VSS for ContinuousDataReplicator
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Overview
Configuration
VSS Considerations
License Requirement
VSS is utilized on the source
computer for creating snapshots and the VSS writers are used for performing quiesce/unquiesce
of Exchange and SQL data. VSS is also used for creating Recovery Points. For
Windows 2000 or Windows XP, snapshots on the source computer during the SmartSync Scan
phase are created by QSnap, and the default quiesce method is used for quiescing
the applications. Recovery Point snapshots on the destination computer
can be created using VSS to create
Shadow Copies for the snapshots.
If the source computer has VSS Provider installed, then the VSS quiesce
method is used to perform quiescing the applications. For Exchange Sever, VSS is utilized on the source
computer to perform an online quiesce/unquiesce, instead of using CDR's default offline quiesce/unquiesce,
while a marker is placed in the log file for a Consistent Recovery Point. Online quiesce
allows the server to continue to function with no interruption for users. If
CDR VSS Provider is not installed then the legacy quiesce method is used for
creating a Consistent Recovery Point.
The following is necessary to implement this functionality:
- Verify that the source or destination computer meets the
System Requirements,
and is a supported operating system platform and application server software
for using VSS with CDR. Refer to ContinuousDataReplicator
- Application Support.
- Install CDR software with the VSS Provider for CDR
on the source and/or destination computer(s). Also, install CDR software on
the destination computer; the VSS Provider for CDR is not required on
the destination. For instructions, see
Deployment - ContinuousDataReplicator.
- For a destination computer, to use VSS to create Shadow Copies for
Recovery Points, right-click the Replication Set on the
source computer and select Properties. In the
Replication Options tab, select one of the choices in the
Select Snap
Engine Type for Recovery Point Creation section.
|
If you have the hardware VSS provider setup
as the default snap engine and you want to use Microsoft VSS for
creating snapshots on the destination computer, you can use the
nUseVSSSoftwareProvider
registry key. Note that the CDR services will need to be recycled on the
client computer for changes to take affect. |
Before using VSS, review the following information:
- VSS is not available with Windows 2000. Do not specify VSS as the Snap
Engine for a computer running Windows 2000.
- The CDR VSS Provider is supported on a cluster and only needs to be
installed on the physical node of a cluster.
- The VSS Provider for CDR does not support
Multi
Instancing; it must only be installed to Instance001.
- A VSS online quiesce ensures that users will not lose their connection
to the server, e.g., Outlook clients will not be disconnected.
- Exchange can be quiesced at the Storage Group level.
- When creating Recovery Points using VSS, a maximum of of 256 snapshots
are allowed.
- Recovery Point snapshots created with VSS can be deleted in any order.
- The VSS cache can be configured using the
vssadmin add shadowstorage
command from a command line prompt. Refer to Microsoft documentation for
details.
- When using VSS, it is recommended that you do not start a large number
of pairs, using the same source volume, simultaneously. To avoid any issues,
you should vary the
starting time for pairs which use the same source volume.
To perform a data protection operation using this Agent a specific
Product License must be available in the CommServe® Server.
Review general license requirements included in
License Administration. Also,
View All Licenses provides step-by-step
instructions on how to view the license information.
The VSS Provider for CDR does not require a license.
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