VSS is disabled already. The client is a storage node/file server running 7.3.2 Jumbo 1.

It means that ssid listed (yes, that is ssid, but just in longer form) was lost for save operation and save could not proceed. It could be also a race condition for certain logic, but without more information it is impossible to say. What version on client do you have? Probably one thing to test out is to disable VSS and see if you get this again.

It's funny to see that many environments with Windows file servers use approach with wildcards

No idea then - do you get this all the time or was this one time only? You could check logs on storage node too to see if you have something in NW logs or event logs.

I use wildcards because initially it was one saveset F:\Groups. But "Groups" is 1TB in size. So I broke it out alphabetically over several days to balance load. That way if the job failed, I didn't have to rerun the whole job again which took 9 hours.

Just repeating what Hrvoje said: "do you get this all the time or was this one time only? You could check logs on storage node too to see if you have something in NW logs or event logs."

Also you might run a save with debug options to see if there's any other error message at any point during the backup.

This happened once last week with the same saveset.

Last night it happened with several more savesets.
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\g* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for E:\Users\j* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid a5d5d3a9-00000006-fb315929-46315929-03060000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* 1 retry attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for E:\Users\j* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 203152c2-00000006-f131714a-4631714a-03100000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* 2 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for E:\Users\j* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 8a6ee1c7-00000006-ee3183b0-463183b0-03130000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* 3 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for E:\Users\j* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 7ffe1ffa-00000006-ed318fae-46318fae-03140000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* 4 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for E:\Users\j* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid c76918f6-00000006-eb319b73-46319b73-03160000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* 5 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for E:\Users\j* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 1d53d2ad-00000006-ea31a86c-4631a86c-03170000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:E:\Users\j* save: shutdown failed
04/27/07 05:13:00 nsrlmc: Found unknown enabler number 74
04/27/07 05:13:00 nsrlmc: Found unknown enabler number 67
04/27/07 05:13:16 nsrd: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* done saving to pool 'Full' (Disk.000) 73 GB
04/27/07 05:13:16 savegrp: command ' save -s mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com -g "File Server4" -LL -m mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com -o VSS:*=off -l full -q -W 78 -N "F:\Groups\r*" "F:\Groups\r*"' for client mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com exited with return code -1
04/27/07 05:13:16 savegrp: job (5607) host: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com savepoint: F:\Groups\r* had ERROR indication(s) at completion.
04/27/07 05:13:16 savegrp: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* failed.
04/27/07 05:13:16 savegrp: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* will retry 1 more time(s)
04/27/07 05:13:23 nsrd: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* saving to pool 'Full' (Disk.000)
04/27/07 06:28:46 nsrd: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* done saving to pool 'Full' (Disk.000) 74 GB
04/27/07 06:28:46 savegrp: command ' save -s mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com -g "File Server4" -LL -m mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com -o VSS:*=off -l full -q -W 78 -N "F:\Groups\r*" "F:\Groups\r*"' for client mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com exited with return code -1
04/27/07 06:28:46 savegrp: job (5610) host: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com savepoint: F:\Groups\r* had ERROR indication(s) at completion.
04/27/07 06:28:46 savegrp: mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* failed.
04/27/07 06:28:46 nsrd: Operation 213 started : Load volume `000068L3'.
.
04/27/07 06:28:46 nsrd: media waiting event: Waiting for 1 writable volumes to backup pool 'Full' tape(s) or disk(s) on mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com
04/27/07 06:28:49 nsrmmd #9: Start nsrmmd #9, with PID 1984, at HOST mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com
04/27/07 06:32:21 nsrd: mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com:index:mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com saving to pool 'Full' (000068L3)
04/27/07 06:32:26 nsrd: [Jukebox `ML6000', operation # 213]. Finished with status: succeeded
pools supported: Full;
04/27/07 06:35:04 nsrd: mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com:index:mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com done saving to pool 'Full' (000068L3) 2543 MB
pools supported: Full;
04/27/07 06:41:19 nsrmmd #1: Device E:\Disk002\_AF_readonly, with total 721224191 blocks, each of size 4096, now has 125670882 blocks free
pools supported: Default Clone;
pools supported: Default Clone;
04/27/07 07:13:00 nsrlmc: Found unknown enabler number 74
04/27/07 07:13:00 nsrlmc: Found unknown enabler number 67
04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrmmd #3: svcmm_send64_5: inactive ssid 925966570

04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrd: media emergency: inactive ssid 925966570
04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrmmd #3: svcmm_send64_5: inactive ssid 976298218

04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrd: media emergency: inactive ssid 976298218
04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrd: mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com:cloning session done saving to pool 'Default Clone' (000057L3)
04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrd: cloning session:save sets done reading 160 GB
04/27/07 07:29:21 ansrd: ansrd_clone FAILED: errnum is 5001 and errstr is other clones exist for failed save set F:\Groups\w* ssid=909189354
04/27/07 07:29:21 ansrd: failed to execute MODE_CLONE
04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrd: Operation 214 started : Load volume `000056L3'.
.
04/27/07 07:29:21 nsrd: media waiting event: Waiting for 1 writable volumes to backup pool 'Default Clone' tape(s) or disk(s) on mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com
04/27/07 07:29:24 nsrmmd #9: Start nsrmmd #9, with PID 2388, at HOST mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com
04/27/07 07:29:26 nsrd: write completion notice: Writing to volume 000057L3 complete
04/27/07 07:29:27 nsrd: \\.\Tape1 Eject operation in progress
pools supported: Default Clone;
04/27/07 07:30:55 nsrd: \\.\Tape1 Verify label operation in progress
04/27/07 07:30:58 nsrd: \\.\Tape1 Mount operation in progress
04/27/07 07:32:03 nsrd: media event cleared: Waiting for 1 writable volumes to backup pool 'Default Clone' tape(s) or disk(s) on mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com
04/27/07 07:32:07 nsrd: [Jukebox `ML6000', operation # 214]. Finished with status: succeeded
04/27/07 07:32:10 nsrd: mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com:cloning session saving to pool 'Default Clone' (000056L3)
04/27/07 07:32:10 nsrd: cloning session: 1 save set(s) reading from 000068L3 383 KB of 2543 MB
pools supported: Default Clone;
04/27/07 07:32:29 nsrd: mdlp03-backup01.ai-engsvcs.com:cloning session done saving to pool 'Default Clone' (000056L3)
04/27/07 07:32:29 nsrd: cloning session:save sets done reading 2543 MB
04/27/07 07:32:29 savegrp: Automatic cloning of saveset 976298218 during savegroup operation has failed!
04/27/07 07:32:29 savegrp: Automatic cloning of saveset 925966570 during savegroup operation has failed!
04/27/07 07:32:29 nsrd: savegroup failure alert: File Server4 Completed/Aborted, Total 1 client(s), 0 Clients disabled, 0 Hostname(s) Unresolved, 1 Failed, 0 Succeeded.
04/27/07 07:32:29 nsrd: savegroup alert: File Server4 completed, Total 1 client(s), 1 Failed. Please see group completion details for more information.
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\s* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 81db8ff3-00000006-303120ea-463120ea-02d10000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* 1 retry attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\s* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 7bf7d38c-00000006-07313f92-46313f92-02fa0000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\r* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid cda96264-00000006-313120ea-463120ea-02d00000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* 2 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\s* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid e9f1d002-00000006-06314f23-46314f23-02fb0000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* 3 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\s* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 058a1820-00000006-f83160ed-463160ed-03090000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* 1 retry attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\r* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 7f3eabcd-00000006-0531508b-4631508b-02fc0000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* 4 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\s* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 980aa369-00000006-f3316ffd-46316ffd-030e0000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* 5 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\s* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 3ec7bc26-00000006-ef3182c4-463182c4-03120000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\s* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* 2 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\r* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 74a7377b-00000006-f03175fd-463175fd-03110000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* 3 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\r* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 784755ca-00000006-ec3194ed-463194ed-03150000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* 4 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\r* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid 5b3c52a9-00000006-e931ac00-4631ac00-03180000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: shutdown failed
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* 5 retries attempted
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: VSS Snapshot is disabled for F:\Groups\r* and will not be used.save: error, cannot find ssid b249d792-00000006-e731beb3-4631beb3-031a0000-0a680426 to update
* mdlp03-file03.ai-engsvcs.com:F:\Groups\r* save: shutdown failed
04/27/07 07:32:30 nsrd: runq: NSR group File Server4 exited with return code 1.
04/27/07 07:32:33 nsrd: write completion notice: Writing to volume 000056L3 complete
pools supported: Default Clone;

Could be one off. If it happen again check status for that ssid in mdb and also try to see if it exists on disk device.

It could be a problem with the disk device you are backing up to. Unmount it and try backing up to another one - or tape if you have it. see if you get the same error.

Use of wild cards in save sets is not officially supported. However, wild cards for save set definition will work just in the first level but not for next levels of directories. For example if you have the following directories:

F:\GroupA
F:\GroupB
F:\GroupC

You can use F:\Group* as save set but if you have:

F:\Group\folderA
F:\Group\folderB
F:\Group\folderC

You cannot use F:\Group\folder* as save set.

Regards¿