NetBackup VMware backups using SQL Server Application Protection fails showing unimplemented error code 114(114)

Problem

NetBackup VMware backups using SQL Server application protection fails showing unimplemented error code 114(114)

Error Message

Job Details:

 3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - Info nbjm(pid=5004) starting backup job (jobid=1546618) for client clientname.hostname.net, policy FB-SQL, schedule Monthly 
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - Info nbjm(pid=5004) requesting MEDIA_SERVER_ONLY resources from RB for backup job (jobid=1546618, request id:{F6B1F06B-FE1E-4C2D-84AE-DCC8B8DBEF46}) 
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - requesting resource NBMEDIA-HCART2
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - requesting resource 9413-veritas.NBU_CLIENT.MAXJOBS.CLIENTNAME.hostname.net
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - requesting resource 9413-veritas.NBU_POLICY.MAXJOBS.FB-SQL
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - granted resource 9413-veritas.NBU_CLIENT.MAXJOBS.CLIENTNAME.hostname.net
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - granted resource 9413-veritas.NBU_POLICY.MAXJOBS.FB-SQL
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - estimated 0 Kbytes needed
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - begin Parent Job
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - begin Application State Capture, Step By Condition
Status 0
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - end Application State Capture, Step By Condition; elapsed time: 00:00:00
3/31/2012 9:18:44 AM - begin Application State Capture, Application State Capture
3/31/2012 9:19:08 AM - Warning ascc(pid=9296) MSSQL: Cannot connect to instance: CLIENTNAME\MSSQLSERVER      
3/31/2012 9:19:09 AM - Critical ascc(pid=9296) MSSQL: MSSQL application state capture failed      
Status 114
3/31/2012 9:19:09 AM - end Application State Capture, Application State Capture; elapsed time: 00:00:25
Status 114
3/31/2012 9:19:09 AM - end Parent Job; elapsed time: 00:00:25
unimplemented error code 114(114)

Errors in Application Log (Event Viewer) at the Backup Host:

 Event 24583

Log Name:      Application
Source:        SQLWRITER
Date:          4/3/2012 9:37:39 AM
Event ID:      24583
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      COMPUTERNAME.hostname.net
Description:
Sqllib error: OLEDB Error encountered calling IDBInitialize::Initialize. hr = 0x80040e4d. SQLSTATE: 28000, Native Error: 18456
Error state: 1, Severity: 14
Source: Microsoft SQL Server Native Client 10.0
Error message: Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM'.
DBPROP_INIT_DATASOURCE: COMPUTERNAME
DBPROP_INIT_CATALOG: master
DBPROP_AUTH_INTEGRATED: SSPI
 

Cause

Credentials used for starting (Log on as) the SQL VSS Writer service are not part of the sysadmin role in SQL Server.

Normally the SYSTEM account is part of Built-in Administrators group on the box if it is not removed due to security hardening.

Solution

Grant sysadmin permissions to the System account (NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM) on all SQL Server instances that are installed and online on the server where you are trying to perform the VSS backup or use another  local/domain account/group that has sysadmin permissions on the SQL Server online instances for the "Log on as" account that starts the SQL VSS Writer service.

For more information,refer to Microsoft KB article:  SQL Server 2005 connectivity and Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)