VxRail: Cannot quiesce guest file system while doing a snapshot on a Windows SQL VM

Summary: This is a Windows 2022 Virtual Machine (VM) which is running a SQL server service. Cannot quiesce guest file system while doing a snapshot of the VM.

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Symptoms

SQL Server on a Windows 2022 VM, backups always fail.

The customer's backup solution must quiesce the file system. When manually doing a snapshot with the checked option, it completes, but option "quiesce guest file system" is shown as NOT selected.

 

Picture of the virtual Machine

The VMware.log seems fine, and the quiesce option is set during snapshot.

Review of the Guest OS, and Windows events, no error events regarding volume shadow copy.

The VMware tool service is running.

 

Cause

The VMware tool service is running. But the VMware Snapshot provider service is missing.

The VMware Snapshot provider service is necessary to snapshot the Guest VM with the "Quiesce guest file system" option. 

Resolution

To resolve this issue, follow the steps below: 

  • Uninstall VMware tools and reinstall it again. Ensure that the snapshot provider service is there.
  • To uninstall VMware tools:
    • RDP to Windows, open programs and features and uninstall VMware tools.

Picture of uninstall of vmware tools

  • Once the tool is again installed, selecting the quiesce option should work.

picture of the snapshot working

 

Affected Products

VxRail 460 and 470 Nodes, VxRail D Series Nodes

Products

VxRail G Series Nodes, VxRail E Series Nodes, VxRail P Series Nodes
Article Properties
Article Number: 000278658
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 05 Feb 2025
Version:  1
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