Determining that the problem is a Data Protection for Exchange issue or a general VSS issue

The Data Protection client interacts closely with the backup-archive client (DSMAGENT). The client completes all of the Virtual Shadow Copy Service (VSS) operations. The first step is to determine whether the problem is with the Microsoft VSS service or with the Tivoli® Storage Manager.

1. Test the connectivity between the Data Protection client and the Tivoli Storage Manager dsmagent. Select the Exchange workload that you want to work with and click the Automate tab to open the Automate view. Issue the Query Exchange command in the lower details pane and click Execute (or Enter). The results are displayed in the pane. As an alternative, issue the TDPEXCC QUERY EXCHANGE command on the computer where the Exchange server is installed to verify that your installation and configuration is correct. The TDPEXCC QUERY EXCHANGE command returns information about the following items:
   • Exchange server status
   • Circular logging
   • VSS components
   The following example shows a sample of the output that is generated by the TDPEXCC QUERY EXCHANGE command:

   Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Information
   --------------------------------------------
   Writer Name             : Microsoft Exchange Writer
   Local DSMAgent Node     : SERVERA
   Writer Status           : Online
   Selectable Components   : 4

   If the TDPEXCC QUERY EXCHANGE command does not return all of this information, you might have a proxy configuration problem. Contact the Tivoli Storage Manager server administrator to have the correct server GRANT PROXY commands that are issued to enable proxy authority for nodes. If all of the information returned to you seems correct, proceed to the next step.
2. To determine whether the problem is with the Microsoft VSS service, use the vssadmin and diskshadow tools to re-create the VSS issue. On failure, use these programs to re-create the error to determine whether it is a general VSS problem or a problem within the Tivoli Storage Manager code.

   vssadmin

   A utility that is installed with your operating system. It can show current volume shadow copy backups and all installed shadow copy writers and providers in the command window. The following commands are examples of possible VSSADMIN commands:

   VSSADMIN LIST WRITERS
   VSSADMIN LIST PROVIDERS
   VSSADMIN LIST SHADOWS

   The VSSADMIN LIST SHADOWS command does not list shadow copies of SAN-attached volumes.

   The vssadmin tool uses Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider to list the shadow copies that are created.

   diskshadow

   The diskshadow tool is available on Windows 2008 server and 2008 R2. Before you install Tivoli Storage Manager for Mail, test the core VSS function. The following diskshadow testing can be done before any Tivoli Storage Manager components are installed:

   1. Test non-persistent shadow copy creation and deletion by running the following DISKSHADOW commands:

      diskshadow>set verbose on
      diskshadow>begin backup
      diskshadow>add volume f: (database volume)
      diskshadow>add volume g: (log volume)
      diskshadow>create
      diskshadow>end backup
      diskshadow>list shadows all
      diskshadow>delete shadows all
      diskshadow>list shadows all

      Volumes f: and g: represent the Exchange database and log volumes. Repeat theDISKSHADOW commands four times and verify that the Windows event log file contains no errors.

   2. Test persistent shadow copy creation and deletion by running the following DISKSHADOW commands:

      diskshadow>set context persistent
      diskshadow>set verbose on
      diskshadow>begin backup
      diskshadow>add volume f: (database volume)
      diskshadow>add volume g: (log volume)
      diskshadow>create
      diskshadow>end backup
      diskshadow>list shadows all (this might take a few minutes)
      diskshadow>delete shadows all
      diskshadow>list shadows all 

      Volumes f: and g: represent the Exchange database and log volumes. Repeat the diskshadow commands four times and verify that the Windows event log file contains no errors.

   3. Test persistent transportable shadow copy creation and deletion by running the following DISKSHADOW commands:

      diskshadow>set context persistent
      diskshadow>set option transportable
      diskshadow>add volume f: (database volume)
      diskshadow>add volume g: (log volume)
      diskshadow>set metadata c:\metadata\exchangemeta.cab 
      (the path where you want the metadata stored)
      diskshadow>create

      You must copy the exchangemeta.cab file from the source server to the offload server. After you copy the file, issue the following commands:

      diskshadow>load metadata newpath/exchangemeta.cab
      diskshadow>import
      diskshadow>list shadows all (this might take a few minutes)
      diskshadow>delete shadows all

      Volumes f: and g: represent the Exchange database and log volumes. Repeat the diskshadow commands four times and verify that the Windows event log file contains no errors.

   • The following items can be determined by using the vssadmin or diskshadow tool:
     • Verify VSS provider configurations
     • Rule out any possible VSS problems before you run the Tivoli Storage Manager VSS functions
     • That you might have a VSS configuration problem or a real hardware problem if an operation does not work with diskshadow or vssadmin
     • That you might have a Tivoli Storage Manager problem if an operation works with diskshadow or vssadmin but not with the Tivoli Storage Manager
   • Perform the following tests to ensure that VSS is working correctly:
     Test nonpersistent shadow copy creation and deletion

     1. Run "DISKSHADOW k: l:" where k: and l: are the Exchange Server database and log volumes.
     2. Repeat the previous step 4 times.
     3. Inspect the Windows Event Log to ensure that things look appropriate.
     Test persistent shadow copy creation and deletion

     1. Run "DISKSHADOW -p k: l:" (where k: and l: are the Exchange Server database and log volumes. Run "DISKSHADOW -da" if you do not have enough space.
     2. Repeat the previous step 4 times.
     3. Inspect the Windows Event Log to ensure that things look appropriate.
     Test nonpersistent transportable shadow copy creation and deletion (VSS Hardware Provider environments only)

     1. Run "DISKSHADOW -p -t=export.xml k: l:" where k: and l: are the Exchange Server database and log volumes.
     2. Copy the resultant "export.xml" file from computer 1 to computer 2 before you continue to the next step.
     3. On the computer you have set aside for offload, run "DISKSHADOW -i=export.xml"
     4. Inspect the Windows Event Log to ensure that things look appropriate.

     If any of these tests fail repeatedly, there is hardware configuration problem or a real VSS Problem. Consult your hardware documentation for known problems or search Microsoft Knowledge Database for any information.

     If all tests pass, continue to Step 3.

3. Re-create your specific problem by using diskshadow. If you can re-create your problem, only through a series of steps (for example: a backup fails only when you perform two consecutive local backups), try to perform those same tests by using diskshadow.
   • Exchange VSS backups to Local are simulated by running a diskshadow persistent snapshot.
   • Exchange VSS backups to the Tivoli Storage Manager are simulated by running a diskshadow nonpersistent snapshot.
   • Exchange VSS backups to Local and to the Tivoli Storage Manager are simulated by running a diskshadow persistent snapshot.
   • Offloaded Exchange VSS backups to the Tivoli Storage Manager are simulated by running a diskshadow nonpersistent, transportable snapshot.

   See the diskshadow documentation for the specific commands for performing backups.

   If you can re-create the problem, it most likely is a general VSS issue. See the Microsoft Knowledge Database for information. If your operation passes successfully with diskshadow, it most likely is a Tivoli Storage Manager or Data Protection for Exchange client problem.