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11 Deploying Symantec Backup Exec 2014 with Dell PS Series Arrays | TR1057
Figure 2 VSS framework
1. VSS writer integrated with the application, which prepares the application for the backup or
restore operation.
2. VSS requestor is usually a backup application that requests the creation of shadow copies and
provides an interface for backing up and restoring data. Backup Exec functions as a requestor.
3. VSS provider is installed with HIT for Microsoft and interacts directly with the PS Series group.
This illustrates how to use the HIT kit for Windows (VSS provider) with Symantec Backup Exec 2014 (VSS
requester) to backup and restore Hyper-V, NTFS, Exchange, SQL, and SharePoint applications (VSS writers)
providing an end-to-end backup and restore solution.
A snapshot provides a stable copy of volume data for backups. There are three types of VSS snapshots:
Local software-based, Local hardware-based and Transportable (offhost) hardware-based.
Local software-based VSS snapshots: The backup application is responsible for creating and storing the
snapshot of a backup client volume. Then, the backup client mounts the snapshot, and the backup server
backs up the snapshot.