User's Manual

2.2
Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service
3PAR Recovery Manager 3.0.2 for Microsoft SQL Server User’s Guide
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operating system and applications and freezes computing tasks to allow snapshot creation.
The freeze function enables an application consistent snapshot to be taken. The shadow copy
volume is then used for the actual backup. After the shadow copy volume is saved on the
backup device, the shadow copy is deleted.
The 3PAR VSS Hardware Provider coordinates between Requestors (backup applications –
Recovery Manager), Writers (applications in windows services – Microsoft SQL Server) and
providers (components that create the shadow copies).
VSS Component VSS Component Description
Requestor The requestor is backup software that initiates the
creation of the shadow copy.
Writer The writer is any application software that participates in
the shadow copy process and whose files and data are
included in the process.
Provider The provider is the storage technology that does the
actual shadow copy.