Isnull(CONVERT(VARCHAR(23), CONVERT(DATETIME, Max(T2.backup_finish_date), 131)), '') AS LastBackUpTaken

    FROM sys.sysdatabases T1

    LEFT OUTER JOIN msdb.dbo.backupset T2

    ON T2.database_name = T1.name

    WHERE type = 'L'

    GROUP BY T1.Name

    You can also right click a database, select "restore | database" and in the lower pane of the dialog, you should see full and log backups (and diffs).

  • Expanding on Steve's script a little, here is one that I did:

    SELECT T1.Name AS DatabaseName

    ,ISNULL(t2.database_name, 'No Backup Taken') AS LogBackupAvail

    ,T1.recovery_model_desc

    ,'Log' AS BackupType

    ,ISNULL(CONVERT(VARCHAR(23), CONVERT(DATETIME, Max(T2.backup_finish_date), 131))

    , CASE WHEN T1.recovery_model_desc = 'Simple'

    THEN 'N/A'

    ELSE 'Backup Not Taken'

    END

    ) AS LastBackUpTaken

    FROM sys.databases T1

    LEFT OUTER JOIN msdb.dbo.backupset T2

    ON t1.name = t2.database_name

    AND t2.type = 'L'

    GROUP BY T1.Name,T2.database_name,T1.recovery_model_desc

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • SQLRNNR (2/5/2013)


    Expanding on Steve's script a little, here is one that I did:

    Show off

  • Steve Jones - SSC Editor (2/5/2013)


    SQLRNNR (2/5/2013)


    Expanding on Steve's script a little, here is one that I did:

    Show off

    :w00t:;-):cool::hehe:

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • If I may ask ; what is the advantage of using Avamar against using the SQL Native backup?

  • since its been a while since you started using Avamar (and i assume the SQL plug in) any feedback? any use on MSCS clusters? i gave up on it, due to failures and corruption, but interested if you made any headway. and what version are you using?

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