Long running backups

I've got a server (SQL 2K, Win2K) where the backups
have started running long.

The database is a bit largish -- 150GB or so. Up until
last month, the backups were taking on the order of
4 to 5 hours -- depending on the level of activity on the
server.

I'm using a T-SQL script in the SQLAgent to run the
backups. Native SQL backup to an AIT tape drive.

Now, for no apparent reason, the backups are taking
on the order of 24 to 26 hours. The backups complete
successfully -- no errors, just taking an outrageously
long time to complete. DBCCs check out AOK, no
problems with the database.

No changes to the machine. No hardware changes. No
software changes. Weird.

Multiple tape media have been tried -- it's not a case
of a tape going bad.

We've had no problems with this box for almost 4
years. Now it's gettin' jiggy with us!

Any ideas on where to start with this one?

Thanks in advance.I once had a server with sporadic slowness backing up to SCSI DLT. It would
work fine for a view weeks and turn slow for no apparent reason. The only
workaround was to cold boot the server, including the tape device, so it was
probably a hardware issue. Check the Windows event log to see if you have
related messages.

You might consider backing up to disk and then archiving the disk backups to
tape. You can greatly reduce the backup time and space requirements with
the third party SQL LiteSpeed product http://www.dbassociatesit.com/.

--
Hope this helps.

Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP

"Sgt. Sausage" <nobody@.nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:402c18d5$0$52145$a0465688@.nnrp.fuse.net...
> I've got a server (SQL 2K, Win2K) where the backups
> have started running long.
> The database is a bit largish -- 150GB or so. Up until
> last month, the backups were taking on the order of
> 4 to 5 hours -- depending on the level of activity on the
> server.
> I'm using a T-SQL script in the SQLAgent to run the
> backups. Native SQL backup to an AIT tape drive.
> Now, for no apparent reason, the backups are taking
> on the order of 24 to 26 hours. The backups complete
> successfully -- no errors, just taking an outrageously
> long time to complete. DBCCs check out AOK, no
> problems with the database.
> No changes to the machine. No hardware changes. No
> software changes. Weird.
> Multiple tape media have been tried -- it's not a case
> of a tape going bad.
> We've had no problems with this box for almost 4
> years. Now it's gettin' jiggy with us!
> Any ideas on where to start with this one?
> Thanks in advance.