sqb2mtf generates multiple files

ogrishman

Hi,

I use sqb2mtf.ext to convert a .sqb file to SQL Server native format. But I got multiple output file.

C:\Users\e>"C:\Program Files (x86)\Red Gate\SQL Backup 6\sqb2mtf.exe" "C:\TEMP\full\20120204164325_full_AdventureWorks.sqb" "c:\temp\a.bak"


SQL Backup to Microsoft Tape Format converter
Version 6.2.0.134, (c) Red Gate Software Ltd 2004 - 2009

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MTF file created.

C:\Users\e>
C:\Users\e>cd \temp

C:\TEMP>dir
 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 806C-8C14

 Directory of C:\TEMP

02/19/2012  09:24 PM    <DIR>          .
02/19/2012  09:24 PM    <DIR>          ..
02/19/2012  09:24 PM        91,553,792 20120204164325_full_AdventureWorks_00.bak
02/19/2012  09:24 PM        84,606,976 20120204164325_full_AdventureWorks_01.bak
              28 File(s)    423,292,566 bytes
               5 Dir(s)   4,381,503,488 bytes free

C:\TEMP>

I tried to use the following restore command to restore from these generated output files, but get an error.

RESTORE DATABASE [test]
FROM DISK = 'C:\TEMP\20120204164325_full_AdventureWorks_00.bak',
DISK = 'C:\TEMP\20120204164325_full_AdventureWorks_01.bak' with REPLACE,
MOVE 'AdventureWorks_Data' TO 'c:\\a.data',
MOVE 'AdventureWorks_Log' TO 'c:\\a.log';

Msg 3183, Level 16, State 2, Line 3
RESTORE detected an error on page (0:0) in database "test" as read from the backup set.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 3
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

Can anyone explain it please?

petey

Could you please download this utility, use it to open the converted backup file, and let me know if it displays the details of the backup file correctly? If so, what is the version of SQL Server used to create that backup file, and are you using the same version or newer to restore it now?

Thanks.

ogrishman

I tried the utility you mentioned. The two native backups can be opened and the information can be displayed correctly. The sqb file was created from a SQL Server 2008 R2 instance, and the restore statement was executed on the same instance (which generates the error I mentioned). Petey, I want to know whether the behavior that one sqb file can generate multiple bak file is correct? Thanks.

petey

In the context of native SQL Server backups, you can back up to a single file, or to multiple files (striped backups, using multiple DISK parameters).

In the context of SQL Backup backups, the above is also applicable. In addition, you can merge the backup data that would normally go into multiple files in a striped backup, into a single file. This is done using the THREADCOUNT parameter. In your case, you most likely performed the backup using the parameter THREADCOUNT = 2.

Thus, when you now convert the SQL Backup backup to a native SQL Server backup, SQL Backup splits the backup data from that single file into 2 files, as those are the files that SQL Server require.

ogrishman

Oh yes, I've used the parameter THREADCOUNT = 2. I'll take a look at it. Thanks for your help petey!