I have an Exchange 2013 installation on Windows Server 2012R2. Exchange is at CU7 Windows Server is fully patched.

When I use Windows Backup to backup the entire Exchange database & logs volumes I see the logs do not truncate and the database is not stamped with the full backup date/time, yet Backup states it completed successfully.

I note  from running vssadmin list writers that no Exchange VSS writer is shown so suspect this is my problem.

Can anyone help me understand how to get an Exchange VSS writer running?

The service Microsoft Exchange Server Extension for Windows Backup is present, set to manual and not running.  I have tried with it running and get the same symptoms.

Hi Clive,

Step 1 :

Please restart the Microsoft exchange replication service and check the results.

Step 2:

In worst cases issue will still remains then you may need to restart the Microsoft exchange information store service.But instead of that you can restart the server and check the results.

Note : Before doing any of the above change just have a look in to the events logs in application events.

Hi,

I have restarted both of those srvices and the entire server and still see No Exchange VSS writer listed.

Event logs just show backup completed.  I see no errors related to VSS Writers.

Hi ,

What is the status of the Volume Shadow Copy Service ?

I think we need to re-register the vss writers but i don't know the exact commands for windows server 2012 R2.Anyhow we will wait for anyone of the exchange experts to have a look in to this case.

Please someone shed light on this case.

The Volume Shadow Copy Service is stopped and set to manual - it's starts and stops just fine as needed when called by Windows Backup.

I did wonder that too yes if the Exchaneg VSS writer need to be re-registered

The registry key for the Exchange replication service does not have the writer disabled.  Any help appreciated.

Hi,

First of all, when we use Windows Server Backup to back up the full Exchange, a VSS copy backup will be performed, and the transaction logs for the databases on the server will not be truncated.

Refer from:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876851(v=exchg.150).aspx

Enabling Exchange VSS writer requires manual changes the registry. Before you modify, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs.

Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

https://support.microsoft.com/kB/256986?wa=wsignin1.0

Please follow these steps to enable the Exchange VSS writer:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then double-click the following registry subkey:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem
3. Double-click the Disable Exchange Writer value.
4. In the Value data text box, change the value from 1 to 0, and then click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor.
6. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
7. Stop and then restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

Note: If the registry key is not there, create the value and set it to 0.

If it still doesnt work, we should consider to re-register Exchange VSS writer.

Best Regards.

• Edited by Lynn-Li Tuesday, January 27, 2015 7:02 AM

I believe the registry keys are different for Exchange 2013 - either way I tried this and still have no Exchange VSS writer......

Does anyone know how to register the Exchange 2013 VSS writer on Windows Server 2012R2

I still haven't been able to find an answer to this... can anyone help?