Backup-SPFarm error – The backup job failed

In response to a user query on www.windows2008forums.co.uk I have managed to replicate the error generated while using the Backup-SPFarm command to backup an entire farm.

Backup-SPFarm -BackupMethod Full -Directory D:\Backups\

The After trawling through the spbackup.log file I found the following entries:

[27/06/2013 20:25:55] Verbose: Starting object: Data Connections.
[27/06/2013 20:25:55] Warning: [WEBBWORLD_Config] Cannot open backup device ‘D:\Backups\spbr0000\000000A0.bak’. Operating system error 3(failed to retrieve text for this error. Reason: 15105).
BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

This led me to believe that there was a problem accessing the folder specified to store the backup files when trying to backup the SQL database.  Changing permissions on the Backups folder didn’t fix it and then I realised the SQL databases are held on another server, so shared the folder and specified the UNC path:

Backup-SPFarm -BackupMethod Full –Directory \\WW-SP-APP\Backups

The backup completed without error!