APAR status
Closed as program error.
Error description
Backing up Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2 virtual machines that contain dynamic disks can result in the dynamic disks being detached from Windows at the end of the backup. The dynamic disks are still intact and can be reconnected to Windows. This problem occurs because application-consistent quiescing is performed when the snapshot is taken during the backup process. For application-consistent quiescing to be available on Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2, one of the conditions that Windows requires is that the virtual machine must not use dynamic disks. This is because VMware uses a hardware provider to perform the VSS snapshot, and shadow copies created by hardware providers of volumes that reside on dynamic disks have a specific requirement that they cannot be imported onto the same system. See the following Microsoft VSS topic for more detailed information: msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384594 This issue is also described in the release notes for Tivoli Storage Manager: Version 6.3: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21508259 Version 6.4: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21608413
Local fix
You can prevent this behavior by modifying how part of the virtual machine is quiesced. It is possible to configure the virtual machine so that application data is not quiesced, while still allowing the file system to be quiesced. The implication is that application data might not be flushed to disk before the snapshot is taken. File system data will still be flushed, and the I/O held while the snapshot is being taken. See the following VMware KB article for more detailed information about how to configure the virtual machine so that application data is not quiesced: kb.vmware.com/kb/1031298
Problem summary
**************************************************************** * USERS AFFECTED: Backup-archive client 6.4 * * running on all Microsoft Windows and * * Linux x86 platforms. * **************************************************************** * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: See ERROR DESCRIPTION * **************************************************************** * RECOMMENDATION: Apply fixing level when available. This * * problem is projected to be fixed in * * level 6.4.1. Note that until the * * fixing level is available, this * * information is subject to change * * at the discretion of IBM. * **************************************************************** There are cases where invoking quiesced VMware VM snapshots (VSS) of a Windows 2008 VM containing dynamic disks may cause problems, and the VM, or some of its disks, may become unusable. Some of the symptoms are: - When you create an application-consistent quiescent snapshot of a virtual machine running Windows 2008 with dynamic disk, you see duplicate dynamic disks in the Windows Disk Manager. - When removing the virtual machine snapshot, the duplicate dynamic disks appear as missing in the Windows Disk Manager. - In some cases, after the virtual machine snapshot removal, the drive letters previously assigned to the original dynamic disk volumes become unassigned. - The dynamic disks may become detached from the VM at the end of the backup. The VMware API used to create snapshots allows a flag to be specified to indicate whether or not the VM should be quiesced before taking the snapshot. To allow customers to work around this issue, the testflag VM_DONT_QUIESCE_ON_SNAPSHOT is being provided by this APAR. When specified, the TSM backup will indicate on the VMware snapshot API that application quiescing should not be performed.
Problem conclusion
When the testflag VM_DONT_QUIESCE_ON_SNAPSHOT is specified, it indicates that the VM should not be quiesced before the snapshot is taken. This is specified on the VMware API that is used to create the VM snapshot needed for the VM backup operation.
Temporary fix
A fix for this problem is currently targeted for interim fix package 6.4.0.1. Until the interim fix is actually available this information is subject to change at the discretion of IBM.
Comments
APAR Information
APAR number
IC89340
Reported component name
TSM CLIENT
Reported component ID
5698ISMCL
Reported release
64W
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
NoHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt
Submitted date
2013-01-02
Closed date
2013-02-04
Last modified date
2013-02-04
APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:
APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:
Modules/Macros
DSMAGENT DSMC
Fix information
Fixed component name
TSM CLIENT
Fixed component ID
5698ISMCL
Applicable component levels
R64L PSY
UP
R64W PSY
UP
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Document Information
Modified date:
04 February 2013