10.5 HP StoreVirtual Storage Application-Aware Snapshot Manager Deployment Guide (AX696-96253, March 2013)

Before using the Application Aware Snapshot Manager, set the management group credentials
one of two ways:
• Open the Authentication Console and enter the management group credentials. For more
information, see “Setting credentials to authenticate management groups” (page 8).
• Use the CLI commands cacheCredentials and clearCredentials on the application
server to set credentials for management groups. For more information, see HP StoreVirtual
LeftHand OS Command Line Interface User Guide.
Using VSS snapshots
The Application Aware Snapshot Manager uses the VSS Provider to create a VSS snapshot as a
persistent target in the MS iSCSI initiator. The VSS snapshot also appears in the CMC with the
naming convention of VSS-<unique id>. The snapshot is available as needed to the backup
application. When the snapshot is no longer needed, it is deleted from both the CMC and the
iSCSI initiator.
In the LeftHand OS software all snapshots are created as thinly provisioned.
Viewing a VSS-named snapshot in the CMC
When working with other backup products, all VSS snapshots remain in the CMC until processing
is complete, and then they are deleted. If they are not deleted, you can delete them manually when
you are certain that the backup process is finished.
Transportable snapshots
VSS snapshots can be used as transportable snapshots; that is, they can be mounted on a different
server for backup. Transportable snapshots are persistent, which means they remain in the CMC
and the iSCSI initiator until the backup is finished.
To use transportable snapshots on Windows Server 2003 Standard, you must install the Microsoft
QFE referenced in Microsoft Knowledge Base article listed at:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913648
Deleting transportable snapshots
To cleanly delete a transportable snapshot from the system, use the requestor application to perform
the deletion.
For example, a CommVault QR job requests a transportable snapshot from the VSS Provider. When
the snapshot is no longer needed, you can log in to the CommVault application and delete the
snapshot that is associated with the job that created it.
Troubleshooting the Application Aware Snapshot Manager
The Application Aware Snapshot Manager VSS Provider runs as an NT service. You can view
both the Volume Shadow Copy service and the VSS Provider service in the Computer Management
window under Services and Applications > Services.
Restarting the VSS Provider service
The VSS Provider service starts automatically. If you check in the Services list and it is not started,
you can start it manually.
Viewing the event log messages
The event log reports issues with the VSS Provider, the iSCSI initiator, and Volume Shadow Copy.
Open the event log to view messages about those applications.
Using VSS snapshots 5