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Hyper-V VSS Writer Missing on Windows 2016

rossxu
Level 4

I am trying to back up VMs over Hyper-V host on Windows Server 2016, but I get Snapshot error 156.

I have verified all the settings, and it seems the only thing unusual is the "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" is missing when I run "C:\> vssadmin list writers" from the Hyper-V host:

There is no problem with the Hyper-V on Windows Server 2012R2, because I can see the Hyper-V VSS Writer.

Some articles say that we need to manually register the Hyper-V VSS Writer to Registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT
\CurrentVersion\WindowsServerBackup\Application Support\{66841CD4-6DED-4F4B-8F17-FD23F8DDC3DE}

But I don't think it's necessary, because the registry on my Windows 2012R2 has the WindowsServerBackup node and it only has a key that is set as (Default) , REG_SZ, (value not set) value, even though the "vssadmin list writers" shows the Hyper-V VSS Writer.

On the other hand, I have manually added the registry key above to the Windows Server 2016, but I still can not see the Hyper-V VSS Writer displayed.

The question is, does the NetBackup 8.0 still need the Hyper-V VSS Writer, and how to enable it if still required?

3 REPLIES 3

Thiago_Ribeiro
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited
Hi
I found this from Netbackup for Hyper-v Admin Guide, did you already check?

Updates to this guide for NetBackup 8.0 This revision adds information on features for faster backup and recovery of Hyper-V virtual machines on Windows Server 2016.

Table 1-1 NetBackup8.0features for Hyper-V virtual machines on Windows Server 2016

Feature Description WMI backup method These NetBackup 8.0 features for Hyper-V use the WMI backup method. (These features do not use VSS.) For support notes and requirements for these new Hyper-V features, see Support for NetBackup in virtual environments at the following location: http://www.veritas.com/docs/000006177 See “Creating a Hyper-V policy from the NetBackup Policies utility” on page 35.

Regards,

Thiago

Thank you, Thiago.

Yes, I have read the Admin Guide. NetBackup 8.0 supports both VSS and WMI, and I choose to use VSS.

Any idea about the missing of Hyper-V VSS Writer?

 

Thiago_Ribeiro
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Hi,

OK, thats's good. I believe that there is something wrong from Windows side, because all of these TN below are pointing  to enable Hyper-V on Windows, and you already check the requirements to enable Hyper-V backups according to Netbackup Admin Guide.

Probably you already read these TN, but take a look from Veritas TN, there something about Hyper-V backup process.

Microsoft

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23561902/Can-not-see-Microsoft-Hyper-V-VSS-Writer-after-i...

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/1bb97ba8-bd8e-43c7-97a0-421054828990/microsof...

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2008/08/20/how-to-enable-windows-server-backup-support-f...

Veritas

https://vox.veritas.com/t5/NetBackup/VSS-Snapshots-on-virtual-clients-with-Hyper-V-on-CSV/td-p/55131...

Regards,

Thiago