NetBackup with Hyper-V fails to perform snapshot / online backup of Windows 2012 virtual client

Problem

When attempting to perform a Hyper-V backup of a Windows 2012 client using the "online backup" setting, the snapshot fails with a status 156.

Error Message

From BPFIS log on Hyper-V host:

09:09:46.253 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - snapshot services: winfsys:Tue Sep 10 2013 09:09:46.253000 WinFsysFiCoordinator::claim,Object not claimed, VFI_CLAIM_NONE
09:09:46.706 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - snapshot services: winfsys:Tue Sep 10 2013 09:09:46.706000 WinFsysFiCoordinator::claim, GetVolumeInformationW,Name:['{VXFI_CSV_VOL.EN_US}C:\ClusterStorage\DataDev\'], fsname: [], Status: [0]
09:09:46.706 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - snapshot services: winfsys:Tue Sep 10 2013 09:09:46.706000 WinFsysFiCoordinator::claim 253, Error message: ' failed with error 123: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
09:09:46.721 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - snapshot services: vxfi_analyze fitype=[Hyper-V]
09:09:46.721 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - provider_type=VSS_PROV_SYSTEM;csv_timeout=120;Virtual_machine_backup=2;allow_offline_backup=No;cluster_name=myserver.company.com
09:09:46.721 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - <SET_CONFIG_INFO_LIST> <SET_CONFIG_INFO key=Virtual_machine_backup value=2 /> <SET_CONFIG_INFO key=allow_offline_backup value=No /> <SET_CONFIG_INFO key=cluster_name value=myserver.company.com /> <SET_CONFIG_INFO key=csv_timeout value=120 /> </SET_CONFIG_INFO_LIST>
09:09:46.737 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - <SET_CONFIG_INFO_LIST> <SET_CONFIG_INFO key=provider_type value=VSS_PROV_SYSTEM /> </SET_CONFIG_INFO_LIST>
09:09:46.737 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - <SET_CONFIG_INFO_LIST> <SET_CONFIG_INFO key=provider_type value=VSS_PROV_SYSTEM /> </SET_CONFIG_INFO_LIST>
09:09:46.737 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - vfm_freeze_commit: Before calling vfi_set_import_options fi_nbu_catalog = [0]
09:10:12.633 [8476.1408] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - snapshot services: vss:Tue Sep 10 2013 09:10:12.633000 <Thread id - 1408> VssNode::prepare Backup type of VM [%system UID%] will be OFFLINE and configuration parameter [allowOfflineBackup] is not set . To backup this VM, set [allowOfflineBackup] configuration parameter
09:10:12.633 [8476.1408] <32> onlfi_fim_split: FTL - VfMS error 11; see following messages:
09:10:12.633 [8476.1408] <32> onlfi_fim_split: FTL - Fatal method error was reported
09:10:12.633 [8476.1408] <32> onlfi_fim_split: FTL - vfm_freeze_commit: method: Hyper-V_v2, type: FIM, function: Hyper-V_v2_prepare
09:10:12.633 [8476.1408] <32> onlfi_fim_split: FTL - VfMS method error 6; see following message:
09:10:12.633 [8476.1408] <32> onlfi_fim_split: FTL - snapshot services: snapshot preparation failed: provider-private error.

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From the Event Viewer: Application log on the virtual Windows 2012 client

Error 9/10/2013 9:09:56 AM vmicvss 13 None "Windows cannot perform an online backup of this system because scoped snapshots are enabled. To resolve this, disable scoped snapshots by creating the following registry value on this computer:
PATH: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore\
DWORD: ScopeSnapshots
Value: 0
Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on the computer."

Cause

A "scope snapshot" is a special volume snapshot (new for Windows 2012) for volsnap performance. It is mainly used by Windows critical updates. Scope means the volsnap only creates a Copy on Write (Shadow) volume for the files that are involved in the updates instead of all the files on the volume.

Scoped snapshots prevent volume snap revert operations, thus it will cause Hyper-V host backup failure since Hyper-V needs to perform mount and revert VM vhd operations on the Hyper-V host. It can cause the Hyper-V host backup to fail even if the Hyper-V guest is not included. Therefore, Microsoft blocked it inside of the VM during the backup.

This means that an "online backup" for this client cannot be performed by the Hyper-V host.

Solution

There are two options for addressing this issue. 

1.  Perform "offline backup" by selecting this option in the policy.  Please see the NetBackup for Hyper-V Administrator's Guide 7.5 (https://www.veritas.com/docs/DOC5161) Appendix A for more information about offline and online backups.

2.  As indicated in the client's Application log, create a registry setting on the Windows 2012 client as follows:

PATH: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore\
DWORD: ScopeSnapshots
Value: 0

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 system be made prior to making any registry changes.

Applies To

Hyper-V host running Windows 2008 R2 with NetBackup 7.5.0.6

Hyper-V client running Windows 2012