What Volume Shadow Copy Backup Is and Why You Need It

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 Volume Shadow Copy technology utilizes the NTFS file system. It appears firstly in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003, and operates primarily with backup tasks, especially those that create backup shadow copies of entire volumes without stopping other data job. Currently, this technology is a mainstay of data copying in Windows, including accessing 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.

• Handy Backup utilizes VSS for backing up some databases, such as MS SQL and MS Exchange Server, as well as for operating with Oracle RMAN.

• In other hand, “hot” backup of typical user data, such as folders and files (including data opened by applications), can be very comfortable for users, too.

No extra efforts or actions required for using Handy Backup as shadow backup software. The program automatically implements these technologies every time when it is possible. To stay with more traditional “cold” backup, just stop working with data you are planning to save; then Handy Backup will process this data as common files or folders.

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 backup shadow copy of 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.