In the physical world, we stopped the application, used the SAN to make a snap 
shot of the disks then restarted the application.  The snaps where then given 
to another server where they are backed up.  The virtual version would be 
similar, stop the application, start the backup, start the application.

Our understanding of the TSM VE process is that TSM has VMWare make a snap of 
the disks then TSM backs up the snap.  If that is the case why would VSS matter 
on the guest?  Or do we have it wrong?

Our problem is we have been given about 30 minutes to backup an application 
that spans 3 servers and dozens of disks.  On the disks we have Oracle and 
millions of files.  All have to be in sync to be able to do a complete 
restoration of the application.
The physical version of this process has worked for more than 10 years, now we 
need to convert it to virtual.


Andy Huebner


-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of 
Ryder, Michael S
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 11:25 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] TSM VE backup of Orcale Windows server

Andy:

VE uses Microsoft VSS (Volume Shadow copy Service), which was not available 
with Windows 2000.
Oracle VSS Writer is only available with Oracle 9i or later.

On Windows 2003 and newer, and Oracle 9i and alter, we have no trouble with 
hot-backups of Oracle systems where we have the Oracle writer for VSS installed.

I can't explain why your DB would get corrupt, but without VSS and VSS-Writer 
for Oracle, there isn't any integration between Oracle and the snapshot 
process.  That in itself might be enough to explain it.

On servers where we couldn't get VSS Writer for Oracle installed, we only do 
cold-backups by using VMware tools to execute batch-commands to properly 
shutdown and restart applications and their Oracle databases.

I think you will only be able to get away with cold-backups in your current 
configuration.

Mike

Best regards,

Mike
RMD IT, x7942


On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 11:20 AM, Huebner, Andy <andy.huebner AT alcon DOT 
com>wrote:

> We ran our first backup of a Oracle server using TSM VE and the Oracle 
> DB reported many errors and it caused the Oracle DB to become corrupt.  
> I believe Oracle crashed and it was later recovered.
>
> Has anyone had any issues backing up a live Oracle system with TSM VE?
>
> Oracle - v.Old
> Windows - 2000 (laugh it you want, but I bet you have some too) TSM 
> agent 6.4.0.0 TSM Server 6.2.3.100
>
> There is far more to the process and well thought out reasons, but 
> this is the bit that is having an issue.
>
>
> Andy Huebner
>