Question : VSS Requester for Exchange Server backup

Hi,

I am trying to write my own  backup utility to backup the Exchange Server databases [at Information Store, Mail box level] using Exchange VSS writer.

As per my knowledge, I need to write a VSS requester code in my backup utility for interacting with the VSS Writer service which is already running in the system.

Before starting, I want some advice on this from you experts. Is it is a good practice to write a VSS requester in my backup utility and using VSS writer for backing up Exchange Server data?

I have downloaded the VSS SDK v7.2 and analyzing the example files in the "..\VSSSDK72\TestApps\betest\" folder. I believe that I can proceed my development with that code. Is there any other detailed documentation available to better understand on writing VSS requester code. I am at beginner level in this field.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Nash J

Answer : VSS Requester for Exchange Server backup

I can't tell you much about the details of the VSS API, but I can give you some advice as an Exchange administrator on VSS backups:

The problem with VSS backups is that they do not perform an integrity check when they backup the IS.  The non-VSS backup API will perform this integrity check and saves a lot of Exchange administrators from disasters that would be glossed over by the VSS method.

I also administered a pair of high-end Exchange servers (10,000 mailboxes per server) and the VSS could never find enough quiet time to perform a snapshot.  We wound up scrapping the VSS route and going back to non-VSS backups.