How do I specify the <Component> for diskshadow?

I am attempting to use diskshadow.exe on Windows Server 2008 RTM. My question

is specifically with the "writer verify" and "writer exclude" commands.

The technet help at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771649.aspx

is fairly non-specific. It tells me that the syntax is “writer exclude

[<Writer> | <Component>]†and that “Writers are specified by ID.“ But it

doesn’t tell me how to specify <Component>!

For example, I can get the writer ID from “vssadmin list writersâ€. No

problem, and that works great. As an example:

writer exclude {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f}

works fine. To get the components, I go into diskshadow and do a “list

writers†which gives me a more detailed output. For example:

* WRITER "Microsoft Exchange Writer"

- Writer ID = {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}

- Writer instance ID = {16fcd338-7db0-404a-b6e1-d329981c494b}

- Supports restore events = TRUE

- Writer restore conditions = VSS_WRE_ALWAYS

- Restore method = VSS_RME_RESTORE_IF_CAN_REPLACE

- Requires reboot after restore = FALSE

- Excluded files:

+ Component "Microsoft Exchange Writer:\Microsoft Exchange

Server\Microsoft Information

Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da"

- Name: cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

- Logical path: Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft

Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH

- Full path: \Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft

Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

- Caption: First Storage Group

- Type: VSS_CT_FILEGROUP [2]

- Is selectable: TRUE

- Is top level: TRUE

- Notify on backup complete: TRUE

- Paths affected by this component:

- Volumes affected by this component:

- Component Dependencies:

<…further output elided…>

In the case of an Exchange server with multiple storage groups, I want to

suppress a particular component – for example, one storage group (note that

this also applies to SQL Server, MSDE, AD LDS, etc.) – it isn’t Exchange

specific. What syntax do I use to suppress the component with "writer

exclude"?

Using the sample output above, it’s not:

ï® Component: "Microsoft Exchange Writer:\Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft

Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da"

ï® Name: cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

ï® Logical path: Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft Information

Store\WIN2008-EXCH

ï® Full path: \Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft Information

Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

The only one of those syntaxes that diskshadow accepts is “Nameâ€, and that

doesn’t work. At least, I’ve not been able to figure out how to make it work.

Thus, my dilemma.

Do you have any samples/examples of the proper syntax for specifying

<Component>? If I could, I would use vshadow which does have multiple

documents syntaxes for <Component>. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on Server

2008.

Thanks for any assistance. I appreciate your time.

(And if I've posted to the wrong group, apologies in advances, please direct

me to the proper group.)

--

Regards,

Michael B. Smith, MCITP:SA,EMA/MCSE/Exchange MVP

My blog: http://TheEssentialExchange.com/blogs/michael

Link with me at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/theessentialexchange