Session Files

Whenever you back up or restore files/directories, a log and corresponding error files are created for that particular session on the server on which you are executing the job. The .LOG file is the session file for that particular job.

The need to create a session file arises when you are restoring the data on a server other than the one you backed up from. The server should possess the session ID of all the jobs that are present on the tape so that the SME can restore it. These session IDs are created from the .LOG files. See Creating Session Files.

Log and Error Files

The files of the backup session are stored in a default directory (such as SYS:SYSTEM\TSA\LOG). If you prefer, you can create your own directory for the log and error files as long as it resides on the host server.

The files of the restore session are stored in the directory (SYS:SYSTEM\TSA\RESTORE). You cannot modify the location for the files.

The files can be accessed through the SBCON Main Menu or from a Windows 95, 98, 2000 or Windows NT workstation using NWBACK32.

The error file is labeled with the same description that you give the restore session (such as Friday's Full Backup) and is accessed through the Log/Error File Administration option of the SBCON Main menu.

HINT:  You might want to create individual log directories for the different types of backup or restore session targets or different organizational units. For example, you could create one directory for workstation backups and another for server backups.

SBCON keeps a list of all the log and error files. These lists show

• The description you enter for the session.
• The date and time the session was begun or, in the case of a delayed backup session, the time the session was scheduled.
• The name of the target the data was backed up from.

Log File

The log file is created on the host server the first time a particular set of data is backed up. This file contains the following:

• The session date and time and the description you entered.
• The target from which the data was backed up for a backup session.
• The target that was backed up and the location on the server where the data was restored to during a restore session.
• Media set identification information.
• The area of the file system structure that was backed up or restored (volume name, directory name, etc.).
• The names of files that were backed up or restored.
• The numerical location of the data on the storage media.

Error File

The error file is created on the host server the first time a particular set of data is backed up. It contains a list of any errors that occurred during a backup or restore session.

This file contains the following:

• The session date and time and the description you entered.
• The target from which the data was backed up for a backup session.
• The target that was backed up and the location on the server where the data was restored to during a restore session.
• Media set identification information.
• The area of the file system structure that was backed up or restored.
• The total number of parents and children that were backed up or restored.
• The names of files that were not backed up or restored, along with any error messages or information.
• Skipped data sets (any file that is open when a session begins, is not backed up or restored, and is listed as a skipped data set).