Microsoft KB Archive/167331

= FIX: Tape Backup May Cause Error 3201 Device Offline =

Article ID: 167331

Article Last Modified on 10/3/2003

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q167331



BUG #: 16349



SYMPTOMS
When backing up a database to a tape drive, error 3201 may occur:

Msg 3201, Level 16, State 1

Can't open dump device '\\.\tape0', device error or device off line.

Please consult the SQL Server error log for more details.

Often, there will not be an accompanying error message in the errorlog, even though the message indicates that there should be one. This error may be caused if the tape block size of the tape drive is larger than the backup buffer size in SQL Server's sp_configure.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use sp_configure to modify backup buffer size to a value that is equal to or greater than the tape drive's block size.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. For more information, contact your primary support provider.

Keywords: kberrmsg kbbug kbfix kbother kbusage KB167331

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.