Confirm vss tools operation (4040335)

If log truncation is required during creation of a Quiesced snapshot. (assuming server is SQL or exchange) then VSS tools can be installed to provide application consistency to the snapshot.

The steps below can be used to confirm the correct operation.

Initially confirm if VSS is necessary and what is the VM used for?  If the server does not run Exchange or SQL then VMware quiesced snapshot will provide suitable consistency otherwise:

1. Install VSS tools.

From vRanger inventory

right click on VM

Select configure VSS tools

Enter User name and password

Select next

Choose/Confirm disks to be included in VSS snapshot.

Select/Unselect Perform log truncation

Select Finish 

This will create 2 folders:

1st in C:\Program Files\Quest\vRanger\vzShadow and place the vzshadow.exe inside

2nd in C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools backupscripts.d folder created and freeze.bat placed inside

2. Check vzShadow.

From cmd prompt:

cd C:\Program Files\Quest\vRanger\vzShadow

vzShadow.exe C: D: E:  > vzshadowtest.txt (confirm and insert relevant drive letters @ C: D: E:)

This will create a vzshadowtest.txt file in the  C:\Program Files\Quest\vRanger\vzShadow folder confirming creation, last line will confirm "Snapshot creation done"

Delete vzshadowtest.txt file when confirmed as successful.

If the test is unsuccessful provide the results report to support.

3. Check Freeze.bat file

Navigate to the following folder

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupscripts.d

Remove the Freeze.bat file and place on desktop for safe keeping.

Open a notepad and enter the following text.

"C:\Program Files\Dell\vzShadow\vzshadow.exe" C: D: E:  > C:\test.txt  (confirm and insert relevant drive letters @ C: D: E:)

Save this file as Freeze.bat

Place this newly created freeze.bat in the C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupscripts.d folder

From cmd prompt

cd C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupscripts.d

Freeze.bat

This will send a test.txt file to the C:\ - Delete test.txt file when confirmed. 

4. Confirm vSphere successfully calls Freeze.bat:

Go to vSphere client

Right click on VM

Select Snapshot/Take Snapshot

Provide name "Test"

Uncheck 'Snapshot VM's memory'.

Check 'Quiesce guest file system'.

Click OK.

This will send a test.txt file to the C:\ - Delete the test.txt file when confirmed.

Go to snapshot manager in vSphere and remove the snapshot that was created in previous steps.

Remove Freeze.bat from C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupscripts.d and replace with original.

If test.txt file is not created check the following VMware KB to confirm correct environment specific default location for custom scripts is being used.