Preparing for VSS instant restore operations

By using the VSS instant restore feature, you can restore one or more databases from a VSS snapshot backup on local shadow volumes that are managed by IBM Storage Protect Snapshot. Data is restored at the volume level.

In a VSS instant restore operation, you can restore full backup and copy backup types. For SQL, custom application, and file system data, you can run VSS instant restore operations in a Microsoft Failover Clustering environment. You cannot use parallel VSS restore operations on Microsoft Windows Server.

1. Verify that your system has a VSS hardware provider with VSS instant restore capability, for example, IBM® XIV® VSS Hardware Provider or System Storage® support for Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service software.
2. Verify that you are restoring local VSS backups of SAN-attached volumes on the same storage systems where the backups are located.
   You can run instant restore operations on the following storage systems:

   • IBM System Storage DS8000® series
   • IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller
   • IBM Storwize®
   • IBM XIV Storage Systems
   • IBM and non-IBM storage devices that implement the Microsoft VSS ResyncLuns API
3. Verify that databases are restored to the same drive letter and paths that are used during the original backup.
4. Close applications or windows that might have files or handles open on the volumes that are being restored.