Does Exchange Agent Automatically Use AOFO?

[richlich]

We are having some AOFO issues (apparently) when backing up our Exchange 2007 mailstores. We get a catastrophic failure (ox8000ffff) when the backup is apparently trying to use the Msft VSS. The thing is, the backup job explicitly does not have AOFO enabled! So, why are we even getting AOFO-related failures? (When trying to start the VSS service a "file not found" error is encountered and the VSS will not start.) 

[fabio_s]

Hello,

it seems I have the same issue. I just installed E2K7 SP1, and tried to backup a SG with no GRT and no AOFO.

It seems AOFO is used anyway, it automatically uses VSS, and ends with this error: 

AOFO: Initialization failure on: \\SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\SG01. Advanced Open File Option used: Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS).
VSS Snapshot error. The Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) snapshot provider selected returned: "Unexpected provider error". Ensure that all provider services are enabled and can be started. Check the Windows Event Viewer for details.

Consider the involved Exchange server has SCR configured (it is the source server).

[richlich]

Yep, seems like it must. And VSS issues are still causing us problems with our E2K7 stores backup. One issue was resolved: the path to the vssvc.exe in the Registry for the VSS service was missing (along with the equivalent for several others); but the backup is still failing with "catastrophic" errors re. VSS.

Wonder if either of us will ever get some feedback from Symantec on our respective VSS problems?