How to configure Backup Exec Agent for VMware to retry snapshot attempts of virtual machines

Problem

This article describes the process of setting up Agent for VMware to retry snapshots if the first attempt to snapshot a virtual machine fails.

Error Message

Error found in job log:
Final error: 0xe000959a - An attempt to take a snapshot of a virtual machine failed because it was unable to quiesce an application.

Solution

The functionality has been added to Backup Exec to attempt snapshots of virtual machines after the first snapshot has failed to allow for backups to retry the snapshot process for customers to get a successful backup of virtual machines.

Backup Exec will attempt to retry a Quiesced snapshot the number of times specified, if all of the retry attempts fail Backup Exec will then attempt a Non Quiesced snapshot to complete the backup of the virtual machine.  If the non quiesced snapshot is used for the backup, no application GRT will be available for restore from that backup.

Steps to configure snapshot retries:

1. Stop all of the Backup Exec services.
2. Open regedit on the Backup Exec server.

Warning: Incorrect use of the Windows registry editor may prevent the operating system from functioning properly. Great care should be taken when making changes to a Windows registry. Registry modifications should only be carried-out by persons experienced in the use of the registry editor application. It is recommended that a complete backup of the registry and workstation be made prior to making any registry changes.

1. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veritas\Backup Exec for Windows\Backup Exec\Engine\VMWare Agent
2. Create the following keys. With these settings Backup Exec will attempt to retry a quiesced snapshot 5 times with 30 seconds interval.
   1. "Use hybrid snapshot method" value data = 0x1 (1)
   2. "Snapshot retry attempts" value data = 0x5 (5)
   3. "Snapshot retry interval" value data = 0x1e (30)
      Note: All keys are DWORD (32-bit) Value and case sensitive.

 

6. Exit regedit
7. Start the Backup Exec services