VSS restore characteristics

In a VSS restore operation, VSS backups SQL database files and log files) that are on Tivoli® Storage Manager server storage are restored to their original location on the SQL Server.

The following characteristics are true of a VSS data restore operation:
  • You can restore only SQL Server VSS backups to the same SQL Server instance.
  • You can restore full and copy-only full backup types.
  • You cannot run differential, individual filegroups, individual files, and set backup operations because VSS cannot restore that data.
  • Data is restored at the database level.
  • You can restore one or more databases from a VSS snapshot backup on Tivoli Storage Manager server storage.
  • You can run restore operations in a Microsoft Windows Failover Clustering or Veritas Cluster Server (VCS) environment.
  • By using the /relocatedir option, you can restore a VSS backup directly from Tivoli Storage Manager server storage to an alternate location.
  • You cannot use parallel VSS fast restore or VSS instant restore operations with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 or later versions.