NOTE: this is an archived page and the content is likely to be out of date.
VSS (Volume Shadow copy Service) is an infrastructure technology for backup operation, implemented with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later. VSS provides the common flamework and API to allow backup software, business applications and storage systems to cooperate with each other.
Category | Content |
---|---|
VSS requester | Backup software.
The component that orders creation, manipulation and deletion of snapshots to VSS. |
VSS writer | Server application.
The data management application comoponent supporting VSS. It ensures data integrity is maintained during data backup/restore. |
VSS provider | The component that processes read/write operations to disk and snapshot creation. There is both a "software" provider associated with the OS plus a "hardware" provider which forms part of the disk storage system. |
VSS (OS) | The base service that ensures proper control all VSS requestor, VSS writer and VSS provider transactions. |
VSS supports a "snapshot" capability that creates copies of data at certain points in time. Snapshots created using only a software provider covers only a segment of such data (e.g. the address information) and therefore can not be used for secure backup. A hardware provider, that supports high-performance backup capability and which can cooperate with the high-speed copy functions of external storage devices is also required.
ETERNUS Disk storage systems provide the ETERNUS VSS Hardware Provider. This enables the Advanced Copy functions of ETERNUS disk storage work in conjunction with VSS. This intimate combination means independent backup data can be aquired and secured and a robust backup achieved. This is because the data itself is copied and not just the minimised snapshot output by a software provider.
Backup starts with the backup software (VSS requester) requesting VSS to process backup. VSS then orders the registered server application (VSS writer) to synchronise with the backup target data. By conforming to the Microsoft API, the back upsoftware, server application and storage hardware can coopoerate with each other and automatically process the opartion. This also simplifies configuration of the backup operation environment.
As a result VSS achieves automation, streamlined and non-stop operation of online backup in Windows environments providing smart operation of highly reliable and performance systems.
ETERNUS VSS Hardware Provider is availabe on the ETERNUS VSS Hardware Provider Download page. Please confirm the Product Requirements on above download page.