3831408 - MaxDB: Data backup fails with host file I/O error (return code -903)

• MaxDB data backup fails with host file I/O error (return code -903)
  
  

• dbm.prt
  
  2026-09-28 22:45:03      20069 INF        283 DBMSrv   Command 'backup_start COM' is being executed.
  2026-09-28 22:45:03      20069 INF          1 DBMKnl   Sending an administrative statement to the database ABC on computer localhost
                           20069 INF          8 DBMKnl   Statement:  SAVE DATA QUICK TO  '<target dir>' FILE BLOCKSIZE 8 NO CHECKPOINT MEDIANAME 'COM'
  2026-09-28 22:45:37      20069 ERR          3 DBMKnl   Received the result of an administrative statement from the database ABC on computer localhost
                           20069 ERR          9 DBMKnl   Statement:  SAVE DATA QUICK TO  '<target dir>' FILE BLOCKSIZE 8 NO CHECKPOINT MEDIANAME 'COM'
                           20069 ERR         10 DBMKnl   Returncode: -903
                           20069 ERR          5 DBMKnl   Errortext:  Host file I/O error
                           

• Knlmsg
                          
  2026-09-28 22:45:37 ERR Backup         3:  Data backup failed,_FILE=Kernel_Administration+noPIC.cpp,_LINE=2003
  2026-09-28 22:45:35     SrvTasks      17:  Servertask Info: because Error in backup task occured
  2026-09-28 22:45:35     SrvTasks      10:  Job 1 (Backup / Restore Medium Task) [executing] WaitingT22 Result=3700
  2026-09-28 22:45:35     KernelComm     6:  Error in backup task occured, Error code 3700 "hostfile_error"
  2026-09-28 22:45:35     Backup         1:  Backupmedium #1 (<target dir>) Cannot open config file /sapdb/ABC/data/
  2026-09-28 22:45:35     KernelComm     6:  Backup error occured, Error code 3700 "hostfile_error
  
  

   

• Previously "too many open files" found in kernel message file
  
  2026-09-27 22:45:34     SAVE       52101:  Filetype: file
  2026-09-27 22:45:35     SAVE       52024:  200 pages -> "lobcaching/ABC/DB/ABC_COM"
  2026-09-27 22:45:40     SAVE       52024:  14600 pages -> "bcaching/ABC/DB/ABC_COM"
  2026-09-27 22:45:45     SAVE       52024:  86200 pages -> "bcaching/ABC/DB/ABC_COM"
  2026-09-27 22:45:49 ERR IPC        11311:  idfile: '/usr/spool/sql/ipc/db:ABC//-m22413355' open error, Too many open files
  2026-09-27 22:45:49 ERR IPC        11285:  create_shm: creating id file failed

• SAP system running on MaxDB database
• Operation system: Linux or Unix

MaxDB, data backup, -903, host file I/O error, 3700, hostfile_error, backup_start, SAVE DATA QUICK, cannot open config file, too many open files, ulimit, nofile, open files limit, sdbgloballistener, file backup , KBA , BC-DB-SDB , MaxDB , Problem