VSS restore characteristics

In a VSS restore operation, VSS backups (SQL database files and log files) that are on IBM Spectrum Protect server storage are restored. They can be restored to their original location on the SQL Server or to an instance of the SQL Server.

The following characteristics are true of a VSS data restore operation:
  • You can restoreSQL Server VSS backups either to the same SQL Server instance or to an alternate SQL Server instance.
    • You can restore to a database with the same name on either an alternate SQL Server instance on the same server or to an instance on a different server by using the /fromsqlserver option. For local backups, you can restore only to alternate instances on the same server.
    • You can restore to an alternate SQL Server instance on the same server or different server where the database does not exist by using the /relocateddir option.
  • By using the /relocatedir option, you can restore a VSS backup directly from IBM Spectrum Protect server storage to an alternate location.
  • 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 IBM Spectrum Protect server storage.
  • You can run restore operations in a Microsoft Windows Failover Clustering or Veritas Cluster Server (VCS) environment.
  • You cannot use parallel VSS fast restore or VSS instant restore operations with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 or later versions.