Domino Server Backup question

[MaccaNZ]

I've found most of what I need to do from searching the other forum posts on here....thanks for the useful information so far

My query is when doing the backup (VEEAM B&R 7) of the Domino server in question (W2K3 running Domino 8.5.1) should I see the Domino service shutdown and start up again when looking at the console window?

I've configured the backup job with "Enable VMware Tools Quiescence" enabled under the Storage section and enabled "Enable Application-Aware Image Processing" under the Guest Processing section.

I've then copied the following 2 scripts into the "C:\Windows" folder on the VM to be backed up

Pre Freeze
@echo off
Net Time \\%computername% >> C:\scripts\logs\freeze.log
rem *********************
rem Stops Domino daemon
rem *********************
net stop "IBM Domino Server (CDominodata)"

Post Thaw
@echo off
rem *********************
rem Start Domino daemon
rem *********************
net start "IBM Domino Server (CDominodata)"

I run the backup job and it all completes as green, but I'm not seeing the Domino server shutdown, it appears to be up the whole time. So what am I missing?

I also tried it by copying the scripts into "c:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupScripts.d" but I get the same result ie no drop in the server.

I've provided Guest OS Credentials as part of the job but again same result. Any ideas or pointers?

Searched around but I couldn't see any other posts that answered my query, apologies if I missed it

[foggy]

Chris, do you see any errors while executing the scripts? Are you able to successfully perform these scripts manually on the VM? How about triggering them when you create VM snapshot with quiescence enabled via vSphere Client?

[foggy]

Have just reread your post once again - you do not need to enable application-aware image processing if you're using pre-freeze/post-thaw scripts, you just need VMware Tools quiescence. Either disable AAIP for the entire job or for this particular VM (using Advanced button at the Guest Processing step).

[dellock6]

Sorry for the shameless plug, but I did a backup job for a Domino server some months ago, maybe this can help:

http://www.virtualtothecore.com/en/back ... d-not-vss/

Luca.

[MaccaNZ]

Scripts run fine from the CMD prompt inside the VM, if I test through vCenter and use the "Quiesce Guest File System" option it fails saying time out and the guest os reported an error with the custom script.

I'll try the shameless plug option and see what happens

[veremin]

Hi, Chris,

Since pre-freeze/post-thaw scripts don't seem to work, even if Veeam isn't present, it might be worth contacting VMWare directly, letting them investigate directly. Also, the particular directory where the scripts should be stored depends on ESX(i) version. So, can you confirm that you've chosen the directory correctly?

Anyway, once the issue is solved, kindly, turn off "Application Aware Image Processing" and use only "VMware Quiesce" option.

Thanks.

[MaccaNZ]

We're running 5.1 with update 1 installed.

I've tried it in C:\Windows & C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupScripts.d to see if there's any difference.

Both locations still get the same result of timing out when taking the snap, scripts appear to run correctly ie Freeze runs and Domino shutdowns down, the it sits there and the timeout then hits and finally the thaw runs restoring Domino services.

I'll have a nosey around the VMware forums and see what I can dig up.

[dogugotw]

I am a server owner and believe that our backup admins are going about the Domino backup the wrong way. I am not part of the IT group so getting good technical information has been kind of hit or miss. If someone can point me to technical documentation that describes backup options and best practices for Domino, that would be great. If anyone wants to provide me a short overview of the topic here, that would be really great.
We're running Veeam V7 on VSphere (I think...we moved to new virtualizing hardware recently and so I could be wrong). Domino is V 8.5.3 on Win 2008R2. The entire server is virtualized (no SAN storage is used).

The server runs one 3rd party add-in that hates file contention and I've been seeing Domino lock up throwing errors that indicate that the 3rd party tool has been grabbed by some other process (backup?) and killing the server.

My backup admin is telling me that with Veeam 7 there is no need to run server freeze/thaw scripts because it's smart enough to kill processes that are getting in the way of the backup.

If you need more information, please let me know and thank you for your help.

Signed me 'tired of getting to work and finding my inbox full of server down emails'.

[Vitaliy S.]

Hi Doug,

If your Domino server has VSS writers, then your backup admin is correct, there is no need to use pre-freeze and post-thaw scripts. As to the 3rd party add-in, then it could be caused either VSS freeze operation or something else (need to check Windows Event logs for Domino server).

Thanks!

[dogugotw]

Vitality S,

What is a VSS writer and how could I tell if it was installed on my server?

My goal is to be able to ask my admin specific questions so I can validate that he's doing the right thing.

FWIW, we disabled Veeam backups over the weekend and revert to ArcServe with the specific problem files excluded and there were no crashes.

Inch by inch, step by step, we're getting closer and closer!

Thanks for the feedback.

Doug

[Vitaliy S.]

Hi Doug,

You can check that via running this command on your Domino server: vssadmin list writers. If there are not Domino specific writers present, then I would recommend using pre-freeze/post-thaw scripts.

Thanks!

[dogugotw]

First, thank you for the command.
Second, I don't see anything that looks like Domino. If I'm not seeing it because the name doesn't include Domino or Lotus or IBM, let me know which one of these is 'the' one.
Lastly, where do these writers come from? Are they provided by IBM or Veeam? Who would I point my admin to?

Thank you again, this conversation has been very helpful!

Doug

Code: Select all

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Writer name: 'Task Scheduler Writer'
   Writer Id: {d61d61c8-d73a-4eee-8cdd-f6f9786b7124}
   Writer Instance Id: {1bddd48e-5052-49db-9b07-b96f96727e6b}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'VSS Metadata Store Writer'
   Writer Id: {75dfb225-e2e4-4d39-9ac9-ffaff65ddf06}
   Writer Instance Id: {088e7a7d-09a8-4cc6-a609-ad90e75ddc93}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Performance Counters Writer'
   Writer Id: {0bada1de-01a9-4625-8278-69e735f39dd2}
   Writer Instance Id: {f0086dda-9efc-47c5-8eb6-a944c3d09381}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'System Writer'
   Writer Id: {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220}
   Writer Instance Id: {f65c2840-09fc-4031-afca-0df79cbf59e2}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'ASR Writer'
   Writer Id: {be000cbe-11fe-4426-9c58-531aa6355fc4}
   Writer Instance Id: {9c518224-f71a-4975-8d8b-b1277b6ee53f}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Registry Writer'
   Writer Id: {afbab4a2-367d-4d15-a586-71dbb18f8485}
   Writer Instance Id: {83e1a45a-2273-4784-a999-8be1d6d1cd82}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'COM+ REGDB Writer'
   Writer Id: {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f}
   Writer Instance Id: {d8b4911e-3f53-4056-8e8a-91930f93618b}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Shadow Copy Optimization Writer'
   Writer Id: {4dc3bdd4-ab48-4d07-adb0-3bee2926fd7f}
   Writer Instance Id: {39cef96d-42d7-4ddb-af03-0cc7244f99d1}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'WMI Writer'
   Writer Id: {a6ad56c2-b509-4e6c-bb19-49d8f43532f0}
   Writer Instance Id: {2f02697d-1efd-49f5-a215-c0c5f6428900}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

[dogugotw]

I did a quick duckduckgo search and found that IBM should provide it (and doesn't/didn't)

http://ideajam.net/IdeaJam/P/ij.nsf/0/1 ... enDocument

Thanks.

[Vitaliy S.]

Yes, it does not look like you have Domino VSS writers installed. You can try to reach IBM for more info about support of VSS writers as it is mentioned in this topic > Question on VM tools quiescence and snapshots.

If there are no writers provided, then pre-freeze scripts should be a way to go. Thanks!