Backup Exchange 2013 fails Vss writer problems

Hello

Im trying to backup Exchange 2013 singel machine no DAG, with built in windows backup

Get the following errors in the eventlog!

Any suggestions are welcomed!

/Andreas

Log Name:      Application
Source:        MSExchangeRepl
Date:          2013-03-17 09:51:33
Event ID:      2112
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:     xxxx
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer instance c86fac3a-c716-400d-a240-91eac487649c failed with error code 0 when preparing for a backup of database 'Mailbox Database 1593814252'.

Log Name:      Application
Source:        MSExchangeRepl
Date:          2013-03-17 09:50:59
Event ID:      2140
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      xxxx
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer encountered an exception in function Microsoft::Exchange::Cluster::ReplicaVssWriter::CReplicaVssWriterInterop::PrepareBackup. HResult -2146233066. Exception System.OverflowException: Arithmetic operation resulted in an overflow.
   at Microsoft.Isam.Esent.Interop.JET_LOGTIME..ctor(DateTime time)
   at Microsoft.Isam.Esent.Interop.JET_SIGNATURE..ctor(Int32 random, Nullable`1 time, String computerName)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Cluster.Replay.ReplicaInstanceManager.GetRunningInstanceSignatureAndCheckpoint(Guid instanceGuid, Nullable`1& logfileSignature, Int64& lowestGenerationRequired, Int64& highestGenerationRequired, Int64& lastGenerationBackedUp)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Cluster.ReplicaVssWriter.CReplicaVssWriterInterop.PrepareBackupReplica(IVssComponent* pComponent, ReplayConfiguration replica, BackupInstance backupInstance)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Cluster.ReplicaVssWriter.CReplicaVssWriterInterop.PrepareBackup(IVssWriterComponents* pComponents).
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="MSExchangeRepl" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="49156">2140</EventID>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>2</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2013-03-17T08:50:59.000000000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>25153</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>xxxxxxxx</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Microsoft::Exchange::Cluster::ReplicaVssWriter::CReplicaVssWriterInterop::PrepareBackup</Data>
    <Data>-2146233066</Data>
    <Data>System.OverflowException: Arithmetic operation resulted in an overflow.
   at Microsoft.Isam.Esent.Interop.JET_LOGTIME..ctor(DateTime time)
   at Microsoft.Isam.Esent.Interop.JET_SIGNATURE..ctor(Int32 random, Nullable`1 time, String computerName)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Cluster.Replay.ReplicaInstanceManager.GetRunningInstanceSignatureAndCheckpoint(Guid instanceGuid, Nullable`1&amp; logfileSignature, Int64&amp; lowestGenerationRequired, Int64&amp; highestGenerationRequired, Int64&amp; lastGenerationBackedUp)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Cluster.ReplicaVssWriter.CReplicaVssWriterInterop.PrepareBackupReplica(IVssComponent* pComponent, ReplayConfiguration replica, BackupInstance backupInstance)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Cluster.ReplicaVssWriter.CReplicaVssWriterInterop.PrepareBackup(IVssWriterComponents* pComponents)</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Log Name:      Application
Source:        MSExchangeRepl
Date:          2013-03-17 09:50:59
Event ID:      2024
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      xxxxxxx
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance b6dcc5a8-6df8-41e8-af65-d10a8fc761a5) failed with error 80131516 when preparing for a backup.

Log Name:      Application
Source:        SPP
Date:          2013-03-17 09:50:59
Event ID:      16389
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      xxxxxxxxx
Description:
Writer Microsoft Exchange Writer experienced retryable error during shadow copy creation. Retrying...  More info: .

Log Name:      Application
Source:        VSS
Date:          2013-03-17 09:51:10
Event ID:      8229
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:     xxxxxxxxxx
Description:
A VSS writer has rejected an event with error 0x00000000, The operation completed successfully.
. Changes that the writer made to the writer components while handling the event will not be available to the requester. Check the event log for related events from the application hosting the VSS writer.

Operation:
   PrepareForBackup event

Context:
   Execution Context: Writer
   Writer Class Id: {7e47b561-971a-46e6-96b9-696eeaa53b2a}
   Writer Name: MSMQ Writer (MSMQ)
   Writer Instance Name: MSMQ Writer (MSMQ)
   Writer Instance ID: {8f3afc61-ffcf-46df-82ff-0d28b4f131dc}
   Command Line: C:\Windows\system32\mqsvc.exe
   Process ID: 1360
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="VSS" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">8229</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2013-03-17T08:51:10.000000000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>25159</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>xxxxxxxx</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>0x00000000, The operation completed successfully.
</Data>
    <Data>

Operation:
   PrepareForBackup event

Context:
   Execution Context: Writer
   Writer Class Id: {7e47b561-971a-46e6-96b9-696eeaa53b2a}
   Writer Name: MSMQ Writer (MSMQ)
   Writer Instance Name: MSMQ Writer (MSMQ)
   Writer Instance ID: {8f3afc61-ffcf-46df-82ff-0d28b4f131dc}
   Command Line: C:\Windows\system32\mqsvc.exe
   Process ID: 1360</Data>
    <Binary>2D20436F64653A20575254575254494330303030353332372D2043616C6C3A20575254575254494330303030323634302D205049443A202030303030313336302D205449443A202030303031333233322D20434D443A2020433A5C57696E646F77735C73797374656D33325C6D717376632E6578652020202D20557365723A204E616D653A204E5420415554484F524954595C4E4554574F524B20534552564943452C205349443A532D312D352D3230</Binary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

March 17th, 2013 9:29am

Check the status of Exchange Writer
Run the command vssadmin list writers and post the result of Exchange Writer

When was the last time backup worked?

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March 17th, 2013 10:14am

I used veem backup for my first backup. The first backup was successful, Then this problem occured.

So i tried using windows backup. Same problem with both programs now.


Writer name: 'Microsoft Exchange Writer'
   Writer Id: {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
   Writer Instance Id: {1f57cfaf-ff1b-41e8-b711-0ad8b213f90a}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: Retryable error

March 17th, 2013 10:22am

My Bad, I forgot to ask you a question?
Does backup fails on all the database?
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March 17th, 2013 10:40am

Yes! Only have one DB at the moment.
March 17th, 2013 10:59am

That means the possibility is that the database itself has some issue.
Create new Database and move the mailboxes into the new database and then run the backup.

Post the update.

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March 17th, 2013 11:06am

Same problem on the new database!

March 17th, 2013 11:22am

It's a BUG and will be fixed in CU1 for exchange 2013.
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March 17th, 2013 1:49pm

When can we expect the patch to be released?
March 17th, 2013 1:56pm

Not sure, but it should get released next month.
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March 17th, 2013 2:00pm

So until then i will have no backup, sounds great ;(
March 17th, 2013 2:09pm

What can we say.
There is one thing we can try.

Dismount the database
Move all the log files and .chk file and mount the database.
Send few test mail and run the backup and check.

Note: I am very optimistic about it, as you said backup fails for new database too.
still give a try and post the update.

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March 17th, 2013 3:38pm

Strange that it worked the first time.
March 17th, 2013 5:19pm

Hello,

I suggest you use another backup software to back up the exchange database. And verify whether windows server backup run normally.

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March 18th, 2013 7:00am

Well we have bought veem backup that should work but generates the same errors.

I cant just buy another one because MS have a bug that they need to fix ASAP!

March 18th, 2013 7:35am

Right, you can't just buy new backup software...
I know it's frustrating... :(
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March 18th, 2013 9:25am

Hi Andreas,

We have the exact same problem in our environment, we have testet with Windows server backup, and it fails every time. So we don`t either have any backup of our server. This is a big problems.

I hope MS will release a hotfix asap.

March 19th, 2013 11:32am

yeah i hope they release this soon.
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March 19th, 2013 1:51pm

Interesting!

I haven't heard anything about a bug and I don't have any problems to backup Exchange 2013 with Windows Server Backup. Also a single server with both roles installed.

Pls make sure that you have followed the steps in Use Windows Server Backup to Back Up Exchange
March 19th, 2013 6:23pm

There are several that seem to have the same problem out there so it's clearly a problem. But if you have any good ideas i will gladly try them out. My first backup went well. But after that one the problem started.
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March 19th, 2013 7:18pm

We believe we have this resolved in Exchange 2013 CU1; please hang on for just a little longer.
  • Proposed as answer by Milind Naphade Wednesday, April 03, 2013 4:41 AM
March 21st, 2013 3:05pm

We believe we have this resolved in Exchange 2013 CU1; please hang on for just a little longer.
  • Proposed as answer by Milind Naphade Wednesday, April 03, 2013 4:41 AM
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March 21st, 2013 3:05pm

Hi Nino, when do you belive the CU1 for Exchange 2013 will be released?
March 22nd, 2013 10:45am

It should be released end of this month or next month (April)
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March 22nd, 2013 1:31pm

We are currently planning on April 2nd release:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2013/03/25/exchange-2013-rtm-cu1-status.aspx

March 26th, 2013 3:04pm

We are currently planning on April 2nd release:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2013/03/25/exchange-2013-rtm-cu1-status.aspx

Sweet!

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March 26th, 2013 3:33pm

Is the CU1 released today as planned?
April 2nd, 2013 9:58am

Not yet, we should hear something on it today
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April 2nd, 2013 2:10pm

CU1 installed and backup works... Yeah!

Thank you MS!


April 3rd, 2013 6:55am

Congratulations...
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April 3rd, 2013 8:25am

Is anyone else experiencing the same issue in 2013 SP1 CU5?
September 14th, 2014 12:19pm

Hi!

Try create a Registry Key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v15\Replay\Parameters

EnableVSSWriter

Dword Value = 0

After restart Service Microsoft Exchange Replication Services

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September 20th, 2014 8:41pm

Vincius, could you go into a little detail as to what that registry modification actually does?

Thanks!
September 22nd, 2014 1:28pm

Julez, Sorry for delay.

Microsoft documentation used to enable Windows Backup feature states that the Microsoft Exchange Replication server VSS writer must be disabled for correct operation.
"Using Windows Server Backup on Database Availability Group Members. If a server hosting the data being backed up is a member of a Database Availability Group (DAG) and hosts both active and passive database copies, you must disable the Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS writer. If the Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS writer is enabled, the backup operation will fail."

But if you using a third party software to perform your backup, do you need enable VSS writer setting 1 to Dword

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March 9th, 2015 3:19pm

You should set it to "1" to Enable the Exchange vss writer

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v15\Replay\Parameters]
"EnableVSSWriter"=dword:00000001

If you set it to "0" and restart Microsoft Exchange Replication Service, the Writer disapears.

July 28th, 2015 4:36am

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