VDI error 1000: Failed to create virtual device

Bern Anderson

When I'm running several backup sessions from the command prompt concurrently, I frequently get the following error:

Backing up FIN_MGMT_PROJ_SUP_ACQ (full database) to \\bcbk1sn1\sqlbackups4\dwdev01\dwdev01_FIN_MGMT_PROJ_SUP_ACQ_FULL_20050520 155055.sqb ...

VDI error 1000: Failed to create virtual device. Check that the SQL Server instance you are trying to connect to is running. Error code: -2147024891 ()
Access is denied


SQL Backup 3.2.0, (c) Red Gate Software Ltd 2004 - 2005


This error occurs randomly and is not associated with a specific database. I'm running six batch jobs concurrently which are constructed simular to the following:

rem * dwdev01_user_db_full6.bat
rem * 20050518 BJA: Initial Development

@ECHO OFF

"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_acq_mgmt_ods"
"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_comm_ods"
"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_data_dictionary"
"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_data_request"
"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_info_res_invnt"
"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_opwhse"
"C:\Program Files\Red Gate\SQL Backup\SqlBackupC.exe" -USE "dwdev01_user_db_full_shared_stg"

IF %ERRORLEVEL% == 0 GOTO success
echo Failed with exit code %ERRORLEVEL%
GOTO end

:success
echo Successful
GOTO end

:end

What would be the cause of this error? Suggestions for further diagnosis?

Thanks,

- Bern

Daniel Handley

Hi Bern

The error code relates to the message "Failed to create security environment" while trying to initiate the backup.

Can you try using the full command rather than saved settings. If you are running as a scheduled task please ensure that the operator has the correct permissions on SQL, if you use the -E option, and permissions on the remote location.

If you do use the saved setting make sure that the operator has permission to view the registry, as this is where the settings are saved.

Dan

Bern Anderson

This error occurs randomly and is not associated with a specific database. With each run, it can be a different database.

Daniel Handley

Can you try and run the backup sequencially rather than concurrently ?

Dan

Bern Anderson

I need to run them concurrently. Is there a email address that I can send the details to that will accept attached files? I think that there may be a buffer or limit that I'm stepping on and I want to show you how things are currently organized.

Thanks,

- Bern

Brian Donahue

Hi Bern,

We'd appreciate it if you could send whatever information that you have to support (at) red-gate.com

Bern Anderson

An example has been sent to the support address. See the word document for details. Thanks,

- Bern

shanevincent

I want to restore a database and I get this same error.

What I need to do:
Recover data from one table in a backup
What I am doing:
Restoring the database to a new (empty) database
I select the database to restore to, select overwrite database click next
Specifically, it says:
VDI Error 1000: Failed to create virtual device. Check that the Sql Server instance you are trying to connect to is running. Error Code: -2139684857

Daniel Handley

Hi

You have a different problem because the error message you have received relates to "Failed to recognize the SQL Server instance name".

Can you check that the server name / instance you have chosen is correct and that the file location has been changed to the blank database.

You may want to look at the vdi.log file which is found in the mssql\log directory.

Regards
Dan

shanevincent

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the response. I installed the trial version on a different machine and recovered the data I need. I think that maybe the version on the server needs to be updated as it's 3.00.

Best,
Shane

Daniel Handley

Hi Shane

The latest version is 3.2 and can be downloaded from our web site.

Before you upgrade please uninstall the extended store procedure from the sql server. This is just a precaution as the latest version copies the xp in the sql\binn directory.

Regards
Dan

chrisflint

Any ideas what makes this happen. I'm getting the same issue, random times. This isn't the only database, can happen when doing transaction logs, etc.

7/29/2005 12:00:01 AM: SQL Backup 3.2.0, (c) Red Gate Software Ltd 2004 - 2005 
7/29/2005 12:00:01 AM: 
7/29/2005 12:00:01 AM: Backing up 35_live (full database) to \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050729 000001_1.sqb, \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050729 000001_2.sqb, \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050729 000001_3.sqb ...
7/29/2005 12:00:01 AM: 
7/29/2005 12:00:01 AM: BACKUP DATABASE [35_live]  TO DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050729 000001_1.sqb', DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050729 000001_2.sqb', DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050729 000001_3.sqb' WITH NAME = 'Database', DESCRIPTION = '', INIT, ERASEFILES = 7, COMPRESSION = 2
7/29/2005 12:00:01 AM: 
7/29/2005 12:00:03 AM: VDI error 1000: Failed to create virtual device.  Check that the SQL Server instance you are trying to connect to is running.  Error code:  -2147024891 ()
7/29/2005 12:00:03 AM: Access is denied

And again same error tonight

7/30/2005 12:00:01 AM: SQL Backup 3.2.0, (c) Red Gate Software Ltd 2004 - 2005 
7/30/2005 12:00:01 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:00:01 AM: Backing up 35_live (full database) to \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 000001_1.sqb, \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 000001_2.sqb, \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 000001_3.sqb ...
7/30/2005 12:00:01 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:00:01 AM: BACKUP DATABASE [35_live]  TO DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 000001_1.sqb', DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 000001_2.sqb', DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 000001_3.sqb' WITH NAME = 'Database', DESCRIPTION = '', INIT, ERASEFILES = 7, COMPRESSION = 2
7/30/2005 12:00:01 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:00:03 AM: VDI error 1000: Failed to create virtual device.  Check that the SQL Server instance you are trying to connect to is running.  Error code:  -2147024891 ()
7/30/2005 12:00:03 AM: Access is denied

I'm read the previous recommendations, vdi.log does not exist anywhere on my machine.

This is my script that runs nightly as a service account that has admin privledges:

@ECHO OFF
c:
cd "\Program Files (x86)\Red Gate\SQL Backup\"
SQLBackupC.exe -SQL "BACKUP DATABASE [35_live] TO DISK='\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\<AUTO>_1', DISK='\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\<AUTO>_2', DISK='\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\<AUTO>_3' WITH NAME ='Database', INIT, ERASEFILES = 7, COMPRESSION=2" >>C:\SCRIPTS\LOG\full_live_35.LOG
EXIT

I just ran it with the same user ID, ran my batch file and it worked correctly.

7/30/2005 12:27:18 AM: SQL Backup 3.2.0, (c) Red Gate Software Ltd 2004 - 2005 
7/30/2005 12:27:18 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:27:18 AM: Backing up 35_live (full database) to \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 002718_1.sqb, \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 002718_2.sqb, \\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 002718_3.sqb ...
7/30/2005 12:27:18 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:27:18 AM: BACKUP DATABASE [35_live]  TO DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 002718_1.sqb', DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 002718_2.sqb', DISK = '\\bbes\e$\sqlbackup\maintplan\sql\35_live\FULL_(local)_35_live_20050730 002718_3.sqb' WITH NAME = 'Database', DESCRIPTION = '', INIT, ERASEFILES = 7, COMPRESSION = 2
7/30/2005 12:27:18 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:27:19 AM: 
7/30/2005 12:29:30 AM: Backup data size    : 3.623 GB
7/30/2005 12:29:30 AM: Compressed data size: 756.338 MB
7/30/2005 12:29:30 AM: Compression rate    : 79.61%
7/30/2005 12:29:34 AM: Process completed successfully.
7/30/2005 12:29:34 AM: 

Processed 320880 pages for database '35_live', file 'c2000lite_Data' on file 1.
Processed 118328 pages for database '35_live', file 'C2000_Index' on file 1.
Processed 34504 pages for database '35_live', file 'C2000_CmEvent' on file 1.
Processed 8 pages for database '35_live', file 'C2000_CmEventHistory' on file 1.
Processed 2 pages for database '35_live', file 'c2000lite_Log' on file 1.
BACKUP DATABASE successfully processed 473722 pages in 125.326 seconds (30.965 MB/sec).
(1 row affected)

Server: HP Integrity rx7620
OS: Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition
Procs: 4 x Itanium 2 1.5GHz
Mem: 16GB

Any ideas, having missing transaction logs and full nightly backups is not reliable to me. :?:

petey

Itanium? SQL Backup has not been tested to run on that platform.

chrisflint

Any update, I've loaded the patch given by support but still run into the same issues. Ver 3.2.0.4, dated 8/18

Still same issue.