How do I specify the <Component> for diskshadow?

[Guest Michael B. Smith [MVP]]

I am attempting to use diskshadow.exe on Windows Server 2008 RTM. My question

is specifically with the "writer verify" and "writer exclude" commands.

 

The technet help at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771649.aspx

is fairly non-specific. It tells me that the syntax is “writer exclude

[<Writer> | <Component>]” and that “Writers are specified by ID.“ But it

doesn’t tell me how to specify <Component>!

 

For example, I can get the writer ID from “vssadmin list writers”. No

problem, and that works great. As an example:

 

writer exclude {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f}

 

works fine. To get the components, I go into diskshadow and do a “list

writers” which gives me a more detailed output. For example:

 

* WRITER "Microsoft Exchange Writer"

- Writer ID = {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}

- Writer instance ID = {16fcd338-7db0-404a-b6e1-d329981c494b}

- Supports restore events = TRUE

- Writer restore conditions = VSS_WRE_ALWAYS

- Restore method = VSS_RME_RESTORE_IF_CAN_REPLACE

- Requires reboot after restore = FALSE

- Excluded files:

+ Component "Microsoft Exchange Writer:\Microsoft Exchange

Server\Microsoft Information

Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da"

- Name: cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

- Logical path: Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft

Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH

- Full path: \Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft

Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

- Caption: First Storage Group

- Type: VSS_CT_FILEGROUP [2]

- Is selectable: TRUE

- Is top level: TRUE

- Notify on backup complete: TRUE

- Paths affected by this component:

- Volumes affected by this component:

- Component Dependencies:

<…further output elided…>

 

In the case of an Exchange server with multiple storage groups, I want to

suppress a particular component – for example, one storage group (note that

this also applies to SQL Server, MSDE, AD LDS, etc.) – it isn’t Exchange

specific. What syntax do I use to suppress the component with "writer

exclude"?

 

Using the sample output above, it’s not:

 

 Component: "Microsoft Exchange Writer:\Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft

Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da"

 Name: cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

 Logical path: Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft Information

Store\WIN2008-EXCH

 Full path: \Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft Information

Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

 

The only one of those syntaxes that diskshadow accepts is “Name”, and that

doesn’t work. At least, I’ve not been able to figure out how to make it work.

Thus, my dilemma.

 

Do you have any samples/examples of the proper syntax for specifying

<Component>? If I could, I would use vshadow which does have multiple

documents syntaxes for <Component>. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on Server

2008.

 

Thanks for any assistance. I appreciate your time.

 

(And if I've posted to the wrong group, apologies in advances, please direct

me to the proper group.)

--

Regards,

 

Michael B. Smith, MCITP:SA,EMA/MCSE/Exchange MVP

My blog: http://TheEssentialExchange.com/blogs/michael

Link with me at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/theessentialexchange