Knowledge Base

Switch from full to simple recovery model to resolve the issue

This article applies to:

• Acronis Recovery for MS SQL Server

Symptoms

1. Using Acronis Recovery for MS SQL Server you are trying to back up a master database, which is set to full recovery model;
2. The backup operation fails with an error message similar to the following one:

   Failed to create backup of database 'master' from Microsoft SQL Server
   '(local)'."

   The backup/restore SQL command fails before VD transfer.

   Failed to execute the SQL statement 'BACKUP LOG [master] TO
   VIRTUAL_DEVICE='C34F6EFA9D80414A82SL0793D9174TRI' WITH NAME =
   N'C34F6EFA9D80414A82SL0793D9174TRI', BLOCKSIZE = 65536, MAXTRANSFERSIZE =
   4194304, BUFFERCOUNT = 32'." line_tag="0xB19B368B2754D24D"/>

   42000 (4212): [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Cannot back up the
   log of the master database. Use BACKUP DATABASE instead."

   42000 (3013): [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]BACKUP LOG is
   terminating abnormally.

Cause

A master database is set to full recovery model for the purpose of backward compatibility with Microsoft SQL. In fact, when set to full recovery model the database still operates as if it were set to simple model, and it does not allow transaction log backups.

Acronis Recovery for MS SQL Server fails on the attempt to back up the transaction logs.

See also Microsoft MSDN Article: Recovery Models for System Databases.

Solution

Set the master database from full to simple recovery model:

• Open SQL Management Studio;
• Locate your master database, right-click on it and choose Properties;
• Go to the Options section and change the recovery model from full to simple.

Reattempt the backup operation.

More information

Feel free to contact Acronis Customer Central if you have further questions or need assistance.