Backup Agent Causes Unsupported Cluster Configuration in SCVMM

It was an interesting case on the technet forum. Hyper-V Cluster is existing and the administrator trying to backup it using CommVault.

Every time the administrator try to backup the VMs he got Unsupported cluster configuration in the VMM, because clustered resource group is not configured correctly.

Microsoft point to same in KB 958184 in that scenario:

Hyper-V virtual machine files, such as the configuration.xml file or .vhd files, are saved on a volume in Windows Server 2008.

This volume is mounted on a failover cluster by using a volume GUID.

This volume does not have a drive letter or a mount point assigned.

You try to back up these virtual machine files by using a backup application, such as System Center Data Protection Manager 2007.

In this scenario, the backup operations fail and the virtual machine files cannot be backed up.

This problem occurs because the file path is misreported in the writer metadata that is sent to the backup applications by the Hyper-V Management service (Vmms.exe). Therefore, backup applications cannot recognize the volume, and the backup operations fail.

To solve this problem you have to install the hotfix in KB 958184.

 

Why should you move to System Center Data Protection Manager 2007?

Here are the ten most valuable benefits that System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007 can provide to your business. It can be found on Microsoft web Site.

Unmatched Exchange, SQL, and SharePoint Functionality DPM 2007 offers integrated support for advanced Exchange and SQL cluster configurations, shorter SQL backup windows w/o the need for compression, as well as advanced SharePoint data protection options.

Zero data loss Restores for Applications DPM 2007 enables lossless recovery of Exchange, SQL, and SharePoint servers without the need for constant replication or synchronization by seamlessly integrating a point in time database restore with the existing application logs.

Host Based Virtual Server Backups DPM 2007 includes support for host based backup of Windows Virtual Server guests. Using a single host based DPM agent to provide application consistent backups of any and all guests residing on a host. DPM can protect any operating system or application via this mechanism as long as they are running on a Windows host server.

Recover files in minutes instead of hours A typical file recovery from tape takes hours and can be costly. The typical medium data center may have 10 to 20 or more recoveries per month. DPM enables the same recoveries in minutes, saving money for the business and time for IT administrators. Additionally, faster recovery keeps information workers productive because they spend less downtime waiting for their files to be recovered.

Eliminate the backup window of your production servers Massive growth in storage capabilities has increased the time needed to back up file servers. At the same time, businesses face the requirement for 24×7 uptime and the fact that there is no good time to perform a backup. Because DPM moves only the byte-level changes of the file servers it backs up, it effectively eliminates the downtime required to back up your file servers. Customers never have to plan for such “backup windows” again.

Enable users to perform their own recoveries Recovery and backup processes generally involve multiple administrators, each having unique expertise, adding to the data management total cost of ownership. Corporations collectively spend billions of dollars annually on recovering lost data. DPM solves these problems by enabling self-service user recovery, which lets users access and retrieve files directly within Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office XP applications without administrator intervention, thereby lowering administrator costs and increasing productivity.

Seamless Media Integration DPM 2007 features seamless integration between disk and tape media, including an intelligent UI that abstracts the operator from the need to separately manage disk and tape media, an integrated restore experience for both disk and tape, and rich media management functionality.

Advanced Data De-Duplication Technology Patented filter technology reduces the volume of full backups by as much as 90 percent in typical organizations, saving disk space and reducing full backup time from hours to minutes. VSS point in time snapshots further reduce the disk volume required, while Express full backup images increase number of available restore points which can be captured.

Remove tapes from branch offices and centralize backups at the data center Today, the primary way to protect remote servers is for branch office staff to back up data to expensive removable media, such as data tape cartridges, and then manually transport the media to an offsite storage facility. Tape restores within this configuration can be expensive and slow. DPM deploys agents on the remote file servers to send the data back to the central data center where it can be more securely backed up by one IT administrator.

Use advanced functionality at low cost Because DPM is part of the Windows Server System, it contains tools that are already in your server software, such as Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and Windows Explorer. IT administrators are already familiar with these tools, which reduces training costs. Along with the comprehensive report functionality included with the product, DPM can also upload all of its reports and alerts to the Microsoft Operations Manager console.