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Mr_M_Cox's avatar
Mr_M_Cox
Level 3
12 years ago

MS Exchange VSS Error stopping backup completing

Hi All,

My daily backup jo is failing due to an error with the MS Exchange VSS writer. The code I am getting back from BE 21.1 is e000fed1. I have run the list vsswriter command adn they are all showing as stable and no error but i guess this is becuase the backup failed some time ago over night and the writer has sorted it self out by now.

I have searched the forums here and varioud articles I found on a google search but n one has really confirmed that any of the many suggested fixes work. I have tried impletenting a script to run pre backup which look like this -

@echo Starting VSS Writer Service restart...
net stop "volume shadow copy"

@echo Service Stopped--------------------

net start "volume shadow copy"

 

but, despite advise telling me it would help, the back up still failed last night.

 

Any concludsive suggestion of a fix would be much appreciated as I currently I cant spot the right fix from all the various "try this, try that" suggestions.

Thanks.

12.x and Earlier
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Windows Server (2003-2008)
  • VJware's avatar
    VJware
    12 years ago

    Use this KB - http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH143084

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  • VJware's avatar
    VJware
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    If Exchange is on a Windows Server 2003, you can apply this VSS patch - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940349

    And ensure AOFO is disabled from the Exchange backup job properties. On the Exchange server, ensure the Volume Shadow Copy service & MS Software Shadow Copy Provider service are stopped & set to manual.

     

  • Mr_M_Cox's avatar
    Mr_M_Cox
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Thanks for the info VJware. Doese it alter you guidance that they are running on SBS?

  • VJware's avatar
    VJware
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Nopes.

    And do ensure the Exchange backup's schedule doesn't conflict with exchange maintenance.

    Lastly, any VSS (or volsnap or ESENT) errors logged in the application log - event viewer during the backup job failure ?

  • Mr_M_Cox's avatar
    Mr_M_Cox
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Thanks VJ,

    Just going through your points.

    I can confirmthe AOFO is disabled. Do i really want to set the services you mentioned to manual? Is this beucase of the script I posted doing the start stop for me or just that they should be set that way anyway?

    Cant see any VSS, volsnap or ESENT errors in event viewer app logs. Just a few VSS info logs to say that the service is shutting down due to idle timout.

  • Mr_M_Cox's avatar
    Mr_M_Cox
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Thanks,

    Is there anyway to test this without actually running the job? When i run a "Test Run" from the job menu it is successful, I guess becuase it doesnt go as far as to dealwiththe VSS writers.

  • Mr_M_Cox's avatar
    Mr_M_Cox
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Also, I have just checked and both services are set as manual and are stopped.

    So far all checks have come back as ok. Any other thoughts as so far I hvent actually changed anything :-(

  • Mr_M_Cox's avatar
    Mr_M_Cox
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Just made a bit of a discovery. When I run the vssadmin list writers command I get the result back with no errors on any writer. When I check the BE job log it shows the error on the MS Exchange Writer.

    Turns out that authough the names of the Writer are the same the ID is not. So i guess the question I have is why is the MS exhcnage which is failing not showing in the vss list and then with this new info, has a fix become any more obvious?

    Any more help would be much appreacited.

    Thanks.

  • VJware's avatar
    VJware
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Use this KB - http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH143084

  • Mr_M_Cox's avatar
    Mr_M_Cox
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Looking at the KB by doing this I am going to disable the exchange VSS writer, is this correct?

    What does this do/achieve?

    I ahve just checked and I dont have the DWORD entry i the reg so i will add it now pending, hopfully, some info about what disabling will do.

    Thanks VJware, your a star!