Volume Shadow Copy -

Download and install Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service SDK. Available for Windows XP and Server 2003. The SDK includes the vshadow command used below.

Shadow copies can be accessed only by computers on which the Shadow Copies of Shared Folders client software (Twcli32.msi) has been installed. For Windows Server 2003, Shadow Copies of Shared Folders works by default. For Windows XP Professional, the code is available on the Windows Server 2003 CD at %Windir%\System32\Clients\Twclient\X86. Windows versions older than XP also require that Shadow Copy Client be installed on Windows Server 2003 as well. The client adds a Previous Versions tab to the Properties dialog of files and folders.

The command to create the persistent, non-writable shadow copies is --
	vshadow -p -nw c: e:

The command to view a list of existing shadow copies is --
	vshadow -q

The commands to assign drive letters to the shadow copies is --
	vshadow -el={ffdeab29-fb73-4a8d-8bb8-f89e7472d4c5},G:
	vshadow -el={a8714803-4ab0-4a91-9400-59964f6fe4a1},H:
	where the "el=" argument is the "SNAPSHOT ID" as reported by vshadow.

To manage existing shadow copies, go to "Properties; Shadow Copies" for any drive. You can set a schedule for creating shadow copies regularly, as in just prior to performing a backup.

To create shadow copies, and use them to backup, two scripts are used --

	backup.cmd
	----------
	set BACKUP_DIR=d:\backup\server
	vshadow -p -nw -script=%BACKUP_DIR%\vshadow_env.cmd -exec=%BACKUP_DIR%\vshadow_backup.cmd c: e:
	set BACKUP_DIR=

	vshadow_backup.cmd
	------------------
	call d:\\backup\\server\\vshadow_env.cmd

	vshadow -el=%SHADOW_ID_1%,G:
	robocopy g:\ d:\backup\server\c /mir /r:0 /xj /zb /copyall /v /ts /fp /np /tee /log:d:\backup\server\DriveC.log
	start /wait ntbackup backup systemstate /F "d:\backup\server\System State.bkf"
	start /wait ntbackup backup G:\ /F "d:\backup\server\Drive C.bkf"
	vshadow -ds=%SHADOW_ID_1%

	vshadow -el=%SHADOW_ID_2%,G:
	robocopy g:\ d:\backup\server\e /mir /r:0 /xj /zb /copyall /v /ts /fp /np /tee /log:d:\backup\server\DriveE.log
	start /wait ntbackup backup G:\ /F "d:\backup\server\Drive E.bkf"
	vshadow -ds=%SHADOW_ID_2%