Backup not working on non-Windows SMB3 File Server

[aham1234]

Case ID 01224311

Hi,
How are backups supposed to work for VMs with storage on non-Windows SMB3/CIFS file servers? Our custom CIFS implementation has FSRVP protocol implemented. This should not be any different than hosting your VM's storage on a NetApp Filer or Nutanix's custom SMB3 share. I am wondering why it would fail on us. Since I can't post log files here, I would ask you experts to please comment on 1. Whether or not it should work. 2. What special setup step I might have forgotten if it is supposed to work. I verified our FSRVP implementation responds to DiskShadow - an inbox requester provided by Microsoft.
I have been on forums and have seem people mentioning that Veeam CBT driver won't be able to install on non-Windows Servers for obvious reasons, but that doesn't block Veeam from backing up VMs and I agree. Please confirm that it is not a problem as well, since we are a Linux based Server.

[foggy]

Generally, non-Windows based SMB3 shares should work (except CBT) if you can take VSS snapshot of the volume using DiskShadow (hence, Veeam B&R will also be able to do this). Have you actually tried to take a snapshot?

[aham1234]

I certainly did, but the backup fails. The logs say something along the lines of at pre-backup task failed and it complains about the snapshot file starting with "Failed to analyze snapshot availability" and says there are no more files available. Can I post a few lines of log and may be you can get a better idea?

[foggy]

Not me, but a support engineer could. Please provide full logs for investigation within the case you've opened for this issue.

[aham1234]

Ok. I already uploaded the logs and a couple of other files. Hopefully I will hear back from support soon.

[Vitaliy S.]

Not sure if it is relevant, but you might want to review this thread for some details on a similar issue > Backing up SMB3 shares hosted on EMC VNX

[aham1234]

Vitaliy,
I was about to ping you on that thread; what was the resolution there? Here's the relevant log snippet from me (hope a few lines is OK and I am not breaking any forum rules),

Code: Select all

[09.12.2015 18:22:06] <10> Info [RTS] Detecting VSS providers can be used to create VM snapshot, host '[[MYHOST]]'.
[09.12.2015 18:22:06] <10> Info [RTS] - volume '\\TTHA16-DATA\HYPERV', provider 'Fileshare Provider', id '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000', default provider 'Fileshare Provider'.
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <26> Info [wmi('[[MYHOST]]')] Invoking WMI query with enum timeout '300 sec': 'SELECT * FROM Msvm_ComputerSystem WHERE Name = "0417D3E2-FD38-4110-B202-999C5121598B"'
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <16> Info [wmi('[[MYHOST]]')] Searching for VM with ID '0417d3e2-fd38-4110-b202-999c5121598b'.
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <16> Info [wmi('[[MYHOST]]')] Invoking WMI query with enum timeout '300 sec': 'SELECT * FROM Msvm_ComputerSystem WHERE Name = "0417D3E2-FD38-4110-B202-999C5121598B"'
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <10> Info [RTS HvSnapshot [vmname='ttha16-data-524505-0' : snapshot mode='enCrash' : offhost mode='enNone']] VM statistic: VmID='0417d3e2-fd38-4110-b202-999c5121598b', Host='qa-vm-hyperv04.east.ads.dev.tintri.com', Is powered on='True'.
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <10> Error [RTS] Failed to analyze snapshot availability.
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <10> Error There are no more files.
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <10> Error --tr:Failed to obtain shadow path for backup item '\\'[[MYHOST]]'\hyperv\Imports\0-635852815957776558-Default\Snapshots\DD8B2A61-CAE1-4741-9812-EBF878E87F45.xml'.
[09.12.2015 18:22:07] <10> Error --tr:Failed to perform pre-backup tasks. (System.Exception)

But I also just realized that the snapshot mode='enCrash' says it is crash consistent? How do I take a VM consistent snapshot now or is it because your requester ran into some other issues?

[Vitaliy S.]

Hi Himanshu,

Yes, posting log snippets is prohibited as per our forum rules. Do you have AAIP option enabled in the backup job?

Thanks!

[aham1234]

Sorry about that.
I don't have AAIP enabled...on that note, I think Hyper-V writer should help quiesce the VM using the HyperV host writer and requester agent inside the VM without having to log into the VM, right?
In any case, no, i didn't use that option. Let me know. Thanks!

[Vitaliy S.]

In the thread I've referenced to the issue was with AAIP option and no ability to use VSS writer to quiesce the VM on that SMB3 share. The first thing that I would check is the security access list on that share. If everything looks ok, then let's wait till our support engineer reviews the full log files package.