How to tell which files are filtered into Volume Shadow Copy Components

Article: 100022527
Last Published: 2020-02-21
Ratings: 0 0
Product(s): NetBackup & Alta Data Protection

Problem

How to tell which files are filtered into Volume Shadow Copy Components

Solution

Overview:
NetBackup will not backup files which are filtered into Volume Shadow Copy Components except when performing a backup of System_State or Shadow Copy Components:\ (SCC).  At that time, the Volume Shadow Copy Writers pass the file list to NetBackup for inclusion in the backup.  All other backup selections, of named directories or files, are filtered to remove the SCC files.  This applies to both scheduled and user-directed backups.

The filtering of these files has two benefits.  First, it ensures that all files restored are from a consistent backup image, otherwise the system may be in an inconsistent state and possibly non-bootable following the restore.  Second, it eliminates the redundant backup of data, that has questionable value, during the regular file system backup.

Details:
The client-side bpbkar log at General 2 will post messages like this when it attempts to backup files which are filtered into Shadow Copy Components, during a regular file-system backup.  The files will not be backed up.

10:00:23.857 AM: [1348.3964] <2> tar_base::V_vTarMsgW: INF - Filtered 'Shadow Copy Components' Object: C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe
10:00:41.276 AM: [1348.3964] <2> tar_base::V_vTarMsgW: INF - Filtered 'BEDS Exclude' Object: C:\Windows\System32\TRACERT.EXE

Note: These files will be backed up during a System_State: and Shadow Copy Components:\ backup job.

The determination about which files and folder are classified into Shadow Copy Components happens outside of NetBackup.  If you feel a file or folder should or should not be filtered into Shadow Copy Components, you need to engage Microsoft to discuss options for modifying the file list.

To get a complete list of files and folders which are filtered into Shadow Copy Components, broken down by Writer, follow these steps:
 
Windows 2008 and newer : 

Run this command: diskshadow /l output.txt

DISKSHADOW> list writers detailed

DISKSHADOW> exit

The output is stored in output.txt file.

Open the output.txt and search in the file.

 

Windows 2003 :
 
1. Download and install the Microsoft VSS SDK onto the client in question.
  https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0b4f56e4-0ccc-4626-826a-ed2c4c95c871&displaylang=en

2. Open a CMD prompt and navigate into the folder which contains the vshadow.exe command:
Example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\VSSSDK72\Tools\VSSReports>

3. Run this command:
vshadow -wm2 > output.txt

The output.txt file will contain a list of information about each Writer on the system, including which files and folders are filtered into it.

Example Output:
VSHADOW.EXE 2.2 - Volume Shadow Copy sample client
Copyright (C) 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


(Option: List extended writer metadata)
(Gathering writer metadata...)
(Waiting for the asynchronous operation to finish...)
Initialize writer metadata ...
Listing writer metadata ...

* WRITER "System Writer"
   - WriterId   = {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220}
   - InstanceId = {6a97612f-2888-46a4-a11b-a15067347402}
   - Supports restore events = FALSE
   - Writer restore conditions = VSS_WRE_NEVER
   - Restore method = VSS_RME_RESTORE_AT_REBOOT
   - Requires reboot after restore = TRUE

   - Excluded files:
   - Component "System Writer:\System Files"
      - Name: 'System Files'
      - Logical Path: ''
      - Full Path: '\System Files'
      - Caption: 'System Files'
      - Type: VSS_CT_FILEGROUP [2]
      - Is Selectable: 'FALSE'
      - Is top level: 'TRUE'
      - Notify on backup complete: 'FALSE'
      - Components:
      - File List: Path = C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}, Filespec = *
      - File List: Path = C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}, Filespec = *
      - File List: Path = C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}, Filespec = *
      - File List: Path = C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}, Filespec = *
      - File List: Path = c:\windows\apppatch, Filespec = acgenral.dll
      - File List: Path = c:\windows\apppatch, Filespec = aclayers.dll
      - File List: Path = c:\windows\apppatch, Filespec = acres.dll
       .
        <content removed for clarity>
       .
      - File List: Path = c:\program files\windows nt\accessories, Filespec = wordpad.exe
      - File List: Path = c:\windows\system32, Filespec = tracert.exe
 
 

 

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