When using the Oracle supplied test utility "sbttest" with NetBackup, it fails with error:- "MMAPI error from sbtcommand: 7501, sbtcommand: Syntax error, space found in key word :

Problem

Running the Oracle sbttest program with the NetBackup for Oracle agent results in the error noted below.  However, backups via RMAN are successful using both scripts and templates.  Should this message be of concern?
 

Error Message

Exact output obtained from sbttest utility:

$ $ORACLE_HOME/bin/sbttest test_s1_p1

The sbt function pointers are loaded from libobk.so library.
-- sbtinit succeeded
-- sbtinit (2nd time) succeeded
sbtinit: Media manager supports SBT API version x.0
sbtinit: Media manager is version x.0.0.0
sbtinit: vendor description string=VERITAS NetBackup for Oracle - Release x.x GA (00000000)
sbtinit: allocated sbt context area of 0 bytes
sbtinit: proxy copy is supported
-- sbtinit2 succeeded
-- regular_backup_restore starts ................................
-- sbtbackup succeeded
write 100 blocks
-- sbtwrite2 succeeded
-- sbtclose2 succeeded
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_NAME=veritas
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_SHARE=single user
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_ORDER=sequential access
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_LABEL=A00004
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_CRETIME=Sat Aug 31 12:43:07 2002
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_EXPTIME=Sat Sep 7 12:43:07 2002
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_COMMENT=Backup ID : sptsunnb57_1030794187
sbtinfo2: SBTBFINFO_METHOD=stream
-- sbtinfo2 succeeded
-- sbtrestore succeeded
file was created by this program:
seed=76573757, blk_size=16384, blk_count=100
read 100 buffers
-- sbtread2 succeeded
-- sbtclose2 succeeded
-- sbtremove2 succeeded
-- regular_backup_restore ends ................................
MMAPI error from sbtcommand: 7501, sbtcommand: Syntax error, space found in key word : <test sbtcommand string>
-- sbtcommand failed
 

Cause

The sbttest program performs a database, restore, and then requests NetBackup to delete the image.  All of these steps are successful.

But then sbttest emulates this RMAN command:

     SEND 'test sbtcommand string';

The synatx of the string is defined by the MML and not by Oracle.  NetBackup does not expect any spaces in the string so it returns a failure to sbttest.  See the NetBackup for Oracle Admin Guide for valid SEND syntax examples.
 

Solution

The sbtcommand failure in the sbttest output can be ignored, it is not a valid test.

Applies To

Any version of current NetBackup
Any version of current Oracle.