1476 - ESE warning: "SQL Server file can be backed up more consistently from the SQL view"

Symptom

A backup completes with the following warning in the ESE logs:

WARN  : The SQL Server file 'xx\xx\xxx' can be backed up more consistently from the SQL view

A similar warning is shown in the backup report.

Cause

This warning alerts you that the relevant database may not be selected for backup in the SQL view in ESE, which is required for error reporting. 

The way ESE determines whether files are SQL databases or just files that happen to use the LDF or MDF extension is by checking with the SQL VSS writer, and if that writer is not available, ESE treats those LDF/MDF files as flat files. This means their "last modified date" metadata will not be updated. As such, it appears to the agent that no changes have taken place. The agent assumes the files are identical to those in the last backup and does not resend any data, which means backups are not updated. 

Even if Full System Backup is enabled, if your databases are not selected for backup from the SQL view in ESE, you will not see any warnings in the logs when the VSS writer is offline, which means you will not be aware that there are potentially issues with your backups. The warning above is intended to help prevent this. Once your backup selection is set up in the optimal way, you will no longer receive this warning.

Solution

To stop receiving this warning, follow the steps below as applicable.

If the database is not yet selected in the SQL view in ESE:

1. Disable Full System Backup.
2. Go to the SQL view in ESE and select the relevant database/s for backup.
3. Re-enable Full System Backup and run a backup.
   

You can also find more detail in Article 1119.

If the database is already selected in the SQL view in ESE:

1. Exclude the relevant MDF/LDF files from the Files and Folders view in ESE.
2. Ensure that the database is still selected in the SQL view and run a backup.