database failure to restore from NT backup

One of our customers had a problem with SQL Server 7. We have instigated a work around, but they want to know what the root cause was.
Problem description
It seems that they had disk problems, then wanted to restore the database from a backup. They were not doing backups to disk, just to shutting down the services & doing a cold NT backup to tape.
Error Details
The server lost a disc (one of five from RAID5 array). After it was fixed, the data was restored from a backup tape and the following appeared in the SQL Server activity log. The database was in suspect mode.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 Starting up database 'dataname'.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 Opening file d:\SQL\data\dataname_Data.MDF.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 Opening file e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Data.NDF.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 The header for file 'e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Data.NDF' is not a valid database file header. The PageAudit property is incorrect.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.32 spid9 Device activation error. The physical file name 'e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Data.NDF' may be incorrect.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.32 spid9 Opening file d:\SQL\data\dataname_Log.LDF.
2004-04-29 19:36:45.32 spid9 Opening file e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Log.LDF.
System Details
SQL Server 7
NT 4
Bull Express5800 180Ra-7 Rack P-III Xeon 700MHz/1MB Model 0
4 * PIII 700 Mhz
2 GB RAM
40/80GB SCSI DLT Internal Tape Drive
9.1GB Ultra 160/m SCSI HDD 7.2Krpm (1")
32 bit PCI 10/100Mbps Ethernet Adapter (Intel Ethernet Pro100+)
Regards
David
David,
This scenario is a typical case why you should do backup using SQL Server BACKUP command instead of just
picking up the physical files. In general, it should work assuming that you indeed get a consistent snapshot
of all files that constitutes a database. IMO, your best bet is to open a case with MS Support for this.
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://www.solidqualitylearning.com/
"David Lascelles" <anonymous@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:88D14DC8-AF33-4016-B5A3-1E391707D7F6@.microsoft.com...
> One of our customers had a problem with SQL Server 7. We have instigated a work around, but they want to
know what the root cause was.
> Problem description
> It seems that they had disk problems, then wanted to restore the database from a backup. They were not
doing backups to disk, just to shutting down the services & doing a cold NT backup to tape.
> Error Details
> The server lost a disc (one of five from RAID5 array). After it was fixed, the data was restored from a
backup tape and the following appeared in the SQL Server activity log. The database was in suspect mode.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 Starting up database 'dataname'.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 Opening file d:\SQL\data\dataname_Data.MDF.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 Opening file e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Data.NDF.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.31 spid9 The header for file 'e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Data.NDF' is not a valid database
file header. The PageAudit property is incorrect.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.32 spid9 Device activation error. The physical file name
'e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Data.NDF' may be incorrect.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.32 spid9 Opening file d:\SQL\data\dataname_Log.LDF.
> 2004-04-29 19:36:45.32 spid9 Opening file e:\SQL\data\dataname2_Log.LDF.
> System Details
> SQL Server 7
> NT 4
> Bull Express5800 180Ra-7 Rack P-III Xeon 700MHz/1MB Model 0
> 4 * PIII 700 Mhz
> 2 GB RAM
> 40/80GB SCSI DLT Internal Tape Drive
> 9.1GB Ultra 160/m SCSI HDD 7.2Krpm (1")
> 32 bit PCI 10/100Mbps Ethernet Adapter (Intel Ethernet Pro100+)
> Regards
> David