IT43560: SQL BACKUPS FAIL - FAILED TO FIND THE DISK INSTANCE OF DISK SERIAL NUMBER=XXXXX

APAR status

• Closed as documentation error.

Error description

• SQL backups can fail with the following error, when initializing
  the
  iSCSI backup volume:
  
  
  Failed to initialize volumes: Exception caught: error:
  [Exception caught on the task error:
  [Failed to find the disk instance of disk serial number=xxxxxxx.
  Error:
  ('6'  'MI_RESULT_NOT_FOUND: The requested object cannot be
  found.').]]
  
  The underlying issue is that Windows WMI based storage calls may
  not return raw disk attributes.
  
  
  Versions affected:
  10.1.11, 10.1.12, 10.1.13, 10.1.14
  

Local fix

• Enable the use of Windows VDS by following these steps:
  1.Open an RDP session to the SQL Server system.
  2.Navigate to this location:
    C:\ProgramData\SPP\
  3.Create a dummy file (it can be empty) named 'usevds'
  4.Logoff / close the RDP session.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.11, 10.1.12, 10.1.13, and     *
  * 10.1.14                                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * See ERROR DESCRIPTION                                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply the fixing level when available. This problem is       *
  * currently projected to be fixed in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus *
  * version 10.1.15. Note that this is subject to change at the  *
  * discretion of IBM.                                           *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• If the SQL Server backup job fails with an error, the topic in
  IBM Documentation "Backing up SQL Server data" does not have
  instructions to resolve the error. So we have introduced the
  following new topic in IBM Documentation for instructions:
  'Resolving the failed SQL Server database backup'
  
  In the "Before you begin" section of the "Backing up SQL Server
  data" topic, we have added the following bulleted list item:
  
  "When the SQL Server backup job fails and the server reports an
  error message, you can resolve the issue. For instructions, see
  Resolving the failed SQL Server database backup."
  
  This information will be published with the upcoming release for
  IBM Spectrum Protect plus 8.1.15 in the following topic URLs:
  https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.15?topic=server-backing-up-
  sql-data
  https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.15?topic=troubleshooting-re
  solving-failed-sql-server-database-backup
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  SP PLUS

• Fixed component ID

  5737SPLUS

Applicable component levels