Document ID: 326302
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Why backups can fail with a "V-79-57344-34110 - AOFO: Initialization failure" when the Advanced Open File Option (AOFO) is selected in the Backup Job Properties
Details:
UMI Code V-79-57344-34110 will be listed in a job log when AOFO fails to initialize for any reason.  This is a generic UMI Code for "AOFO: Initialization failure on" and does not always return the best Resolution Documentation for an AOFO Failure because of it.  The UMI Code listed towards the end of the job log under Job Completion Status will usually return the best Resolution TechNote Results after this link has been opened, per what shows in the screenshot below. (Figure 1)

Figure 1
 
In addition to locating an AOFO Troubleshooting Document from the final UMI Code Link, the information below may also help to resolve many AOFO Failures:

I. Each remote Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Machine being backed up with AOFO selected in the Backup Job Properties should have this option installed on it, in addition to the Remote Agent for Windows Servers (RAWS).  The AOFO Option installs vsp.sys, a kernel level driver. This driver interacts directly with the operating system and requires a reboot after installation either on the media server or remote machine.  To confirm whether or not AOFO is installed on a machine, search for the file VSP.SYS in the <systemroot>\system32\drivers directory or check in System Information, Software Environment under Drivers. (Figure 2)

Figure 2
 

Note:  Only VSS can be used when backing up Windows 2008 Servers, so please do not attempt to either push out or perform a silent installation (local command line install) of the AOFO Option on these machines.  AOFO and the Remote Agent should also be un-installed prior to upgrading a previous version of Windows to Windows 2008 and then only the Remote Agent be installed after the upgrade has been completed.

II. The default settings for AOFO are "Automatically select open file technology" and "Process logical volumes for backup one at a time". (Figure 3)

Figure 3
 

If a combination of Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Servers are being backed up, it is usually best to leave the default setting of "Automatically select open file technology" selected to prevent AOFO Failures.  AOFO Backups of Windows 2000 Machines with Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) selected will fail because VSS only exists on Windows 2003 and above.  AOFO Backup of Windows 2003 Machines with only Symantec Volume Snapshot Provider selected will fail if Shadow Copy Components or System State are selected because only VSS can be used to back these items up.  

If Veritas Storage Foundation for Windows (VSFW) is either selected or installed, VSFW must be installed on both the media server and any remote machines being backed up.  This also applies to Hardware Snapshot Providers that may be installed. (Figure 4)

Figure 4
 

Note:  The Advanced Disk-based Backup Option (ADBO) cannot be selected in the Backup Job Properties unless VSFW or a Hardware Snapshot Technology Provider are installed on both the media server and remote machine being backed up. (Figure 5).

Figure 5
 

The "Process logical volumes for backup one at a time" Feature only allows one snapshot of each volume to be performed at a time and this can potentially help prevent failures on systems that have limited hardware resources available (i.e.: processor, physical memory, etc...).

Note:  By default, the AOFO Cache File is placed on the volume with the most free space not being snapped by the AOFO option backup.  If the volume being snapped is the only volume with available space, then the cache file is placed there.

III. Make sure the disk resources being backed up are not heavily fragmented and defragment the hard disks on a regular basis at a time when a backup job is not running.    http://support.veritas.com/docs/237444

IV.  Confirm each machine being backed up with AOFO has enough physical Random Access Memory (RAM) installed/available, the RAM is not mismatched, and is what the hardware manufacturer recommends/supports.

V. Make sure the anti-virus software is not configured to scan the AOFO Cache Folder at the same time a backup runs.
 http://support.veritas.com/docs/273392
 http://support.veritas.com/docs/257796

VI. Confirm in Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs that no other application is installed that also uses an open file technology and can conflict with AOFO (i.e.: St. Bernards Open Transaction Manager, ArcServe, etc...).

VII. To potentially resolve VSP Failures that still occur after performing the steps listed above, modify the default settings in the AOFO Wizard for the machine the failure occurred with.    http://support.veritas.com/docs/256762

VIII. If Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) Initialization Errors occur on Windows 2003, Exchange 2003, or Exchange 2007 Servers during a backup, first confirm all the latest patches have been applied for Backup Exec via either LiveUpdate or manually (re-install the Remote Agent afterward if the machine is remote).  If a backup still fails with a VSS Error afterward, run the VSS List Writer Command to check the writer status and then apply/re-apply the latest Windows or Exchange Service Pack if necessary.  A support case may also need to be opened with Microsoft.    http://support.veritas.com/docs/278212

IX. Do not backup files such as Backup to Disk Files (.BKF) or SQL Dump Files (.BAK) in the same backup job where AOFO has been selected.  It is not necessary to back these files up with AOFO and in some rare cases, AOFO can fail to initialize because of the files being selected in the Backup Job Properties.

For additional information on AOFO, please see the TechNote listed in the Related Documents Section below.

This document is available in the following languages:
French:
 http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/INTER/intl-on-technology.nsf/fr_docid/20080602145506975
German:
 http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/INTER/intl-on-technology.nsf/de_docid/20080602145543975
Italian:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/INTER/intl-on-technology.nsf/it_docid/20080602145609975



Supplemental Material:

System: Ref.#Description
UMI: V-79-57344-34110 AOFO Initialization Failure

Products Applied:
 Backup Exec 10.0, 10.0 5484, 10.0 5520, 10d (10.1), 10d (10.1) 5629, 11d (11.0), 11d (11.0) 6235, 11d (11.0) 7170, 12.0, 12.5, 9.1, 9.1 4691
Last Updated: June 08 2009 04:15 AM GMT
Expires on: 06-08-2010
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Subjects:
 Backup Exec
   Application: Backup, How To, Open File Option, Troubleshooting

Languages:
 English (US)

Operating Systems:
Windows 2000

Advanced Server, Server

Windows Server 2003

Enterprise Server, Standard Server

Windows Small Business Server 2003

Premium Edition, Standard Edition