Windows VSS Backup

Question

Hey everyone,

I was just wondering if someone could give me a little information on how the Windows VSS backup works with the Avamar?

On all of my 2008 servers I see the option to select Windows VSS as part of the dataset to be backed up.

Is VSS used for backing up the whole system state (registry, system, etc), and is it neccessary to use Windows VSS if I would want to restore the whole intact server, kind of like a snapshot?

Thanks

Amol · Accepted Answer

With Avamar 5.x for Windows 2008 a new plugin was introduced, this plugin allows to take the backup system state using VSS (Volume Shadow copy Service)

While performing the backup of system state using Windows VSS plugin choose the option "Create Disaster Recovery Backup", this option will allow you to perform restore of the system using "Avamar disaster Recovery Wizard"

In case if Windows 2008 system crashes you need to burn the "AvamarWindowsSystemRecover x86.iso" to a CD , this iso can be found on "Documents and Download page"

Boot the crashed system from CD ROM and it will start Avamar Disaster Recovery Wizard, point the wizard to proper avamar server name and specify the details for the client . It will fetch the backup from avamar system and provide you the list, choose the appropriate backup and recover the system to that point.

I have attached a screenshot of Avamar Disaster Recovery Wizard for your reference.

Regards

Amol Powar

Schneiderdowns · Answer

Thanks for the thorough explanation, I really appreciate it.

Schneiderdowns · Answer

Just a quick follow up question:

If VSS is essentially backing up the whole system state, then is it necessary to backup the Windows File System(system drive C: for example); wouldn't this be redundant, or must both be backed up for disaster recovery?

Thanks again

Sameer_Khan · Answer

System Volume must be backed up in addition to system state in order to perform entire disaster recovery. Thanks and Regards, Sameer Khan

Arun_V1 · Answer

Thank You Amol I have 'Create Disaster Recovery Backup' opton enabled on VSS dadaset which backs up the system state . I do get this error on activity log '2011-08-11 17:29:04 avvss Warning <0000>: Files listed in Shadow Copy Optimization Writer are not supported by the Disaster Recovery backup. Skipping all files for this writer.' addition errors on same activity log 2011-08-11 17:31:55 avvss Warning <8273>: Can't get file System State/BootableSystemState/ASR (C:) attributes, assuming it's a file.2011-08-11 17:31:55 avvss Warning <8273>: Can't get file System State/BootableSystemState/System attributes, assuming it's a file.2011-08-11 17:31:55 avvss Warning <8273>: Can't get file System State/BootableSystemState/Registry attributes, assuming it's a file.2011-08-11 17:31:55 avvss Warning <8273>: Can't get file System State/BootableSystemState/Com+ DB attributes, assuming it's a file.2011-08-11 17:31:55 avvss Warning <8273>: Can't get file system state/wmi attributes, assuming it's a file.2011-08-11 17:31:55 avvss Warning <8273>: Can't get file System State/File Server attributes, assuming it's a file. Many thanks in advance

DMG2 · Answer

Was there an answer to this?  I have the same issue.

sxp0007 · Answer

Hi,

I'm trying to do a BMR restore using Avamar Recovery Wizard. after selecting the backup date, no volumes are displayed, and i get an error on the next step. " Error retrieving the list of critical volumes using a backup label of '5152' and command line options of '': Critical volumes mapping XML error, completed with errors, client log should be examined"

has anyone seen this issue before? Could it be due to a bad backup, i have tried multiple backups but the issue is same, or is it missing any drivers or something else?
Appreciate any help. thanks!

Avamar

Windows VSS Backup

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