Applications Systems
Windows Server Dedup Writer Causes Errors With System State Backup with Solarwinds Backup
When you have the Dedup writer selected in the System Backup you can run into issues with System State backup not completing due to VSS writer errors or that System state backups take several hours to complete.
First published date
4/11/2020 4:19 PM
Last published date
4/11/2020 4:19 PM
Overview
The Dedup Writer in the system state selection is a VSS backup of drives marked in Windows as a Deduplication volume. This Dedup writer does not have any affect on Solarwinds Backup Deduplication process but is another backup option leveraging the VSS writer on the Windows server for backing up Deduplication volumnes in Windows.
Please see this Microsoft Doc for more information about backing up Deuplication Enabled Volumes: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/dedup/backup-and-restore-of-data-deduplication-enabled-volumes
(© 2020 Microsoft, available at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/dedup/backup-and-restore-of-data-deduplication-enabled-volumes, obtained on 04/11/20)
Please see this Microsoft Doc for more information about backing up Deuplication Enabled Volumes: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/dedup/backup-and-restore-of-data-deduplication-enabled-volumes
(© 2020 Microsoft, available at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/dedup/backup-and-restore-of-data-deduplication-enabled-volumes, obtained on 04/11/20)
Product section
SolarWinds Backup
Cause
VSS Writer has slow performance when backing up large numbers of Files or large quantities of data causing the backup to fail due to VSS snapshot timeouts or other timeouts which can occur with VSS due to the amount of time it takes to complete the backup.
Resolution
Disable the Dedup writer backup in the system state backup options.
As long as your Deduplication volume is being backed up by the Files and folder backup than your files will be backed up.
When files and folders backup is backing up your volume and you add the dedup writer as well this will introduce duplicate data as both backup sets will include the same data. It is safe in these scenarios to remove the Dedup writer backup as the data is already backed up with the Files and Folders backup.
Disclaimer: Please note, any content posted herein is provided as a suggestion or recommendation to you for your internal use. This is not part of the SolarWinds software or documentation that you purchased from SolarWinds, and the information set forth herein may come from third parties. Your organization should internally review and assess to what extent, if any, such custom scripts or recommendations will be incorporated into your environment. You elect to use third party content at your own risk, and you will be solely responsible for the incorporation of the same, if any.
As long as your Deduplication volume is being backed up by the Files and folder backup than your files will be backed up.
When files and folders backup is backing up your volume and you add the dedup writer as well this will introduce duplicate data as both backup sets will include the same data. It is safe in these scenarios to remove the Dedup writer backup as the data is already backed up with the Files and Folders backup.
Disclaimer: Please note, any content posted herein is provided as a suggestion or recommendation to you for your internal use. This is not part of the SolarWinds software or documentation that you purchased from SolarWinds, and the information set forth herein may come from third parties. Your organization should internally review and assess to what extent, if any, such custom scripts or recommendations will be incorporated into your environment. You elect to use third party content at your own risk, and you will be solely responsible for the incorporation of the same, if any.