Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


#205709 23-Nov-2016 20:45
Send private message

I have got a customers SBS 2011 system that i cannot get online backup software running on.

 

I also got a local company to look at it and all that got me was a $500 bill!(told me to update sever to latest SP's)

 

Here is the error messages

 

Exchange VSS Writer (instance 0d40b7a5-929d-40fe-9aff-7b3facbcef01) failed with error code -2147221233 when preparing components (databases) for backup.

 

Exchange VSS Writer (instance 0d40b7a5-929d-40fe-9aff-7b3facbcef01) failed with error code -2147221233 when preparing for backup.

 

Exchange VSS Writer (instance 0d40b7a5-929d-40fe-9aff-7b3facbcef01) failed with error code 1295 when preparing for Snapshot.

 

Exchange VSS Writer (instance 0d40b7a5-929d-40fe-9aff-7b3facbcef01) failed with error code 1295 when freezing the database(s).

 

I'm sure its to do with the sharepoint/windows 2008 interaction

 

i have spent so many hours and hours on this that its now getting ridiculous

 

Backup for everything else is fine but Exchange

 

Thanks

 

David

 

 


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2 | 3
clinty
1182 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1676411 23-Nov-2016 21:08
Send private message

Hi,

What is the backup software?

Does the SBS backup work fine? If not then the issue would seem to be with the VSS writer

Regards
Clint



clinty
1182 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1676426 23-Nov-2016 21:15
Send private message

Also does the error always occur - even when you run a manual backup, and is there any other software that could possibly be locking the exchange DB

Clint

cisconz
cisconz
1341 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1676429 23-Nov-2016 21:18
Send private message

For $300 you can log a ticket with MS directly - They will work on "Exchange VSS Writers Failing" until it is resolved.





Hmmmm




Dynamic
3866 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1676434 23-Nov-2016 21:37
Send private message

VSS issues are often resolved by a reboot. Tried this?

Have you applied the service packs?

Give up and migrate them to Office365 email?




“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

 

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management.  A great Kiwi company.


networkn
Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1676436 23-Nov-2016 22:38
Send private message

We have seen issues like this before. Make sure there are no limits set on the Shadowcopy.

 

Also, try this (At your own risk). I recommend hiring someone properly qualified if you don't feel comfortable. There are people who would get this fixed for $500 guaranteed :) 

 

http://www.careexchange.in/how-to-re-register-vss-volume-shadow-copy-service-in-windows-server-2008-r2/

 

I am unsure if you have tried different backup software as a test, but given the VSS writers look upset I am unsure if it would help. 

 

In the meantime, if you can't get a full backup, I'd recommend shutting down the Exchange services and taking a "cold" backup of the DB's etc. 

 

It's worth noting that even if you have cloud-based email, unless you are specifically paying for backups, you should be doing your own anyways (and I don't trust people who say they do backups, so I do them myself anyways). 

 

This problem should be easily solvable with an hour or two with a properly experienced engineer. I'd be embarrassed to charge $500 and not have a solution for you (Unless it's hardware etc of course but then at least you'd know what was required to fix it).

 

 

 

 

 

 


gjm

gjm
808 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #1676439 23-Nov-2016 22:43
Send private message

I remember having continuous headaches with VSS in SBS. Ended up virtualising the server, running it in HyperV and just backing up the whole VM. Had to turn on circular logging in Exchange to stop disk fulling up which is far from ideal but at least I could back the server up.





Do surveys for Beer money (referral link) - Octopus Group 

 

Link for buying beer (not affiliated, just like beer) - Good George


networkn
Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1676440 23-Nov-2016 22:46
Send private message

gjm:

 

I remember having continuous headaches with VSS in SBS. Ended up virtualising the server, running it in HyperV and just backing up the whole VM. Had to turn on circular logging in Exchange to stop disk fulling up which is far from ideal but at least I could back the server up.

 

 

 

 

We have had about 30-40 SBS Servers being backed up in our customer base, to both disk and tape, and had very few issues. Generally, it comes down to a few very recurrant issues, which are easily fixed once you determine which of the 3-4 things that commonly go wrong.

 

 


 
 
 

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.
Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


  #1676471 23-Nov-2016 23:04
Send private message

clinty: Hi,

What is the backup software?

Does the SBS backup work fine? If not then the issue would seem to be with the VSS writer

Regards
Clint

 

 

 

The backup software is a white-label software that i license out of the US to online backup to my own cloud located in NZ.

 

This software works fine for all my other customers(ranging from windows 2000 to windows 2012 but no other sbs customers)

 

 

 

I have been unable to get onsite to try SBS backup i have been working remotely on this!!


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


  #1676473 23-Nov-2016 23:07
Send private message

clinty: Also does the error always occur - even when you run a manual backup, and is there any other software that could possibly be locking the exchange DB

Clint

 

i have not had chance to get onsite to try manual backup!!

 

it is completely standard install of SBS!!


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


  #1676474 23-Nov-2016 23:10
Send private message

cisconz:

 

For $300 you can log a ticket with MS directly - They will work on "Exchange VSS Writers Failing" until it is resolved.

 

 

 

 

From what i have read in all the forums Microsoft blame it on the third party software!!

 

Also Microsoft don't want to help because this is OEM SBS on HP server

 

 


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


#1676497 23-Nov-2016 23:13
Send private message

Dynamic: VSS issues are often resolved by a reboot. Tried this?

Have you applied the service packs?

Give up and migrate them to Office365 email?

 

This server has been rebooted so many times lately i have lost count

 

yip after the local support company requested it to be updated, i did to latest rollup

 

I wish i could for the headaches this has given me i would love to move them to cloud hosted but they use extra plugins for calendar production planning which aren't supported in cloud


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


  #1676498 23-Nov-2016 23:14
Send private message

networkn:

 

We have seen issues like this before. Make sure there are no limits set on the Shadowcopy.

 

Also, try this (At your own risk). I recommend hiring someone properly qualified if you don't feel comfortable. There are people who would get this fixed for $500 guaranteed :) 

 

http://www.careexchange.in/how-to-re-register-vss-volume-shadow-copy-service-in-windows-server-2008-r2/

 

I am unsure if you have tried different backup software as a test, but given the VSS writers look upset I am unsure if it would help. 

 

In the meantime, if you can't get a full backup, I'd recommend shutting down the Exchange services and taking a "cold" backup of the DB's etc. 

 

It's worth noting that even if you have cloud-based email, unless you are specifically paying for backups, you should be doing your own anyways (and I don't trust people who say they do backups, so I do them myself anyways). 

 

This problem should be easily solvable with an hour or two with a properly experienced engineer. I'd be embarrassed to charge $500 and not have a solution for you (Unless it's hardware etc of course but then at least you'd know what was required to fix it).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have taken a copy of the exchange manually buy stopping exchange taking copy and starting service again

 

Yes that is what i want somebody i can work with who will fix it for me, i have worked on servers for 20 years but never SBS was always normal windows


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


  #1676499 23-Nov-2016 23:18
Send private message

gjm:

 

I remember having continuous headaches with VSS in SBS. Ended up virtualising the server, running it in HyperV and just backing up the whole VM. Had to turn on circular logging in Exchange to stop disk fulling up which is far from ideal but at least I could back the server up.

 

 

 

 

This is for Small company with a server(like SBS was marketed to)so think VM will be overkill


Dynamic
3866 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1676503 23-Nov-2016 23:41
Send private message

Grundignz:

 

Dynamic: 
Give up and migrate them to Office365 email?

 

I wish i could for the headaches this has given me i would love to move them to cloud hosted but they use extra plugins for calendar production planning which aren't supported in cloud

 

Have you done your own investigation on this?  Occasionally small vendors that no longer actively develop their one-hit-wonder software throw their hands up at the mention of Cloud and say no to be on the safe side.  If the plugin plugs in to Outlook, then it shouldn't care whether the server is in-house or or in the outhouse.  If it talks to Exchange via SMTP then this would also not be a problem.

 

@networkn might be worth engaging to have a look.  We only have half a dozen SBS2011 servers (and one SBS2008 server that I really want to be rid of) left as most clients have moved on to Server 2012 + Exchange Online P1 plans (Office 365's cheapest plan at $6 per mailbox per month - semi-hidden).  I've just searched our notes for the last 18 months and all of the VSS errors we have resolved in that time have been SQL related not Exchange.  Increasing the VSS quotas (disk space % allocated) and increasing the VSS timeout has helped on a couple of occasions.





“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

 

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management.  A great Kiwi company.


Grundignz

38 posts

Geek


  #1676509 23-Nov-2016 23:59
Send private message

Dynamic:

 

Grundignz:

 

Dynamic: 
Give up and migrate them to Office365 email?

 

I wish i could for the headaches this has given me i would love to move them to cloud hosted but they use extra plugins for calendar production planning which aren't supported in cloud

 

Have you done your own investigation on this?  Occasionally small vendors that no longer actively develop their one-hit-wonder software throw their hands up at the mention of Cloud and say no to be on the safe side.  If the plugin plugs in to Outlook, then it shouldn't care whether the server is in-house or or in the outhouse.  If it talks to Exchange via SMTP then this would also not be a problem.

 

@networkn might be worth engaging to have a look.  We only have half a dozen SBS2011 servers (and one SBS2008 server that I really want to be rid of) left as most clients have moved on to Server 2012 + Exchange Online P1 plans (Office 365's cheapest plan at $6 per mailbox per month - semi-hidden).  I've just searched our notes for the last 18 months and all of the VSS errors we have resolved in that time have been SQL related not Exchange.  Increasing the VSS quotas (disk space % allocated) and increasing the VSS timeout has helped on a couple of occasions.

 

 

You are correct i need to investigate the calendar side more

 

It was the extra calender's that get setup which if i understand correctly each one then becomes an extra mail box which would then run into $1000's/year more

 

which seems like a lot of extra to spend on a system that works perfectly for everything they want, just no automatic offsite backup of exchange!

 

I have almost been at the point to write a script stop exchange copy files to another location start exchange and backup the other location daily 

 

I do like the 365 system but for most of my customers its not required. Also instead of putting $10000/year into Microsoft's pocket i prefer it to stay in minesmile

 

Also had a problem with 365 in the past

 

 


 1 | 2 | 3
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22


Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46


Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42


D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34


Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.