Veritas NetBackup™ Troubleshooting Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (8.1)
  1. Introduction
    1.  
      NetBackup logging and status code information
    2.  
      Troubleshooting a problem
    3.  
      Problem report for Technical Support
    4.  
      About gathering information for NetBackup-Java applications
  2. Troubleshooting procedures
    1.  
      About troubleshooting procedures
    2. Troubleshooting NetBackup problems
      1.  
        Verifying that all processes are running on UNIX servers
      2.  
        Verifying that all processes are running on Windows servers
    3.  
      Troubleshooting installation problems
    4.  
      Troubleshooting configuration problems
    5.  
      Device configuration problem resolution
    6.  
      Testing the master server and clients
    7.  
      Testing the media server and clients
    8.  
      Resolving network communication problems with UNIX clients
    9.  
      Resolving network communication problems with Windows clients
    10. Troubleshooting vnetd proxy connections
      1.  
        vnetd proxy connection requirements
      2.  
        Where to begin to troubleshoot vnetd proxy connections
      3.  
        Verify that the vnetd process and proxies are active
      4.  
        Verify that the host connections are proxied
      5.  
        Test the vnetd proxy connections
      6.  
        Examine the log files of the connecting and accepting processes
      7.  
        Viewing the vnetd proxy log files
    11. Troubleshooting security certificate revocation
      1.  
        How a host's CRL affects certificate revocation troubleshooting
      2.  
        NetBackup job fails because of revoked certificate
      3.  
        NetBackup job fails because of apparent network error
      4.  
        NetBackup job fails because of unavailable resource
      5.  
        Master server security certificate is revoked
      6.  
        Determining a NetBackup host's certificate state
    12.  
      About troubleshooting networks and host names
    13. Verifying host name and service entries in NetBackup
      1.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX master server and client
      2.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX master server and media server
      3.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX PC clients
      4.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX server that connects to multiple networks
    14.  
      About the bpclntcmd utility
    15.  
      Using the Host Properties window to access configuration settings
    16.  
      Resolving full disk problems
    17. Frozen media troubleshooting considerations
      1.  
        Logs for troubleshooting frozen media
      2.  
        About the conditions that cause media to freeze
    18. Troubleshooting problems with the NetBackup web services
      1.  
        Viewing NetBackup web services logs
    19.  
      Troubleshooting problems with the NetBackup web server certificate
    20. Resolving PBX problems
      1.  
        Checking PBX installation
      2.  
        Checking that PBX is running
      3.  
        Checking that PBX is set correctly
      4.  
        Accessing the PBX logs
      5.  
        Troubleshooting PBX security
      6.  
        Determining if the PBX daemon or service is available
    21. Troubleshooting problems with validation of the remote host
      1.  
        Viewing logs pertaining to host validation
      2.  
        Enabling insecure communication with NetBackup 8.0 and earlier hosts
      3.  
        Approving pending host ID-to-host name mappings
      4.  
        Clearing host cache
    22. About troubleshooting Auto Image Replication
      1.  
        Troubleshooting Auto Image Replication
      2.  
        About troubleshooting automatic import jobs
    23.  
      Troubleshooting network interface card performance
    24.  
      About SERVER entries in the bp.conf file
    25.  
      About unavailable storage unit problems
    26.  
      Resolving a NetBackup Administration operations failure on Windows
    27.  
      Resolving garbled text displayed in NetBackup Administration Console on a UNIX computer
  3. Using NetBackup utilities
    1.  
      About NetBackup troubleshooting utilities
    2.  
      About the analysis utilities for NetBackup debug logs
    3.  
      About network troubleshooting utilities
    4. About the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
      1.  
        Output from the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
      2.  
        Status code information gathered by the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
      3.  
        Example of a progress display for the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
    5. About the NetBackup consistency check utility (NBCC)
      1.  
        Output from the NetBackup consistency check utility (NBCC)
      2.  
        Example of an NBCC progress display
    6.  
      About the NetBackup consistency check repair (NBCCR) utility
    7.  
      About the nbcplogs utility
    8. About the robotic test utilities
      1.  
        Robotic tests on UNIX
      2.  
        Robotic tests on Windows
  4. Disaster recovery
    1.  
      About disaster recovery
    2.  
      About disaster recovery requirements
    3.  
      Disaster recovery packages
    4.  
      About disaster recovery settings
    5.  
      Recommended backup practices
    6. About disk recovery procedures for UNIX and Linux
      1. About recovering the master server disk for UNIX and Linux
        1.  
          Recovering the master server when root is intact
        2.  
          Recovering the master server when the root partition is lost
      2.  
        About recovering the NetBackup media server disk for UNIX
      3.  
        Recovering the system disk on a UNIX client workstation
    7. About clustered NetBackup server recovery for UNIX and Linux
      1.  
        Replacing a failed node on a UNIX or Linux cluster
      2.  
        Recovering the entire UNIX or Linux cluster
    8. About disk recovery procedures for Windows
      1. About recovering the master server disk for Windows
        1.  
          Recovering the master server with Windows intact
        2.  
          Recovering the master server and Windows
      2.  
        About recovering the NetBackup media server disk for Windows
      3.  
        Recovering a Windows client disk
    9. About clustered NetBackup server recovery for Windows
      1.  
        Replacing a failed node on a Windows VCS cluster
      2.  
        Recovering the shared disk on a Windows VCS cluster
      3.  
        Recovering the entire Windows VCS cluster
    10.  
      Generating a certificate on a clustered master server after disaster recovery installation
    11.  
      About restoring disaster recovery package
    12.  
      Restoring disaster recovery package on Windows
    13.  
      Restoring disaster recovery package on UNIX
    14. About recovering the NetBackup catalog
      1.  
        About NetBackup catalog recovery on Windows computers
      2.  
        About NetBackup catalog recovery from disk devices
      3.  
        About NetBackup catalog recovery and symbolic links
      4. About NetBackup catalog recovery and OpsCenter
        1.  
          Specifying the NetBackup job ID number after a catalog recovery
      5.  
        NetBackup disaster recovery email example
      6. About recovering the entire NetBackup catalog
        1.  
          Recovering the entire NetBackup catalog using the Catalog Recovery Wizard
        2.  
          Recovering the entire NetBackup catalog using bprecover -wizard
      7. About recovering the NetBackup catalog image files
        1.  
          Recovering the NetBackup catalog image files using the Catalog Recovery Wizard
        2.  
          Recovering the NetBackup catalog image files using bprecover -wizard
      8. About recovering the NetBackup relational database
        1.  
          Recovering NetBackup relational database files from a backup
        2.  
          Recovering the NetBackup relational database files from staging
        3.  
          About processing the relational database in staging
      9.  
        Recovering the NetBackup catalog when NetBackup Access Control is configured
      10.  
        Recovering the NetBackup catalog from a nonprimary copy of a catalog backup
      11.  
        Recovering the NetBackup catalog without the disaster recovery file
      12.  
        Recovering a NetBackup user-directed online catalog backup from the command line
      13.  
        Restoring files from a NetBackup online catalog backup
      14.  
        Unfreezing the NetBackup online catalog recovery media
      15.  
        Steps to carry out when you see exit status 5988 during catalog recovery

Troubleshooting a problem

The following steps offer general guidelines to help you resolve any problems you may encounter while you use NetBackup. The steps provide links to more specific troubleshooting information.

Table: Steps for troubleshooting NetBackup problems

Step

Action

Description

Step 1

Remember the error message

Error messages are usually the vehicle for telling you something went wrong. If you don't see an error message in an interface, but still suspect a problem, check the reports and logs. NetBackup provides extensive reporting and logging facilities. These can provide an error message that points you directly to a solution.

The logs also show you what went right and the NetBackup operation that was ongoing when the problem occurred. For example, a restore operation needs media to be mounted, but the required media is currently in use for another backup. Logs and reports are essential troubleshooting tools.

See the NetBackup Logging Reference Guide.

Step 2

Identify what you were doing when the problem occurred

Ask the following questions:

  • What operation was tried?

  • What method did you use?

    For example, more than one way exists to install software on a client. Also more than one possible interface exists to use for many operations. Some operations can be performed with a script.

  • What type of server platform and operating system was involved?

  • If your site uses both the master server and the media server, was it a master server or a media server?

  • If a client was involved, what type of client was it?

  • Have you performed the operation successfully in the past? If so, what is different now?

  • What is the service pack level?

  • Do you use operating system software with the latest fixes supplied, especially those required for use with NetBackup?

  • Is your device firmware at a level, or higher than the level, at which it has been tested according to the posted device compatibility lists?

Step 3

Record all information

Capture potentially valuable information:

  • NetBackup progress logs

  • NetBackup Reports

  • NetBackup Utility Reports

  • NetBackup debug logs

  • Media and Device Management debug logs

  • On UNIX NetBackup servers, check for error or status messages in the system log or standard output.

  • Error or status messages in dialog boxes

  • On Windows, NetBackup servers, check for error or status information in the Event Viewer Application and System log.

Record this information for each try. Compare the results of multiple tries. A record of tries is also useful for others at your site and for Technical Support in the event that you cannot solve the problem. You can get more information about logs and reports.

See the NetBackup Logging Reference Guide.

Step 4

Correct the problem

After you define the problem, use the following information to correct it:

  • Take the corrective action that the status code or message recommends.

    See the Status Codes Reference Guide.

  • If no status code or message exists, or the actions for the status code do not solve the problem, try these additional troubleshooting procedures:

Step 5

Complete a problem report for Technical Support

If your troubleshooting is unsuccessful, prepare to contact Technical Support by filling out a problem report.

See About gathering information for NetBackup-Java applications.

On UNIX systems, the /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/goodies/support script creates a file containing data necessary for Technical Support to debug any problems you encounter. For more details, consult the usage information of the script by means of the support -h command.

Step 6

Contact Technical Support

The Veritas Technical Support website has a wealth of information that can help you solve NetBackup problems.

Access Technical Support at the following URL:

https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US.html

Note:

The term media server may not apply to the NetBackup server product. It depends on the context. When you troubleshoot a server installation, be aware that only one host exists: The master and the media server are one and the same. Ignore references to a media server on a different host.

More Information

Troubleshooting NetBackup problems

Problem report for Technical Support

About troubleshooting procedures

Troubleshooting NetBackup problems