virtualvizion

I believe Vizioncore is due to produce a paper that CLEARLY describes the various combinations possible (just read the various comments in the VSS thread - especially the one not answered about having the file sync driver deinstalled or not!!! believe me I have no idea whether it shall be installed or not together with the VSS driver from VMWare)

- using VSS driver from Vizioncore

- using VSS driver from VMWare (under Update 2)

- having file snyc driver installed or not if you are on U2 of ESX 3.5

- backing up VSS enabled database servers (how about Oracle?)

- backing up plain simple files servers

- backing up webservers

- how about the proper restore of a VSS enabled domain controller

I am referring further more to 3RD PARTY VENDOR

copy from the website "Database-consistent backup - While others promise – 3rd party vendor delivers! 3rd party vendor Backup 2.0 leverages Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) functionality to ensure consistent backups of the applications within your virtual machines. Unlike other vendors featuring limited VSS support, 3rd party vendor provides the most complete implementation of VSS support, equipping you for proper restore of VSS-aware applications (e.g. Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange) from the created backups."

please Vizoncore please - we are maintaining a production environment and are relying on your product. we are not just testing. can you please make it clear to us which settings are the correct ones. i have seen a video about 3RD PARTY VENDORs restore of a domain controller and have made my own tests. Vizioncores restored domain controller does not automatically go into directory restore mode.

and another please: when you answer, could you please take the extra time to write in a way so that there is no room for mis-interpretation. i know that you are also suffering from the poor GUI of vRanger in describing what you want to say; so please make it a few sentences longer - for example don't just say: VSS support, but rather: "having Vizioncores VSS driver installed" or "by using VMWares U2 VSS support" or whatever.

and another please: what is your answer to 3RD PARTY VENDORs statement - "While others promise"

Please do understand - i am not confused, but rather frustrated, of the time needed for testing what "other vendors" properly describe in their documents. Vizioncores documentation is rather poor! The VSS thread was quite nice, but still left room for interpretation, people are still asking - please make it clear to us.

With the many questions open I may advise that vRanger, vReplicator only to be used for a test environment and not for production! I haven't looked into Backup Exec 12.5 new features, but I will sure do.

Thanks,

Feras

 

The Sync Driver does not have to be uninstalled

1. If you leave Disable Guest Quiescing checked no Quiescing will happen.
2. If you uncheck Disable Guest Quiescing and you have not installed VMware VSS you would get the Sync driver which is bad for DB's.
3. If you enable VMware VSS and uncheck Disable Guest Quiescing, you will get VMware VSS
4. If you install vizioncore VSS you would leave Disable Guest Quiescing checked.

- Backing up VSS enabled database servers (how about Oracle?)
VSS aware apps will flush memory and stop IO writes while the VMware snap shot is added. Thus when you recovery the VM, the apps data is in a constant state. This only applies to the versions of Oracle that support VSS.

- backing up plain simple files servers
VSS does support the file system, so you could use VSS for the file system.

- backing up web servers
IIS is VSS aware

- How about the proper restore of a VSS enabled domain controller
The restore of a DC should be fine. If you notice the video on that is on the web about our VSS, the video implies our product was used but the backup they show was in fact was just an image backup without VSS to force the problem. Until the video shows our product being used without director style editing the video is just propaganda at this point.

As far as production goes you can see our public client list here:
http://www.vizioncore.com/clients.html
here’s also a public case study list of clients that use our products in production a few of our 13,000 customers.
http://www.vizioncore.com/CaseStudies.html

 

 

being impressed by the customer reference, and will make sure to read some of their stories.

why would i want to use vizioncores vss driver any longer? i know it was good before vmware incorporated its vss driver. is it correct to say that once the upgrade to esx3.5 update 2 is done, vizioncores vss isn't necessary any longer? 

so if i understood correct:

(uncheck disable guest quiescing) + (enable vmware vss) = proper backup ...[and later restore]

and this formula applies to the most common M$ server scenarios, right? i am asking this way, since i do not want to have to maintain several different backup jobs, nor do i want to have several vm templates (with/without vss); and - on top of it all - too many options can be the source of too many human errors.

 

You are correct, you can to start to use VMware VSS going forward. We will have VSS for older versions of ESX. Yes.(uncheck disable guest Quiescing) + (enable VMware vss) = proper backup ...[and later restore] this is correct.

This would apply to VSS aware applications.. Don't forget VMware tools upgraded to 3.5 U2 do not have VMware VSS enabled by default and VMware's Sync driver will be used. Newly installed VMware tools on U2 have VSS enabled...

have made my own tests. Vizioncores restored domain controller does not automatically go into directory restore mode.

Same here - I did my own testing and I could never get the restored domain controller to automatically go into directory restore mode upon restoration with vRanger VSS implementation. So I don't think that the video is "propaganda" - it is reality.

We will have VSS for older versions of ESX.

When this is going to be available? We backup DCs and it is critical for us that they are restored properly, according to Microsoft requirements.

But does the DC work correctly in the domain without going into "directory restore mode "?

We will have an update to VSS next year when we support restoring AD objects from image level backups.

fsabha

Could you please clarify exactly which VSS-related thread you are referring to?

Was it possibly this one? http://supportforums.vizioncore.com/forums/thread/10885.aspx

If so, I then I must admit that despite having responses to it, I'm still not much the wiser and would again suggest that a clear, concise document should be produced by Vizioncore to explain exactly how the VSS components from themselves, VMware and Microsoft are leveraged in their products.

Thank you.

Paul

this one:

http://supportforums.vizioncore.com/forums/thread/9956.aspx

regards,

feras