Incorrect snapshot method configuration or snapshot method not compatible for protecting backup selection entries (4201)

Problem

When attempting to perform a Hyper-V backup of a Windows 2012 client using the "online backup" setting, the snapshot fails with "Incorrect snapshot method configuration or snapshot method not compatible for protecting backup selection entries  (4201)"

Error Message

The following error shows in the bpfis log:

11/11/2014 11:07:44 - Info bpfis (pid=1600) Backup started
11/11/2014 11:08:54 - Critical bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: FTL - vfm_freeze_commit: method: Hyper-V_v2, type: FIM, function: Hyper-V_v2_prepare
11/11/2014 11:08:54 - Critical bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: FTL - snapshot services: snapshot preparation failed: provider-private error.
11/11/2014 11:08:54 - Critical bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: FTL - vfm_freeze_commit: method: Hyper-V_v2, type: FIM, function: Hyper-V_v2_prepare
11/11/2014 11:08:54 - Critical bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: FTL - snapshot services: snapshot preparation failed: provider-private error.
11/11/2014 11:08:54 - Critical bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: FTL - snapshot processing failed, status 4201
11/11/2014 11:08:54 - Critical bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: FTL - snapshot creation failed, status 4201
11/11/2014 11:08:55 - Warning bpbrm (pid=15387) from client client_name: WRN - ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES is not frozen
11/11/2014 11:08:55 - Info bpfis (pid=1600) done. status: 4201
11/11/2014 11:08:55 - end Hyper-V: Create Snapshot; elapsed time 0:01:19
11/11/2014 11:08:55 - Info bpfis (pid=1600) done. status: 4201: Incorrect snapshot method configuration or snapshot method not compatible for protecting backup selection entries.
11/11/2014 11:08:55 - end writing
Operation Status: 4201
11/11/2014 11:08:55 - begin Hyper-V: Stop On Error

The Microsoft-Windows-Hyper-V-VMMS-Admin log could show event 10103 with following content:

The virtual machine 'X' cannot be hot backed up since it has no SCSI controllers attached. Please add one or more SCSI controllers to the virtual machine before performing a backup. (Virtual machine ID <GUID>).

Cause

Hyper-V 2012 needs a SCSI Controller inside the virtual machine to be able to perform Online Backups of this Guest OS

Solution

A SCSI Controller needs to be added to the virtual machine. After the SCSI Controller is added to the Machine, the Online Backup will work fine.

Applies To

Host: Windows Hyper-V 2012 R2
Guest OS: Windows Server 2012