Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Questions about Cobian Reflector
Post Reply
CraigD
Posts: 10
Joined: 11 Oct 2021, 17:38

Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by CraigD »

I have Reflector 0.9.18 installed on ServerA. I am trying to back up a folder tree from ServerB. The backup is stored on a NAS. Both servers are Server 2016.

There are files in the folder tree that do not get backed up. In other words, those files are not in the backup destination once the job is complete.

This is a very straightforward testing environment. I installed the software, added a new job, selected the source and destination locations, selected a schedule, and clicked Save. No other options were selected or changed.

The files in question are open in MS Word and/or MS Excel. What's odd is that the backup job reports them as being backed up. This is a very small folder tree I am using to test, and I can see the number of files being backed up. If I create another file the count (as reported in the backup log) goes up by 1, but there is no file in the backup destination folder.


Here is an example of the job log. In the previous log there were 4 files backed up. I created three additional files, so this log reports 7 - which is expected. However, the files are not in the destination folder.

2021-10-12 11:59:35 The directory "\\<servername>\RedirectedFolders\CRhinehart" has been backed up.
2021-10-12 11:59:35 * Backup part for task "New task" ended. Number of backed up files: 7. Backup part size: 387.52 KB. *
2021-10-12 11:59:35 ** Backup for task "New task" ended. Number of backed up files: 7. Created folders: 5461. Backup size: 387.52 KB. **
2021-10-12 11:59:35 Deleting the Volume Shadow Copy image...
2021-10-12 11:59:36 The Volume Shadow Copy image has been successfully deleted.
2021-10-12 11:59:37 The backup has ended without errors.
User avatar
cobian
Site Admin
Posts: 4492
Joined: 31 Oct 2020, 01:25
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by cobian »

Interesting. Can you provide a little more information so I canreproduce this issue?
--
Luis Cobian
Cobian Backup's creator
User avatar
cobian
Site Admin
Posts: 4492
Joined: 31 Oct 2020, 01:25
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by cobian »

BTW, what does the VERBOSE log file says about this task?
--
Luis Cobian
Cobian Backup's creator
CraigD
Posts: 10
Joined: 11 Oct 2021, 17:38

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by CraigD »

I set the logging to verbose. Do I need to go someplace else to see those logs?

Note the "2 files" backed up. I know the two files that *should be* in the backup, but they aren't there.

I don't know what to do in order for you to recreate this. I do know that I can run an xcopy and the files will be copied. I have experimented with a few other backup programs one of them also doesn't backup the files while another does.

Here is the log, but I don't know if the verbose log is somewhere else.

2021-10-12 13:57:00 The task New task (c9d81549-e6a3-4f49-8eb8-3a214e45bbb0) was added to the queue.
2021-10-12 13:57:01 A backup has started...
2021-10-12 13:57:01 Backing up the task "New task"
2021-10-12 13:57:01 Applying the parameters to the task "New task" (if any).
2021-10-12 13:57:01 Requesting the creation of a Volume Shadow Copy image for the source...
2021-10-12 13:57:03 The Volume Shadow Copy image has been successfully created.
2021-10-12 13:57:03 Starting the copy. The user running the task is: xxx
2021-10-12 13:57:03 The destination directory "\\s1\hourlybackup\Cobian Reflector\xxx 2021-10-12 13;57;03" has been successfully created.
2021-10-12 13:57:03 Backing up the directory "\\fs1\RedirectedFolders\xxx" to "\\s1\hourlybackup\Cobian Reflector\xxx 2021-10-12 13;57;03"...
2021-10-12 13:59:28 The timestamps have been copied from "\\fs1\RedirectedFolders\xxx" to "\\s1\hourlybackup\Cobian Reflector\xxx 2021-10-12 13;57;03".
2021-10-12 13:59:28 The directory "\\fs1\RedirectedFolders\xxx" has been backed up.
2021-10-12 13:59:28 * Backup part for task "New task" ended. Number of backed up files: 2. Backup part size: 386.72 KB. *
2021-10-12 13:59:28 A sub-backup item has been added to the database.
2021-10-12 13:59:28 ** Backup for task "New task" ended. Number of backed up files: 2. Created folders: 5461. Backup size: 386.72 KB. **
2021-10-12 13:59:28 A backup item has been added to the database.
2021-10-12 13:59:28 Deleting the Volume Shadow Copy image...
2021-10-12 13:59:29 The Volume Shadow Copy image has been successfully deleted.
2021-10-12 13:59:30 The backup has ended without errors.
2021-10-12 13:59:30 Getting the backup history for the task "c9d81549-e6a3-4f49-8eb8-3a214e45bbb0"...
CraigD
Posts: 10
Joined: 11 Oct 2021, 17:38

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by CraigD »

hold on... something odd is going on. I'm running further tests, but it appears as though perhaps the files ARE there and are hidden. However, I can't see them with File Explorer - even though I have the Hidden Files checkbox checked.

If I Shift-right click that folder and select "open command window here" and then run an "attrib *.docx" command it shows me the files. What is going on here?? Why can't I see those files with File Explorer? That actually IS important, since I'll be using File Explorer if I ever want to recover those files.


Doing additional testing and experimentation now... trying to verify my facts.


EDIT: Nope. The actual files aren't there. It's only some sort of temporary file that's present. From my Command prompt where I do see some files, I removed the Hidden flag (attrib *.* -h) and now I can see them in Explorer. However, they all begin with "~$" and are all 1K in size. They aren't the "real" files. I guess the real files actually aren't getting backed up for some reason.
Last edited by CraigD on 12 Oct 2021, 20:52, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
cobian
Site Admin
Posts: 4492
Joined: 31 Oct 2020, 01:25
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by cobian »

Are you using compression in this task?
--
Luis Cobian
Cobian Backup's creator
CraigD
Posts: 10
Joined: 11 Oct 2021, 17:38

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by CraigD »

No, no compression
User avatar
cobian
Site Admin
Posts: 4492
Joined: 31 Oct 2020, 01:25
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by cobian »

The verbose log is set by changing the log level at Options-Log. This should show every file operation.
--
Luis Cobian
Cobian Backup's creator
CraigD
Posts: 10
Joined: 11 Oct 2021, 17:38

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by CraigD »

I did set that. Does the service have to be restarted afterward?
User avatar
cobian
Site Admin
Posts: 4492
Joined: 31 Oct 2020, 01:25
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Reflector isn't backing up certain open files

Post by cobian »

No, there is no need. Check also Log individual files and try again.
--
Luis Cobian
Cobian Backup's creator
Post Reply