I have an SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition whose Maintenance plan fails constantly with the error:
backup MYSERVER (MYSERVER)
Backup Database on MYSERVER
Databases that have a compatibility level of 70 (SQL Server version 7.0) will be skipped.
Databases: All databases
Type: Differential
Append existing
Task start: 2011-10-18T00:10:09.
Task end: 2011-10-18T00:10:09.
Failed:(-1073548784) Executing the query "BACKUP DATABASE [model] TO DISK = N'\\myNetworkDrive\\opovo\\BackupSQL\\MYSERVER\\model\\model_backup_201110180010.bkp' WITH DIFFERENTIAL , RETAINDAYS = 13, NOFORMAT, NOINIT, NAME = N'model_backup_20111018001008', SKIP, REWIND, NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10
" failed with the following error: "Cannot open backup device 'C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\MSSQL.1\\MSSQL\\Backup\\Arca\\opovo\\BackupSQL\\MYSERVER\\model\\model_backup_201110180010.bkp'. Operating system error 3(The system cannot find the path specified.).
BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.". Possible failure reasons: Problems with the query, "ResultSet" property not set correctly, parameters not set correctly, or connection not established correctly.
But the query:
BACKUP DATABASE [model] TO DISK = N'\\myNetworkDrive\\opovo\\BackupSQL\\MYSERVER\\model\\model_backup_201110180010.bkp' WITH DIFFERENTIAL , RETAINDAYS = 13, NOFORMAT, NOINIT, NAME = N'model_backup_20111018001008', SKIP, REWIND, NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10
runs normally and gives me the expected results.
Is this a bug? What am I missing here? What is the elegant way to backup to a network location?
You need to check the account that SQL Server Agent service runs as. If the account doesn't have permissions on that network share, then it won't be able to see that path. Executing that query outside of a SQL Server Agent job (indirectly through a maintenance plan) doesn't use the security context of the SQL Server Agent service.
Make the SQL Server Agent service run as a domain account with access to that network share.