Every once in a while, I notice one of my nightly scheduled backups fails to run. When I check the history, the message is something like "SQL Server device error - device offline." I haven't been able to get around this except by reinitializing the device which causes me to lose my previous backups. What causes this error and how do I get the device back online? I haven't been able to find any documentation on this as of yet. Thanks in advance for your help!!

-- Anonymous, November 02, 1998

Answers

Re: device offline error

Amy,

Backups are run by SQL Executive. Check the Services control panel applet to determine the user account under which SQL Executive runs. If it runs as the Local System account, it may or may not have access to network resources. You will have to run the SQL Executive under a user account that has permissions to access the device.

You might also want to make sure that you have not reached the end of the tape.

Good Luck,

Eric

-- Anonymous, November 03, 1998