When doing image based backups with your backup software you have the option to enable Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) under backup options.

This means that the backup software request VMware tools to initiate a VSS snapshot in the Guest OS.

All registered VSS writers (run vssadmin list writers command to list all writers) in the Guest OS get the request and they prepare its application to be backed up (committing all transactions to disk).

Once all VSS writers are finished they communicate back to your backup software which then initiate a VMware snapshot. This will make the backup application consistent.

Attachments:

VSS Status.zip

[PowerGUI Powerpack]

1 Kb