I have the following directory on my system C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer\vol_e6a88676-f22e-4369-afd8-a19ffc135f1f The content of this directory are forever changing, so I want to take a snapshot of this directory and write the shapshot to tape. once tape operation is complete I want to remove the snapshot. how can I use the diskshadow.exe utility to create a snapshot and expose it on X: drive?

petri has a very good guide to create the active directory snap shot http://www.petri.co.il/working-active-directory-snapshots-windows-server-2008.htm http://www.petri.co.il/automating-creation-active-directory-snapshots.htm http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731620.aspx http://www.virmansec.com/blogs/skhairuddin

Just to clarify this is just a directory. It is not related to active directory.

oh my apologies 24 /7 directory services revolves in my head :). see this example over here http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/john-savills-windows-faqs/q-how-can-i-take-a-volume-shadow-copy-service-vss-backup-of-a-volume-and-copy-content-from-the-shadow-.aspxhttp://www.virmansec.com/blogs/skhairuddin

This is very good. but this is taking snapshot of the entire volume. I want to take the snapshot of a directory (or more specifically) the path for which I want to take snapshot is C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer\vol_e6a88676-f22e-4369-afd8-a19ffc135f1f where vol_e6a88676-f22e-4369-afd8-a19ffc135f1f is a junction Directory of C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer 02/10/2011 02:22 PM <DIR> . 02/10/2011 02:22 PM <DIR> .. 02/10/2011 06:20 AM <JUNCTION> vol_e6a88676-f22e-4369-afd8-a19ffc135f1f [\??\Volume{2ae2f63f-2dd2-11e0-aa05-0010 187d2952}\] 0 File(s) 0 bytes DPM is writing lot of stuff here, I want to take a snapshot and then write this to tape. Once tape operation is over, delete the snapshot.

see the example below http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772172(WS.10).aspxhttp://www.virmansec.com/blogs/skhairuddin

I am sorry because I am very new to snapshots. This is the example in the link which you have given above #DiskShadow script file set context persistent nowriters set metadata c:\diskshadowdata\example.cab set verbose on begin backup add volume c: alias SystemVolumeShadow add volume d: alias DataVolumeShadow create expose %SystemVolumeShadow% p: expose %DataVolumeShadow% q: exec c:\diskshadowdata\backupscript.cmd end backup #End of script But I am not getting the results which I need Here is what I tried set context persistent nowriters set metadata C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer\vol_a7d8ea15-7ec7-4e82-86ca-4eb21ff2b937\example.cab set verbose on begin backup add volume c: alias DPM create expose %DPM% X: Now when I go to X: I see the contents of my entire C drive. I DON'T want entire C drive I wanted X drive to show only the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer\vol_a7d8ea15-7ec7-4e82-86ca-4eb21ff2b937

bump! please help!

bump!

Hi, Thanks for update. Please understand that Volume Shadow Copy service can only take snapshot for entire volume but individual directory. However , if you are using windows server 2008 R2, you can restore individual directory or file form previous snapshot point: Volume Shadow Copy Service http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee923636(WS.10).aspx Thanks. Tiger LiPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thanks a lot for your response. So OK I take the snapsnot of the entire volume. but when mounting the snapshot to X: can I somehow start at this directory C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer\vol_a7d8ea15-7ec7-4e82-86ca-4eb21ff2b937 So the snapshot is of entire volume but when I go to X directory I see the cotnents of C:\Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\Volumes\Replica\SharePoint Services Writer\vol_a7d8ea15-7ec7-4e82-86ca-4eb21ff2b937 directly. Is this possible?