Server 2008 R2 & Exchange Server 2010

[BeoTeK]

Hopefully someone out there is familiar with said software.

Having a specific issue with the VSS Writer. Every time I try to do a backup of some kind, it fails by the time it gets to the end.

If I perform a vssadmin list writers via command prompt I see one problem:

Writer name: 'Microsoft Exchange Writer'
Writer Id: {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
Writer Instance Id: {e2307bcd-5aa9-4473-ba04-c65a6b7311cb}
State: [8] Failed
Last error: Retryable error

The only way I can find to get this writer going again is to restart the Information Store. Anyone experienced this, or am I barking up the wrong tree in this community?

Thanks,
Shane.

 

[Shirou]

I had the same issue before with one of our clients, did you try dismount the mailboxes before doing the backup?

 

[BeoTeK]

I had the same issue before with one of our clients, did you try dismount the mailboxes before doing the backup?

I must say, it never actually crossed my mind.

At the moment it seems operational, my backups were successful last night.

Writer name: 'Microsoft Exchange Writer'
Writer Id: {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
Writer Instance Id: {90e8f326-254b-451f-9cc6-086fd5912877}
State: [1] Stable
Last error: No error

I'm pretty sure it was related to an issue where my Windows Server Backup and Acronis try to each run a task which both require the VSS service. But afaik the VSS writers can handle up to two tasks/processes simultaneously. Strange part it, the backup times haven't been modified in ages, no all of a sardine I'm having issues.
But it was successful last night after changing some scheduled times, lets hope all stays well.

Thanks...

 

[Shirou]

I must say, it never actually crossed my mind.

At the moment it seems operational, my backups were successful last night.



I'm pretty sure it was related to an issue where my Windows Server Backup and Acronis try to each run a task which both require the VSS service. But afaik the VSS writers can handle up to two tasks/processes simultaneously. Strange part it, the backup times haven't been modified in ages, no all of a sardine I'm having issues.
But it was successful last night after changing some scheduled times, lets hope all stays well.

Thanks...

hmmm might have been Acronis conflicting, what times did acronis and your windows back run? and whats the new times at.. would like to know if this solved your issue as i had the same problem last but did something else.

 

[BeoTeK]

hmmm might have been Acronis conflicting, what times did acronis and your windows back run? and whats the new times at.. would like to know if this solved your issue as i had the same problem last but did something else.

Well my Windows Backup task starts at 21h00 (this is the earliest I can make it) and I have it running a full backup every day which generally takes about 12-hours to copy.
Acronis Exchange Mailbox task was scheduled at 03h00 which generally takes about an hour or two to complete, so I have moved this to 18h00 so not to conflict too much with business times.

What I can't fathom is why this suddenly started giving issues, when it has been fine for ages, despite overlapping times.

 

[Shirou]

Well my Windows Backup task starts at 21h00 (this is the earliest I can make it) and I have it running a full backup every day which generally takes about 12-hours to copy.
Acronis Exchange Mailbox task was scheduled at 03h00 which generally takes about an hour or two to complete, so I have moved this to 18h00 so not to conflict too much with business times.

What I can't fathom is why this suddenly started giving issues, when it has been fine for ages, despite overlapping times.

hmm, yea it does not make sense, but then again working in the IT industry thats normal