WINSXS folder contents skipped during backup with BE 12.5 SP4

Hi ,

1 With BE 12.5 sp4 your are backing up win2008 r2 as remote server or 12.5 is installed on win2008 r2 itself & then you are taking local backup

2 Also have you tried taking backup of winsxs folder from windows server backup tool to see if that works

Thank You

1) The relevant Windows Server 2008 R2 is backed up via remote agent

2) I have done a Windows Server backup but didn't check, if WINSXS has been excluded there as well

Do you have any more clues?

Regards,

DiWi

I checked the backup done by Windows Server 2008 R2 and there the WINSXS folder exists (like in Backup Exec 12.5 SP4) but with contents.

I am using AOFO with Backup Exec 12.5 SP4 just to let you know!

So, Windows Server Backup creates a *.vhd file containing the contents of the WINSXS folder, where as Backup Exec 12.5 SP4 doesn't backup the contents of WINSXS, just the folder itself?

Strange? Am I alone?

Best regards

DiWi

Hi

What i see on lot of forum about winsxs folder is it contain hard link for the file in that folder so even if you skip that folder or if you exlcude it from backupexec that should be fine

To understand what winsxs is all about you can click on link below

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2008/09/17/what-is-the-winsxs-directory-in-windows-2008-and-windows-vista-and-why-is-it-so-large.aspx

Also let me know if win2008 backup server s/w is able to backup it up

Thank You

Well really, I did a lot of research but couldn't find much to skipped WINSXS folder in Backup Exec, just other backup applications, which fixed that sympton.

Maybe someone from Symantec could confirm, that Backup Exec has an error or maybe could confirm, that it's a normal behaviour that WINSXS folder is not backed up, cause it's not necessary for the recovery of a system.

To me, it's still strange that Windows Server Backup contains the content of the WINSXS folder and Backup Exec skips the contents! That makes me nervous!

Regards

DiWi

Hi

Is your backup using AOFO option

Also that folder would be backed from system state so if you are taking backup of system state then even if the folder is been skipped or is not backed up from windows should not be an issue

Thank You

1) Yes, Windows Server Backup makes a backup with the contents of WINSXS folder

2) Yes, I am using AOFO with Backup Exec 12.5 SP4

3) Yes, Backup Exec 12.5 SP4 Job is doing a System State Backup and the amount of data backed up is around 7GB

You mean, the contents of WINSXS is saved with the System State?

Best regards,

DiWi

...if you read carefully, you will see the poster mentions using AOFO on more than 1 occasion.

Hi DiWi,

That WinSxS folder refers to hardlinks to *.dll files etc on your system. Basically backing it up will back up your *.dlls all over again.

I would simply exclude it from your backups. Not sure that it includes your System State as the poster above mentions, as I haven't read anything that indicates it does. For this matter, continue backing up your System State as best practice.

Here is an external article to read up a bit more on it...

http://www.ghacks.net/2010/07/24/the-winsxs-folder-explained/

Laters!