HP 3PAR Application Software Suite for Microsoft Exchange - Manual (Page 18)

2.4 Features Not Supported
3PAR Recovery Manager 4.1.0 For Microsoft Exchange 2010 User’s Guide
2.3 Features Not Supported
■ VSS backup types “Incremental”, “Differential”, “Copy” and “Log” are not supported
■ A single Exchange server spanning different InServs
■ All backup tools excluding Symantec NetBackup
■ Access to 3PAR InServ Storage Server via SSH
■ Create virtual copy on System Boot Volume
■ Cross-domain Exchange server management
2.4 Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service
Microsoft includes VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) in Windows to simplify the enterprise’s
storage environment. It provides a framework for creating a point-in-time copy of a single or
multiple volumes.
Microsoft Windows Server VSS works with VSS-aware applications that are in use to determine
when a volume shadow copy (snapshot) can be made. A snapshot is a copy of some data set,
for example, a disk volume, at a point in time. VSS then communicates with the operating
system and applications and freezes computing tasks to allow snapshot creation. Without the
freeze function, data could become corrupted when the snapshot is taken because the system
might be in the middle of a task. Meanwhile, applications continue to run uninterrupted. The
original volume continues to change as the process continues, but the shadow copy of the
volume remains constant. VSS also gives permission to the backup application to access the
volume and back it up in its frozen state. The shadow copy volume is then used for the actual
backup. After the shadow copy volume is saved on the backup device, the shadow copy is
deleted.
VSS coordinates between Requestors (backup applications – Recovery Manager), Writers, and
Providers (components that create the shadow copies).