Exchange backup fails creating VSS snapshot while using the Exchange replication writer
We see the following entries in the netvault binary log:
Job Message 2012/11/12 12:02:40 606 Data Plugin PHGHQMAILBOX2 Exchange replication writer instance not found in VSS metadata
Job Message 2012/11/12 12:02:40 606 Data Plugin PHGHQMAILBOX2 Selected the VSS components required for backup on server 'PHGHQMAILBOX2'
Error 2012/11/12 12:02:46 606 Data Plugin PHGHQMAILBOX2 Failed to create VSS Snapshot on server 'PHGHQMAILBOX2'
This indicates Exchange replication writer is in an incorrect state at the time netvault tries to create a snapshot for the exchange backup and not a NetVault issue. We can check the state of the write by issuing the following command from the command prompt
“VSSADMIN LIST WRITERS”
Below is an example of what you may see:
Writer name: 'Microsoft Exchange Replica Writer'
Writer Id: {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
Writer Instance Id: {17e8df11-a8a2-4ee3-a3fb-e552b7da2d83}
State: [8] Failed
Last error: Retryable error
Writer name: 'Microsoft Exchange Writer'
Writer Id: {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
Writer Instance Id: {e0ad4b68-8938-4be5-9b88-4c74df2b2d65}
State: [1] Stable
Last error: No error
restart the service that the writer was associated with and/or fix whatever configuration issue is causing the failures. For example, given the above output I would restart the Exchange Replication Service in an attempt to return the writer to a Stable No Error state. (If it would have been the Microsoft Exchange Writer I would have restarted the Exchange Information Store Service).
For further information on how to resolve exchange write problems see KB below:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/timmcmic/archive/2012/03/11/exchange-and-vss-my-exchange-writer-is-in-a-failed-retryable-state.aspx
