The Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager integrates with Microsoft VSS – Volume Shadow Copy Services – to protect MS SQL Server databases & logs. Tivoli FlashCopy manager help you back up and restore data to and from local shadow volumes with automated tasks, utilities, and interfaces.

_Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Services – MS VSS Service

The Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is a Microsoft component that is provided with the Windows operating system. VSS manages and directs the Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager VSS requestor and other VSS software applications.

Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager backup and restore operations use the Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service technology to produce online snapshots (point-in-time consistent copies) of Exchange or SQL data, and to restore those snapshots to a specified location. The Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager VSS operations are implemented through the VSS requestor, which communicates with the VSS Service to access the Exchange or SQL data.

These are the VSS software applications that the VSS Service manages and directs:

_VSS writer

This is the software application that places the persistent information for the shadow copy on the specified volume(s).

For Exchange data, the Microsoft Exchange Server contains the writer components and requires no configuration.

For SQL data, Microsoft SQL Server contains the writer components (SqlServerWriter). It is installed with the SQL Server software and requires the following minor configuration tasks:

1. The SqlServerWriter service should be set to ″Automatic.″ This enables the service to start automatically when the machine is rebooted.

2. Start the SqlServerWriter service.

_VSS requestor

This is the software application that commands a shadow copy be created of a specified volume. The VSS requestor is provided by Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager and is installed with the Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager software.

_VSS provider

This is the application that actually produces the shadow copy and also manages the volumes where the Exchange or SQL data resides. A system provider (such as the one included with the Microsoft Windows operating system), a software provider, or a hardware provider (such as one shipped with a storage system) can be a provider. Configuration requirements are based upon the type of VSS provider used in your environment. For Example:

– If you are using the Windows VSS System Provider, no configuration is required.

– If you plan to perform VSS Instant Restores, be aware that DS8000, SAN Volume Controller, and XIV Gen 2 are the only storage subsystems that support VSS Instant Restores and require a VSS provider. Therefore, if you use DS8000 or SAN Volume Controller storage subsystems, you must install and configure IBM System Storage Support for Microsoft Virtual Disk and Volume Shadow Copy Services as your VSS hardware provider in order to perform VSS Instant Restore. If you use XIV Gen 2, you must install and configure IBM XIV VSS HW Provider.

–   If you are using a VSS software provider, consult the documentation provided with your VSS software provider.

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