How To Fix SMMSS_ALERTS007 - This alert shows if the last good backup is too old

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SMMSS_ALERTS - Message class for MSSQL rz20 messages

• Message number: 007

• Message text: This alert shows if the last good backup is too old

What causes this issue?

The definition of a backup being too old is dependent on the type of
system involved. A production system has threshholds of Green to Yellow
of 3 days and of Yellow to Red of 7 days. A system which is described
with any of the following; DEV, DVL, TEST, QUAL, or SAND, has the
threshholds set at 30 and 60 days respectively.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

If your backup is old, take a full database backup. If the threshholds
are not correct, right click and go to properties and set the values to
an appropriate level.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SMMSS_ALERTS007 - This alert shows if the last good backup is too old ?

  The SAP error message SMMSS_ALERTS007 indicates that the last successful backup of the system is considered too old. This alert is part of the SAP Solution Manager's monitoring capabilities, specifically related to the management of system backups. 
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this alert is that the backup retention policy has not been adhered to, meaning that the last successful backup was performed a long time ago, which could pose a risk to data integrity and recovery in case of a failure. This situation can arise due to various reasons, including:
  
  Backup Job Failures: Scheduled backup jobs may have failed due to various issues (e.g., storage issues, network problems, or configuration errors).
  Manual Intervention: Backups may not have been performed due to manual oversight or changes in the backup schedule.
  Configuration Issues: The backup configuration may not be set up correctly, leading to missed backups.
  Resource Constraints: Lack of resources (disk space, memory, etc.) may prevent backups from being executed.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the SMMSS_ALERTS007 alert, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Backup Status: Review the backup logs to determine when the last successful backup was performed and identify any failures in the backup jobs.
  
  
  Run a Backup: If the last backup is indeed too old, initiate a new backup immediately to ensure that you have a recent copy of your data.
  
  
  Investigate Failures: If backups are failing, investigate the root cause. Check for:
  
  Disk space availability
  Network connectivity issues
  Configuration settings in the backup tool
  Permissions and access rights for the backup process
  
  
  
  Adjust Backup Schedule: Ensure that your backup schedule is appropriate for your business needs. You may need to adjust the frequency of backups based on data change rates and recovery requirements.
  
  
  Monitor Regularly: Set up alerts and monitoring for backup jobs to ensure that you are notified of any failures or issues promptly.
  
  
  Documentation and Procedures: Ensure that there are documented procedures for backup and recovery, and that all relevant personnel are trained on these procedures.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Backup Types: Understand the different types of backups (full, incremental, differential) and their implications for recovery.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes related to backup and recovery for any specific recommendations or known issues.
  Backup Tools: Familiarize yourself with the backup tools being used (e.g., SAP HANA backup, third-party backup solutions) and their configurations.
  Disaster Recovery Plan: Ensure that you have a disaster recovery plan in place that includes regular testing of backups and recovery processes.
  
  By addressing the underlying issues that led to the alert and ensuring that backups are performed regularly, you can mitigate the risks associated with data loss and ensure compliance with your organization's data protection policies.