Backup error: Device error or device offline

  • Hi! I am trying to backup our database from the main server to a test server. But everytime I tried to do so, the error: Device error or device offline appears. When I tried accessing the destination from the main server using the Run command, I am allowed to access the said location (e.g. \\test_server\e$\backup). What should I do then? What do I need to check for the backup to be successful? Please help me out. Thanks.

  • You are backing up over a network. Does the SQL Server services (MSSQLServer and SQLServerAgent) run as domain accounts? Do those accounts have permission to access the destination?

    -SQLBill

  • The best way is to backup to a local disk and then copy or move backup to the network share (as the second step of the job, for example).

  • Usually backing up over a network toa disk on another machine is a big no-no. However Microsoft left a hole in things to accomplish just that (if you have faith in the throughput and stability of your network).

    First:

    exec sp_addumpdevice 'disk', 'model_dump_device', '\\test_server\e$\backup\model.bak', '2'

    Second:

    backup database model to model_dump_device

    This assumes that all the required permissions/authorities exist between the 2 servers and the account executing the actual command. In this example, since there is an administrative share, the user executing the command must have 'local administrator' rights on the target machine.

    RegardsRudy KomacsarSenior Database Administrator"Ave Caesar! - Morituri te salutamus."

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