Topic: Backup restore does not finish.

[arne]

Hello !

I have a (two) SME 6.01 with a "strange" problem.

When I try to make a backup on the "old" server to tranfer it (restore it) to the "new" server, the restore runs "snooth and normal" until the end.

I can read this msg on the /server-manager panel:

"Your restore is complete when /etc/smbpasswd has been restored and the words "Restore complete" appear at the bottom of your screen."

The problem is that the "Restore complete" never apear.

It ends up with
"etc/samba/smbpasswd
etc/smbpasswd"

that also should be the last restore files, but then it just hangs, never to show up the "Restore complete".

When I then reboot the machine it comes up with a blue screan and a warning: Your restart were not omleteted, system will have to be shut down (or something like that.)

I have tried to perform several backups and several restores, but the result is allways the same. I have also performed several downloads and CD burns to eleminate a install CD error.

I gues the error has to be at the "old" server (??) that in som strange way produces back ups (to workstation via Internet) that can not be fully restored.

Any ideas or suggestions ?

[arne]

Exuse me .. "Your restart were not omleteted" should be read: "Your restore were not completed".

[arne]

I forgot one thing .. the total amounth of data were approx 1000 MB. I reduced it to approx 800 MB. It did not help. The error were still the same. (Restore hanging in the last part of the procedure.)

[raem]

What browser brand and version are you using ?

[arne]

MS Explorer 6.0.2

Could it be just the Browser ?! Should I try with som other browser or possibly change the security settings ???

[raem]

Using earlier versions of IE, I had similar problem.
Netscape 7.2 worked OK, whereas IE5.5 would hang.

Try using Netscape or Firefox.

[arne]

OK. I will try that. By the way, I also try to reboot the PC i'm making the backup from.

Best reg Arne.

[raem]

The restore did not complete, so rebooting won't fix it.
The problem is to do with how different browsers handle the really big (ie multi Gb) backup file size during the restore process, and how the file is processed in cache memory of the browser. It seems that MS products are not good in this regard although I have not used IE 6 greatly to prove it.

Netscape works fine every time.

[arne]

I will try to rebot the old PC and make a new bacup from it after the reboot. I did really not think about the browser itself as the source of the problem, but it might be an idea .. thanks a lot. I will try it.

Arne.

[raem]

I'm assuming your existing backup is probably OK, it's just the restore process that went wrong, probably due to the broweser characteristics.

Having said that, the backup process is also fraught with issues. If you use the default backup to desktop function and your backup file is bigger than 2Gb you will most likely have problems both saving it and restoring it.

ALWAYS run the "Verify backup file" routine after doing a backup, to ensure your backup is a good one.
If your backup file is going to be bigger than 2Gb you need to use the backup2ws contrib (or others), and split the file to less than 2Gb pieces, that way the whole backup and restore process will work OK satisfactorily.

[arne]

Thanks for your help !

I tried with Firefox, still the identical same fault.

I then rebooted the server before making a new backup. At lest a change .. After attemting a restore of this new backup: .. "Restore failed! There was an error in reading the backup file."

I think I just have to accept that there is an error in that server I try tgo make a backup from.

Best reg Arne

[raem]

A few questions.
How are you doing your backup ie backup to desktop or something else ?
What is the resultant backup file size ?
Do you run the "Verify backup" after finishing the backup ?