 | ||
| VSS snapshot wizard for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prev | Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) | Next |
| ||
| VSS snapshot wizard for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prev | Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) | Next |
SFW integrates with the Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) as both a VSS Requestor and a VSS Provider. FlashSnap provides this integration.
Note: |
Dynamic disks belonging to a Microsoft Disk Management Disk Group do not support snapshot or VSS-related commands. |
FlashSnap integrates with VSS to provide the ability to detach multiple split-mirror snapshot volumes simultaneously. This lets you snapshot all the volumes that are associated with an Exchange storage group or SQL database at exactly the same point in time without taking the databases offline. When viewed all together these snapshots form a snapshot set of the storage group, component, or database. These persistent FlashSnap snapshots can later be used for either a point-in-time recovery or a roll forward recovery to point of failure of the storage group or database.
FlashSnap calls VSS to perform a "copy backup" of Exchange, which does not truncate the transaction log files.
The following occur during the snapshot process:
Acting as a VSS Requestor, FlashSnap notifies the VSS coordinator service to prepare for a split-mirror snapshot of an Exchange storage group or SQL database.
The VSS coordinator service calls the Exchange VSS Writer or SQL VSS Writer to find out which volumes contain the databases and transaction logs.
The VSS coordinator service notifies the FlashSnap VSS Provider to prepare for the snapshot.
Acting as a VSS Requestor, FlashSnap requests that the VSS coordinator service begin the snapshot call.
The VSS coordinator service notifies the Exchange VSS Writer or SQL VSS Writer to quiesce the databases in preparation for the snapshot. When this is accomplished, the Exchange Writer or SQL Writer informs the VSS coordinator service to proceed.
The VSS coordinator service calls the FlashSnap Provider to create the split-mirror snapshot by detaching the snapshot volume from the original volume. After the snapshot volume is detached, the FlashSnap Provider informs the VSS coordinator service to proceed.
The VSS coordinator service notifies the Exchange Writer or SQL Writer to resume normal I/O.