Hello all,
Davina> I am not sure either exactly what VSS is or how it works ...
although if VSS is basically an Open File Manager then I don't see how
it can make a consistent backup of a database...
Microsoft VSS ("Volume Shadow Copy Service") is a framework that manages
snapshot-based backups. It is designed to extrapolate out details about
three entities: Requestor, Writer, and Provider.
Requestor: The software that initiates backups and recoveries, and
manages savesets. NetWorker and NTbackup are examples of Requestors.
Writers: Software that has intimate knowledge of some software entity,
such as Exchange or the dreaded AD. The Writer for Exchange is able to
ascertain which volumes have databases and log files, and knows how to
freeze Exchange.
Providers: Software that has intimate knowledge of snapshot-capable
storage. Windows comes with 'System Provider' which is Copy-on-Write
technology implemented in software. EMC provides Providers for
Symmetrix, CLARiiON, and Celerra, providing replication technologies as
appropriate (e.g. BCVs and VDEVs for Symmetrix, clones and snapshots for
CLARiiON).
To oversimplify: The Requestor starts a backup, the Writer reports which
volumes and freezes the application, and the Provider creates the
snapshots, all managed through the VSS framework.
Jamie> "nmm" replacing exch nm and sql nm? .. are the other modules
eventually going away?
Yes, the other modules are eventually going away, but not for quite a
long time.
Nick> there is no way to backup open files on Windows XP?
I believe that is correct, sorry.
Matthew> SYSTEM STATE, etc... no longer needs a VSS license but to use
the VSS for SQL or Exchange you would need the newer module license
NetWorker Client 7.4 SP2 no longer requires a separate license for VSS;
NMM requires a license. The tiers have been done away with.
Thanks,
_Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: EMC NetWorker discussion [mailto:NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU] On
Behalf Of Matthew Huff
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 5:45 AM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [Networker] VSS on Windows
VSS is an open file manager and a snapshot tool. Certain Microsoft apps
(and new third-party ones also) can be written to be VSS aware. Newer
Exchange and SQL server versions support VSS. What this allows Legato to
do is to call VSS apis to allow a consistent snapshot backup of SQL or
exchange without either using the native SQL or Exchange APIs nor
shutting them down.
>From what I got out of that letter was that to use the VSS apis for
SYSTEM STATE, etc... no longer needs a VSS license but to use the VSS
for SQL or Exchange you would need the newer module license
----
Matthew Huff | One Manhattanville Rd
OTA Management LLC | Purchase, NY 10577
www.otaotr.com | Phone: 914-460-4039
aim: matthewbhuff | Fax: 914-460-4139
-----Original Message-----
From: EMC NetWorker discussion [mailto:NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU] On
Behalf Of Davina Treiber
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 4:14 AM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [Networker] VSS on Windows
James Pratt wrote:
> Sorry, I'm still fairly new to NW, so this may be a dumb question, but
> does anyone know if there are any additional licensing issues/things
to
> be aware of moving forward on this VSS stuff with 2008 server? Does
> EMC/NW require any special license for VSS etc ?
>
> So, I've found this thread kind of confusing and unclear - maybe it's
> just me as I don't know much of windoze VSS yet, I don't know..
I am not sure either exactly what VSS is or how it works, again because
I am a Unix bod and am a bit reluctant to get into Windows concepts such
as VSS and AD.
However there is a new NetWorker module called something like NetWorker
module for Microsoft applications - and this does require a licence.
This is touted as a replacement for all the other Microsoft modules such
as SQL and Exchange, although if VSS is basically an Open File Manager
then I don't see how it can make a consistent backup of a database.
If it is just an OFM, then it looks to be a solution to a long standing
problem that other OSes don't have. (Has anyone got a copy of QEMM for
Vista BTW? ;-) )
Or is it more than an OFM and more of a snapshot tool? Even if it
provides snapshotting it would still require a way of properly
quiesceing any databases before backing them up.
So - I am still as confused as I was at the start of this thread.
Perhaps it is because I have an underlying unwillingness to understand
Windows. I have been hoping for many years that Windows would just go
away but I suspect I may be a little optimistic about this.
>
> This is a really fantastic mailing list - I just want to say thanks to
> all, as just by "lurking" here the past few months I have learned a
> great deal of stuff, and I'm *VERY* happy to see no bickering,
fighting,
> or flaming whatsoever, which makes things much more comfortable and
> easier to ask questions. (Let's face it google often makes stuff more
> confusing , especially when it comes to this networker beast! ;)
Strangely Google seems to know virtually nothing about NetWorker. This
list and its archives are by far the best resource on NetWorker. There
is also a Tek-Tips group for NetWorker but I find that to be more of a
newbie resource, whereas this list is suited to all levels from newbie
to expert.
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