backing up to an external drive

Hello:
About three weeks ago, I configured a "Complete Backup" and "Transaction Log
Backup" maintenance plan in SQL Server 2000 to funnel the .BAK and .TRN file
s
to an external drive attached to the server through a USB port. These plans
run between 10 and 11 PM weeknights.
I tested these two plans before I left the client, that afternoon. The
backups were successful and I have reports that proved this.
Now, I reviewed the client's server remotely just today and found that only
the transaction logs backed up that night (10PM). The database backups did
not backup. And, that was the last time that the logs backed up.
I am going to review the SQL log report in a little while. But, why would
backups to an external drive (a mapped "Q" drive) work upon testing but
apparently stop working in production? Other than reviewing the report, is
there anything that I can do to get these backups to work?
Can the database maintenance plans simply not backup to an external drive?
Thanks!
childofthe1980s"childofthe1980s" <childofthe1980s@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:B46F190C-E2CF-4ABD-80D3-7C8A2F6C3AC2@.microsoft.com...
> Hello:
> About three weeks ago, I configured a "Complete Backup" and "Transaction
> Log
> Backup" maintenance plan in SQL Server 2000 to funnel the .BAK and .TRN
> files
> to an external drive attached to the server through a USB port. These
> plans
> run between 10 and 11 PM weeknights.
> I tested these two plans before I left the client, that afternoon. The
> backups were successful and I have reports that proved this.
> Now, I reviewed the client's server remotely just today and found that
> only
> the transaction logs backed up that night (10PM). The database backups
> did
> not backup. And, that was the last time that the logs backed up.
> I am going to review the SQL log report in a little while. But, why would
> backups to an external drive (a mapped "Q" drive) work upon testing but
> apparently stop working in production? Other than reviewing the report,
> is
> there anything that I can do to get these backups to work?
I'm confused. Is this an external drive or a mapped drive?
In any case, if it's external, make sure the drive letter hasn't been
changed.
If it's mapped, you're far better off using UNCs.

> Can the database maintenance plans simply not backup to an external drive?
They can be. Bee there, done that.

> Thanks!
> childofthe1980s
Greg Moore
SQL Server DBA Consulting
sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com