VSS backup

This article explain the dedicated VSS backup type: full VSS.

General information

The VSS_BT_FULL setting refers to the VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) backup type: full. It is supported by Windows systems and VSS-aware applications, such as Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server.

When enabled, this option ensures the backup captures all relevant data via shadow copy and notifies the application that a full backup has been completed. This allows transaction logs to be safely truncated, helping manage storage and maintain application health.

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Enabling full VSS backup

Enabling full VSS backup is recommended in the following cases:

• Backing up Microsoft Exchange Server and automatically truncating transaction logs.

• Performing a production-grade backup of any VSS-aware application with internal transaction logs.

• Ensuring the backup is recognized by the application as a complete and valid recovery point.

If another system manages log truncation, or you only need a data copy without affecting the application's internal backup cycle, avoid using VSS_BT_FULL.