Reasons For Backup Failure In SQL Server ?

Overview:
The entire idea behind a backup, is to protect any organization from the data loss and corruption. However, the question arises what happen if user will loose the backup. Many times we still hear about businesses breaking down due to data loss. In this article we will discuss the different reasons for backup failure in SQL server.

Drive Space

Scenario: “I m planning for SQL database backup but when trying to go ahead. System is showing “Insufficient disk space for backup” or some similar message” what I can do for further processing?
If the user’s system drive runs out of space then it becomes difficult to backup SQL database and cause the failure of SQL server database. It’s extremely common error as the backup needs more space.

Prevention:
In order to get rid of the error “Insufficient disk space for backup”, user can monitor their drive space and also needs to monitor the size of database. User must ensure the backup cleanup process should take place timely.

Transaction Log File Is Full

Scenario: “I am getting an error 9002 while taking backup from transaction log file. Please suggest some solution”

Prevention: Whenever the transaction log becomes full, SQL Server pop-ups error 9002. The transaction log can fill when the database is online, or in recovery. It may also resist user to take backup from transaction log file. In that case, user can perform any required action to make log space available. To prevent this error, user needs to make disk space free by deleting or moving the files and by moving the files to different disk.

Backing Up Across The Network

Scenario: “I have backed up my SQL database across the network, while restoring the data it’s showing time out error. How I can resolve this issue?”
Prevention: Backing up to local device or disk is much faster than backing up the data across the network. User may prefer storing backup across network as it take low infrastructure cost as compare to physical storage devices. However, to get rid of time out errors, users must store their backup in local devices.

Differential Backup
Scenario: “I have been running a differential backup on my SQL server. While restoring the database from the backup , it is showing error: The log or differential backup cannot be restored because no files are ready to roll forward”.
The differential backups work only works along with full backup. In order to prevent such situation user must take full backups and while restoring, user must process it in combination with differential backups.

Other Reasons For Backup Failure In SQL Server
Switching the recovery model
Restoring the database in wrong server
Failure in the hardware having the backup
Abrupt shut down while restoring the backup
Virus intrusion
Software issues
Power failure

Conclusion: There are number of factors that may cause failure of SQL server backup file. In order to prevent backup from failures, user must have the information about the factors that causes backup failure and must take proper steps to prevent backup from these issues.</div>