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Choosing a VSS Provider

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    Before you configure backup jobs, it is recommended to decide on the VSS provider that will be used to create and maintain volume shadow copies.

    By default, Veeam Backup & Replication automatically selects a VSS provider on every volume. Every 4 hours it rescans all managed Hyper‑V hosts to update information on connected volumes. Veeam Backup & Replication also collects information on software and hardware VSS providers available on every volume. If hardware providers are available, Veeam Backup & Replication will select a hardware provider. If no hardware providers are installed, the VSS system software provider will be selected to create and manage shadow copies on a volume. If necessary, however, you can assign a VSS provider on every volume manually.

    If both software and hardware providers are available for a volume, it is recommended to select a hardware provider. Although software providers are generally applicable to a wider range of storage platforms, they are exposed to a number of limitations:

    • If a hardware provider is used to take a snapshot in such case, the CSV stays in the redirected mode while the snapshot is taken; after a volume shadow copy is created, the CSV resumes direct I/O.
    • If a software provider is used to take a snapshot, the CSV stays in the redirected mode until the backup process completes. In cases when large virtual disks are processed, backup time can be significant.