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Configure Agent Behavior for Databases Ineligible for Backup

The Agent for Microsoft SQL Server has a pre-defined set of rules that governs how databases ineligible for backup are recognized and handled. Backup eligibility is determined by database status and other properties. Arcserve Backup posts an error or warning and marks the job as Failed or Incomplete, depending on the following factors:

The following information organized by database status is provided to help you recognize default behavior and, if needed, change the default responses by adding controller values to the Agent settings in the Windows Registry on the computer on which the Arcserve Backup Agent for Microsoft SQL Server is installed. For each database status, the default behavior is listed for each selection type, as well as the setting name that changes it. The procedure for creating and setting DWORDS follows the table.

Database Status

If Database is Selected

If Whole Instance is Selected

Standby (read-only, waiting to receive additional restores)

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Standby Explicit

Message Type: Warning

Job Result: Successful

Setting Name: Standby Implicit

Mirror (SQL 2005 or later) Failover Mirroring

Message Type: Warning

Job Result: Incomplete

Setting Name: Mirror Explicit

Message Type: n/a

Job Result: Successful

Setting Name: Mirror Implicit

Suspect (damaged or missing files) using Simple Recovery Model

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Suspect Explicit

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Suspect Implicit

Off-line

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Offline Explicit

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Offline Implicit

Loading

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Loading Explicit

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Loading Implicit

Recovering (in the middle of processing restored data)

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Restoring Explicit

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Restoring Implicit

Missing (database selected for backup no longer exists)

Error Message Posted

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Restoring Explicit

Message Type: n/a

Job Result: n/a

Setting Name: n/a

Inaccessible (specified user cannot access database for some other reason)

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Inaccessible Explicit

Message Type: Error

Job Result: Failure

Setting Name: Inaccessible Implicit

Note: SQL 2005 Point-In-Time Snapshots are strictly ignored.

To change behavior:

  1. In the Registry Editor, find the Registry Key "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ComputerAssociates\CA ARCserve Backup\SQLPAAdp\Common"
  2. Add a new Key within "Common" called "Responses".
  3. Add new DWORD using the setting names shown in the table and set the values as follows:

    0 = Use Agent's default behavior

    1 = Warning message posted. Job result is set to Successful

    2 = Error message posted. Job result is set to Failure.

    3 = Warning message posted. Job result is set to Incomplete.

    4 = Error message posted. Job result is set to Incomplete.

    Note: Removing a value entry is the same as setting a value to 0.