My ears are burning.

In the course of diagnosing VSS-related problems, the solution very often
involved installing one or more Windows hotfixes -- enough so, that we
asked Microsoft VSS support engineers if they have any minimum, baseline
maintenance/patch levels that they would recommend any VSS user to install
for preventive maintenance. The hotfix roll-ups described in the technote
are what Microsoft advised. The objective of the pre-req is best
"out-of-the-box" experience with TSM; that is, to improve the likelihood of
successful backups.

We do not programmatically enforce the pre-reqs; that is, TSM won't test
for the presence of the hotfixes and refuse to run if they are not
installed. Some users run just fine without the hotfixes (there is no list
of conditions I am aware of that specify under what conditions you will or
will not have problems). But if you report a system state backup issue (for
example) and the symptoms point to an error in VSS, then installing the
hotfixes is typically among the first things we ask. It is my experience
that when Microsoft support engineers have been engaged to assist in
troubleshooting, this is their position as well since they prefer to shoot
off the known baseline. (NOTE: I do not speak for Microsoft or cite any
Microsoft policy, official or otherwise; I am only speaking from my own
personal experience and observations.)

It should be noted that these hotfixes are pre-reqs only if you intend to
use the TSM client to perform operations that involve VSS, though I think
most users do system state backup.

> Which one is "right"--  do I apply 934016 because IBM says it's required
> or do I wait until a production server experiences the specific problem?

On one hand, some users prefer to not put on any maintenance unless they
have to. If you choose not to install them and system state backup runs
fine, then I certainly will not argue with success. On the other hand, many
users like to keep all their systems at consistent service levels, so if
they install it once (due to a problem, say, on even just one machine),
they'll install it everywhere. On the third hand, other users prefer to
avoid even the first occurrence of a problem, in which case they'll want to
put the pre-reqs on in advance.

So the direct answer to your question is: it's up to you! I just hope the
above background information is useful.

Best regards,

Andy

Andy Raibeck
IBM Software Group
Tivoli Storage Manager Client Product Development
Level 3 Team Lead
Internal Notes e-mail: Andrew Raibeck/Tucson/IBM@IBMUS
Internet e-mail: storman AT us.ibm DOT com

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager support web page:
http://www.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBMTivoliStorageManager.html


The only dumb question is the one that goes unasked.
The command line is your friend.
"Good enough" is the enemy of excellence.

"ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU> wrote on 03/04/2009
03:45:18 PM:

> [image removed]
>
> "required" VSS hotfix 934016
>
> Laughlin, Lisa
>
> to:
>
> ADSM-L
>
> 03/04/2009 03:52 PM
>
> Sent by:
>
> "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
>
> Please respond to "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager"
>
> According to the IBM Technote located here:
> Windows 2003 Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Hotfixes for Systemstate
> Backup
>
> http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=203&context=SW000&dc=DA410&;
> dc=DA450&dc=DA430&dc=DA440&dc=D600&dc=D700&dc=DB510&dc=DB520&dc=D800&dc=
> D900&dc=DA900&dc=DA800&dc=DB540&dc=DB400&dc=DB560&dc=DB530&dc=DA600&dc=D
> B550&dc=D100&dc=DA420&dc=DA460&dc=DB300&dc=DA470&dc=DA480&dc=DB100&dc=DA
> 4A10&dc=DA4A20&dc=DA700&dc=DA4A30&dc=DA400&dc=DA100&dc=DA500&dc=D200&dc=
> DB700&dc=DB600&q1=windows+2003+vss+hotfixes+systemstate&uid=swg21242128&
> loc=en_US&cs=UTF-8&lang=all
>
> These two fixes are VSS fixes necessary for TSM.
>
> Subsequent to Win2k3 SP2, Microsoft has provided VSS Post SP2 fix
> packages:
> KBASE# FIX #
> --------------
> 940349 unknown
> 934016 unknown Note: This is a COM+ rollup package required for VSS
>
>
> The Technote implies that 934016 is required.
>
> However, on Microsoft's site, the KB link
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934016
> says:
>
> A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is
> intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article.
> Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific
> problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you
> are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait
> for the next software update that contains this hotfix.
>
>
>
> Which one is "right"--  do I apply 934016 because IBM says it's required
> or do I wait until a production server experiences the specific problem?
>
> (Andy??)
>
> thanks!
> lisa