The Shadow copy components/system state backups for current windows systems always use vss for the backup. The Shadow copy components/system state backups are a two stage process. The first stage backups up the components to files written to the system drive. The second stage has netbackup backing up the files created in stage 1. What does this mean?

It means exactly what it says. The SCC is first 'exported' to some files on the disk. Then these files are backed up. Why ? The SCC is like a running database - you cannot backup a running database just by coping the files. So, the data in the SCC is 'exported' to flat files in a form that it can be restored from. This flat file are created on the disk. The 2nd part, then writes these flat files to tape. Martin

Shadow Copy (Volume Snapshot Service or Volume Shadow Copy Service or VSS), is a technology included in Microsoft Windows that allows taking manual or automatic backup copies or snapshots of data, even if it has a lock, on a specific volume at a specific point in time over regular intervals. It is implemented as a Windows service called the Volume Shadow Copy service. A software VSS provider service is also included as part of Windows to be used by Windows applications. Shadow Copy technology requires the file system to be NTFS to be able to create and store shadow copies. Shadow Copies can be created on local and external (removable or network) volumes by any Windows component that uses this technology, such as when creating a scheduled Windows Backup or automatic System Restore point. So, What is the correlation? Well, Backup Exec uses VSS to perform System State and Shadow Copy Component backups. Volume Shadow Copy also uses VSS as well. It may be that when Volume Shadow Copies are enabled on a volume, then VSS uses the specified free space, and when they are disabled, then Backup Exec uses an alternate free space for the file changes during the backup. Its been awhile since I tested that area of the product, so I'm going from memory here. and things may have changed.

This means .. in a simple words Lets take example we hav win2k3 client connected with netbackup master. now u want to take bakup of this win2k3 box by snapshot. now u hav C: drive wth 100 GB, D: drive with 200 GB , E: drive with 200 GB & F: drive with 200 GB on win2k3 so when u initate backup from master, Windows OS will start taking snapshot for each drive on windows box (this means 1st stage as posted above) & after few seconds snapshot creation will complete on OS level. now netbackup will start pulling that already created snapshot via network from client to netbackup media server.(this means 2nd stage as posted above) after few min you can see data started writing on tape in activity monitor .....simple

by the way we are happy to see that you started reading manuals

so where he OS WILL STORE THE SNAPSHOT? aNY SETTINGS THAT CAN BE DONE? aND WHAT AFTER THE BACKUP?iS THAT FILE AUTOMATIVALLY DELETES?

NIKHIL, please release the Caps Lock on your keyboard. When you type everything in UPPERCASE it looks like you are SHOUTING at us. NOT NICE!

Shadow copy components/system state backups are a two stage process.

14 Replies

Manjunath_Rajan
Level 4
13 years ago
Shadow Copy (Volume Snapshot Service or Volume Shadow Copy Service or VSS), is a technology included in Microsoft Windows that allows taking manual or automatic backup copies or snapshots of data, even if it has a lock, on a specific volume at a specific point in time over regular intervals. It is implemented as a Windows service called the Volume Shadow Copy service. A software VSS provider service is also included as part of Windows to be used by Windows applications. Shadow Copy technology requires the file system to be NTFS to be able to create and store shadow copies. Shadow Copies can be created on local and external (removable or network) volumes by any Windows component that uses this technology, such as when creating a scheduled Windows Backup or automatic System Restore point.

So, What is the correlation? Well, Backup Exec uses VSS to perform System State and Shadow Copy Component backups. Volume Shadow Copy also uses VSS as well. It may be that when Volume Shadow Copies are enabled on a volume, then VSS uses the specified free space, and when they are disabled, then Backup Exec uses an alternate free space for the file changes during the backup. Its been awhile since I tested that area of the product, so I'm going from memory here. and things may have changed.
Yogesh9881
Level 6
13 years ago
This means ..

in a simple words Lets take example

we hav win2k3 client connected with netbackup master. now u want to take bakup of this win2k3 box by snapshot.

now u hav C: drive wth 100 GB, D: drive with 200 GB , E: drive with 200 GB & F: drive with 200 GB on win2k3

so when u initate backup from master, Windows OS will start taking snapshot for each drive on windows box (this means 1st stage as posted above) & after few seconds snapshot creation will complete on OS level.

now netbackup will start pulling that already created snapshot via network from client to netbackup media server.(this means 2nd stage as posted above) after few min you can see data started writing on tape in activity monitor .....simple
Yogesh9881
Level 6
13 years ago
by the way we are happy to see that you started reading manuals
mph999
Level 6
13 years ago
It means exactly what it says.

The SCC is first 'exported' to some files on the disk.

Then these files are backed up.

Why ?

The SCC is like a running database - you cannot backup a running database just by coping the files. So, the data in the SCC is 'exported' to flat files in a form that it can be restored from. This flat file are created on the disk. The 2nd part, then writes these flat files to tape.

Martin
NIKHIL234656595
Level 6
13 years ago
so where he OS WILL STORE THE SNAPSHOT?

aNY SETTINGS THAT CAN BE DONE?

aND WHAT AFTER THE BACKUP?iS THAT FILE AUTOMATIVALLY DELETES?
Marianne
Level 6
13 years ago
NIKHIL, please release the Caps Lock on your keyboard.

When you type everything in UPPERCASE it looks like you are SHOUTING at us.

NOT NICE!
mph999
Level 6
13 years ago
Don't know where it is stored personally, it should be deleted after backup, or at least overwritten on the next backup if not.

Why should you want any setings ?

Remeber this point I keep telling you - if it is working, leave it alone.

I think you are referring to VSS - this is Microsoft and not a NetBackup query.

http://www.risefly.com/help/vss.htm

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_volume_shadow_copy.htm

Martin
revarooo
Level 6
13 years ago
Yes it is deleted after, it's basically a snapshot / point in time reference for the backup to capture it.
NIKHIL234656595
Level 6
13 years ago
What in case of VSS?
NIKHIL234656595
Level 6
13 years ago
In case of VSS,files from disk is aldo deleted?