Windows Server Backup and its VSS plug-in

There are many techniques that are available out there in the market which prevent the loss of data in the first place. But as there is no denying that you can backup windows server using built-in Volume Shadow copy Service (VSS) technique. This is a very secure means of creating data backup files and managing exchange databases. But still there are many factors that need to be understood before you backup windows server and these are discussed here in detail.

To backup windows server you need to define the needs of users of information and grade them with respect to their importance. One the types of files and information that need to be backed up are identified we can proceed to the next step that involves selection of medium on which backup will be stored. This feature is done by WSBExchange.exe, an executable file that runs for windows server backup facility. This built-in feature ensures that all the backups are created VSS-based and hence the is no possibility of Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) backups.

Backup windows server is possible only on volume level which is one security measure that is very helpful but not very user friendly. To back up a certain database you have to back up the whole database and everything associated with it and there is no possibility that just one integral part of it is backed up. Another short come that administrators face to backup windows server is that it has to run locally on the server that you are backing up. This means that you cannot back up any server remotely with the current system. The need to make backups remotely cannot be denied for sure but of course it does not make this technique impracticable. There are techniques that system administrators do to avoid the hassle of visiting every server physically like remote desktop connection and terminal services. For all the options that VSS plugin does not support we can hope that it will be improved soon.

The recovery process will be done on the same server but the files can be restored on wither the same server on which backup was made or any other computer. But the selection of location does affect the recovery process, for example if the location is the same server then windows server backup and other plug-ins will handle the process automatically and dismount the existing database and mount the new one.