Can't browse to backup certain SQL 2008 databases

Question

Hi,

I recently upgraded a couple of our servers from Microsoft SQL 2000 to SQL 2008. I uninstalled the previous versions of the Avamar 4 client and SQL plugins, and then installed the latest Avamar 5 client, SQL, and System State plugins.

We seem to be able to backup the system with no problems as a whole, as well as browse the completed backups to restore any of the databases. But when we attempt to browse to backup selected files, we are not able to see a couple of databases that are being modified/in-use on either of the servers.

We are using the Avamar Administrator version 4.1.1.340 which seems to be the latest available on our Avamar system. Im not certain if it's a permissions issue or not, but we are currently able to browse and see the full list of databases on other servers that have not yet been upgraded to SQL 2008.

Anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this?

Hormigo · Answer

Cause 'SQL Server Browser' is set to disabled Resolution Check the status of the Windows service named 'SQL Server Browser'.  Make sure that it is set to Manual and then start the service.  Attempt the browse / backup again. Check too: User with Permission of the SA. regards Hormigo

Gradmin · Answer

Thanks for your response, Hormigo. However, your suggestions do not fix our problem.

I checked our SQL Server Browser service, and it was started, set to Automatic, and with the NT Authority Service for the login user. I modified it to start up Manually, and attempted to browse. No luck. I then changed the user to a SQL user with SA privileges, and restarted the service and attempted to browse once more. Again, no luck.

I researched this a little more and found varying results. When browsing to restore a SQL database, I can see all the databases which have been backed up, (including the invisible ones). When browsing to backup a SQL database, I cannot see three or four specific databases.

I Opened up SQL Server Management Studio and ran a few tests. First I created a brand new database and mimicked the properties of it to one of the databases that we are unable to see. Refreshed the Avamar Administrator browser window and attempted to find the database. No luck on that. So then I created another brand new database and set the properties of it to that of one of the databases that I AM able to see. After another refresh, I still had no luck in seeing the newer database.

So far the only thing that has worked is that I copied a database that I am able to see in the browser window, and gave it a different name. This time, it showed up in the browser list.

* I have just re-ran the creation process of a couple of new databases, and magically they are now showing. The new ones, anyways, not the ones that I'm still trying to see in the Avamar Administrator backup browser. *

So either we are going to have to reconfigure our databases to some unforeseen configuration (doubtful to know which because they are all set nearly exactly the same!), or something is wrong with the Avamar Administrator backup browser that is not seeing some of our databases.

Message was edited by: chrisgraham

Gradmin · Answer

I found the answer to our issue.

It appears that a specific database was malignant. It was one that we weren't using, and had just been carried over. Any database after that particular database (alphabetically) was not showing up, because the Avamar Administrator database browser was timing out/locking up. Once I deleted the database, and refreshed, I was able to instantly see ALL of my other databases.

The database was the ReportServer installed by SQL Reporting Services from SQL 2000. We weren't using the services of late anyways, and it had been turned off.

Thanks for trying to help me figure this one out!

Avamar

Can't browse to backup certain SQL 2008 databases

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