Snapshot import operation fails during an off-host backup process, while importing the VSS-based transportable hardware snapshots of SFW dynamic disks to the backup host

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Article ID: 100032029

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Description

Installing the patch

This package contains self-extracting files that are specific to the processor architecture and operating system version.
Download the appropriate installer to a temporary location on your system.

Refer to the following for more information:

Installing thesym_vssrdrdriver

To install the sym_vssrdr driver, perform the following steps:
 

1. On the backup host, log in to the user account having local administrator privileges.
2. Double-click on the appropriate MSI:
  • For Windows 2008: sym_vssrdr_win2k8_x64.msi
  • For Windows 2008 R2: sym_vssrdr_win2k8r2_x64.msi
The installation will start automatically. Follow the installation sequence to install the sym_vssrdr driver.

4. Click Finish to complete the installation.
5. If prompted for reboot, click Yes to reboot immediately or No to reboot later.
 

Verifying the installation of the sym_vssrdr driver

To verify the successful installation of the sym_vssrdr driver, perform the following steps:
 

1. Navigate to Device Manager > System Devices.
2. Verify that the VSS HW Snapshot Import Request Redirector device is displayed.
The log file of the installation results is located at C:ProgramDataVeritasVSSRedirector sym_vssrdr.log.
 

Removing the patch

To uninstall the sym_vssrdr driver, perform the following steps:
 

1. In the Windows Control Panel, select Programs and Features.
2. Click VSS HW Snapshot Import Request Redirector and select Uninstall.
3. Follow the uninstall process.
4. If prompted for reboot, click Yes to reboot immediately or No to reboot later.

 

Cause

While importing the VSS-based, hardware transportable snapshots to the backup host, VSS issues the request to bring the snapshot volumes online. This request is issued to the Microsoft LDM (Logical Disk Manager) instead of the SFW volume manager (VxIO) even for snapshots of SFW dynamic disks. The LDM fails to bring the snapshot volumes of SFW dynamic disks online. This causes the snapshot import operation to fail.

This issue affects VSS-based hardware snapshots on Windows 2008, Windows 2008 R2, and Windows 2012.

Resolution

This issue is fixed by installing a new, "dummy," SFW volume manager driver, called sym_vssrdr, onto the backup host where snapshots are imported. While importing the snapshots, the snapshot volume "online" request is now received by sym_vssrdr  instead of the Microsoft LDM. It redirects the request to VxIO and the snapshot import operation succeeds.

The driver is included in a patch that is available in:
https://docs.infoscale.com 

Issue/Introduction

During an off-host backup process, while importing the VSS (Veritas Volume Shadow Copy Service) based transportable hardware snapshots of SFW (Storage Foundation for Windows) dynamic disks to the backup host, the snapshot import operation fails.

Additional Information

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