Integrating Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service With Data Protector; Introduction; Volume Shadow Copy Service - HP Data Protector A.06.11 Integration Manual

5 Integrating Microsoft Volume
Shadow Copy Service with
Data Protector

Introduction

A traditional backup process is based on the direct communication between the
backup application and the application whose data is backed up. This backup
method requires from the backup application an individual interface for each
application it backs up.
The number of applications on the market is constantly increasing. The necessity of
handling application specific features can cause difficulties in backup, restore, and
storage activities. An effective solution to this problem is introducing a coordinator
among the actors of the backup and restore process.

Volume Shadow Copy Service

Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is a software service introduced by Microsoft on
Windows operating systems.
During backup, the service collaborates with a backup application (for example,
Data Protector), applications to be backed up (usually database applications), shadow
copy providers, and the operating system kernel to create a consistent, point-in-time
shadow copy set, which can be backed up to backup media or can be kept on a
disk array for instant recovery or data mining.
During restore, the service collaborates with the backup application and database
application to prepare for the restore operation and to perform the recovery of the
restored data.
Data Protector supports the integration with VSS.
Integration guide for Microsoft applications 153