VSS Copy Backup Software

Volume Shadow Copy backup software is a technology utilizing the VSS Windows service that allows you to make backup copies or snapshots of data on a specific volume, even if the data is locked. Starting from the 7th version, Handy Backup uses VSS perfectly well.

Volume Shadow Copy backup allows hot backup, e.g. saving copies of data or even whole storage devices already opened, locked, blocked or actively used by any other software and for any other purposes, without a need for stopping these processes. It saves time and efforts, and can eliminate a significant part of human errors as well.

VSS (Volume Shadow Copy) is a standard Windows technology allowing reading files already opened. In Handy Backup, the implementation of VSS shadow copy allows "hot" backup, e.g. copying data actively used by other software without stopping it.

VSS Software Technologies

The VSS technology utilizes the NTFS file system. It is available in all modern Windows versions including Windows 10, 7, Windows Server 2016, 2012 and 2008, operating primarily with backup tasks, especially with those that copy entire volumes without stopping other data jobs. This technology is a mainstay of Windows data accessing for locked files.

All new technologies of Handy Backup use volume shadow copy solutions always when it is possible. These technologies are especially efficient for server-type data, such as drive images, databases and virtual machines.

One of the most popular reasons to go for a Volume Shadow Copy backup software solution is getting the advantage of "hot" backup. Shortly, the term "hot backup" means copying data already opened and processed by other software.

• As an example, let us describe the "hot" MS SQL Server backup. Because getting the database off-line, stopping the service, and hence losing time is something we don’t like and our company is not really happy about (since making things quick is out business attitude).
• Another example is taking a VSS full backup for an entire system drive. Stopping the system for backup can be too distracting, too boring or even too unsafe for many users, so they can just reject backing up their systems. "Hot" backup removes these troubles!

If you ever tried to copy files locked or blocked by an application files, you would have a chance to see an error message like "The process cannot access the file because another process has locked a portion of the file". In a situation like that, the VSS service for backup is exactly what you need.

For flawless copying of locked files, you only need to verify that these services are enabled:

• Volume Shadow Copy
• Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider

Using Handy Backup as your Volume Shadow copy backup solution, you can effectively make snapshots of your information without stopping processing it when backing it up.