Error Backup

[Jose Romero]

Dear Community, could you guide me with this error that appears in the backup log? As background, it works correctly, I just don't know what changed.

sdff@ithfhwds3 vbr]$ more vbr_2026-05-07-172229_XJV3DRDC.log
2026-05-07 17:22:29 localhost vbr VBR log initialized.
2026-05-07 17:22:29 localhost vbr Command line: /opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py --task backup --config-file /opt/vertica/bin/backup_diario_vertica_pm.ini
2026-05-07 17:22:29 localhost vbr Getting cluster information.
2026-05-07 17:22:30 localhost vbr Getting information for database: drdata.
2026-05-07 17:22:32 localhost vbr Launching rsync daemon on "ithfhwdnpmrap03".
2026-05-07 17:22:32 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python -V || true']
2026-05-07 17:22:33 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python']
2026-05-07 17:22:33 localhost rsyncd_launcher Output from rsync launcher:
2026-05-07 17:22:33 localhost rsyncd_launcher Transfer Server process entry: pid 116838.
  Acquiring remoteServer mutex.
  Acquired remoteServer mutex.
  ps aux | grep rsync | grep -v grep | grep daemon | grep port=50000
  
  A new Rsync daemon has started.
  Released mutex.
  
2026-05-07 17:22:33 localhost vsql /opt/vertica/bin/vsql -q -t -X -ddrdata -p5433 -Upmadmin -h10.59.2.210
2026-05-07 17:22:33 localhost vbr Checking node connectivity.
2026-05-07 17:22:36 localhost vbr All nodes reachable.
2026-05-07 17:22:36 localhost vbr Making temp directories.
2026-05-07 17:22:36 localhost vbr Making lock directories.
2026-05-07 17:22:36 localhost vbr Locking nodes.
2026-05-07 17:22:36 localhost vbr Locked nodes.
2026-05-07 17:22:37 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python -V || true']
2026-05-07 17:22:37 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python -V || true']
2026-05-07 17:22:37 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python -V || true']
2026-05-07 17:22:37 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python']
2026-05-07 17:22:38 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python']
2026-05-07 17:22:38 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthe
nticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python']
2026-05-07 17:22:50 localhost vsql /opt/vertica/bin/vsql -q -t -X -ddrdata -p5433 -Upmadmin -h10.59.2.210
2026-05-07 17:22:50 localhost location_locker Error terminating locker process: [Errno 3] No such process.
2026-05-07 17:22:50 localhost location_locker Error terminating locker process: [Errno 3] No such process.
2026-05-07 17:22:50 localhost location_locker Error terminating locker process: [Errno 3] No such process.
2026-05-07 17:22:50 localhost vbr Error: Error locking backup location.  Another vbr task is currently running: unknown.
  Backup FAILED.
[sfffdf@sdfdvbr]$ 

I performed a manual execution to see if it would work

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[Mohammed Alfakhrany]

Hi Jose,

This error occurs because the Vertica Backup and Restore (vbr.py) utility detects that your backup destination is currently "locked."

Whenever a Vertica backup runs, it places a hidden lock file in the backup destination directory to prevent two backups from running at the same time and corrupting your data. The message Another vbr task is currently running: unknown (especially with the No such process lines right above it) tells us that vbr sees a lock, but cannot find an active process attached to it.

This issue is detailed in the following KB, Please go through the resolution in it:

KB : Vertica backup fails with "Another vbr task is currently running" error in CA Performance Management (CAPM)

After this, if there are still problems, then 

• Check your configuration file to find your exact backup target directory. You can usually find it under the [Mapping] or [Misc] section:

  Bash

  cat /opt/vertica/bin/backup_diario_vertica_pm.ini
  

• Navigate to that backup destination directory on your backup host  wherever the storage is mounted.

• Look for a hidden .lock file. It will typically be located at the root of the backup directory.

• Delete the orphaned lock file:

  Bash

  rm -f /path/to/your/backup/dir/.lock
  

• Re-run your vbr.py command. It should now proceed normally.

Thanks

 

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[Jose Romero]

Thanks for your reply. The backup was running normally until a certain date. Regarding the .lock files, I found and deleted them, and I also checked the vbr and rsync processes to ensure they weren't interfering with the new manual run.

In summary, my test was:

Deleting the .lock files
Killing the vbr and rsync processes to ensure a clean run
Running the backup manually

But it's still giving the error

-------------------------------------------

[Mohammed Alfakhrany]

Hi Jose,

What's the location of the backup? Is it local or Network Accessible Storage (NAS)? If NAS, has anything changed in permissions?

Maybe take a look at /var/log/messages and search for vbr.py. See if any errors are generated at the OS level for file locking.

-------------------------------------------

[Jose Romero]

The backup path is an NFS v3 drive. I can't see the log you mentioned because I don't have permission to view it with my user account. I was able to run a debug command, though.

tKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthenticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python']
2026-05-12 15:43:15 localhost backup_python ['ssh', '-T', '-x', '-o', 'ServerAliveInterval=60', '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-o', 'ExitOnForwardFailure=yes', '-o', 'PasswordAuthentication=no', '-o', 'StrictHo
stKeyChecking=no', '-oNoHostAuthenticationForLocalhost=yes', 'ithfhwdnpmrap03', '/opt/vertica/oss/python/bin/python']
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost vsql /opt/vertica/bin/vsql -q -t -X -ddrdata -p5433 -Upmadmin -h10.59.2.210
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost vsql select log_vbr_invocations('Full Backup Task', '/tmp/vbr/vbr_2026-05-12-154307_13KEY366.log', 'KIHX40DU6GGFP75NK9AVKY5DO8MNZ71Q', 'Fail');
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost vsql Read from vsql: Logged vbr invocations
2026-05-12 15:43:28 10.59.2.208 vbr File unlocked: 6
2026-05-12 15:43:28 10.59.2.209 vbr File unlocked: 6
2026-05-12 15:43:28 10.59.2.210 vbr File unlocked: 6
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost location_locker Error terminating locker process: [Errno 3] No such process.
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost location_locker Error terminating locker process: [Errno 3] No such process.
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost location_locker Error terminating locker process: [Errno 3] No such process.
2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost vbr Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9950, in main
      if vbr_task.run():
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 4915, in run
      self._setup_hosts()
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 5303, in _setup_hosts
      self._lock_backup_locations()
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 5426, in _lock_backup_locations
      self._backup_locker.lock_locations(self._identity)
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9166, in lock_locations
      Parallel.foreach(lock_location, self._get_backup_lock_locations(self._database_info))
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9632, in foreach
      cls.map(func, iterable, threads_num=threads_num)
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9611, in map
      if not thr.join(Parallel.WAIT_QUANTUM):
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9587, in join
      return self._thr.join(*args, **kwargs)
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9541, in run
      super(Parallel.CancellableThread, self).run()
    File "/opt/vertica/oss/python/lib/python2.7/threading.py", line 763, in run
      self.__target(*self.__args, **self.__kwargs)
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9575, in do_run
      self._result = func(val)
    File "/opt/vertica/bin/vbr.py", line 9154, in lock_location
      raise VbrError(err_msg)
  VbrError: Error locking backup location.  Another vbr task is currently running: unknown.

2026-05-12 15:43:28 localhost vbr Error: Error locking backup location.  Another vbr task is currently running: unknown.

-------------------------------------------

[Jose Romero]

Thank you for your response; it turned out to be the way they have NFS registered.

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