GRT Enabled backups using the Agent for Microsoft Virtual Server or Agent for VMware Virtual Infrastructure may complete with the following exceptions (FIGURE 1):

V-79-57344-38724 - Directory 'C\Documents and Settings' does not support Granular Recovery Technology (GRT).  Granular restores cannot be performed for items in this directory.

V-79-57344-38724 - Directory 'C\DFSRoots\Profiles' does not support Granular Recovery Technology (GRT).  Granular restores cannot be performed for items in this directory.

V-79-57344-38724 - Directory 'C\Users\Default\Application Data' does not support Granular Recovery Technology (GRT).  Granular restores cannot be performed for items in this directory.



(FIGURE 1)
 


In Backup Exec 12.5 for Windows servers both the Agent for Microsoft Virtual Server and the Agent for VMware Infrastructure now support the Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) option to facilitate the restore of individual files and folders to a virtual machine without restoring the entire virtual machine.   At the end of a backup job the recently backed up virtual machine disks are mounted to collect the GRT information. The virtual machine disk mounting is handled by the "VCB mounter" in VMware environments and "VHD Mounter" in Hyper-V\Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 environments. The mounting operation will occur either on media server when it is a backup to disk job or on virtual host when backup to tape.

The exceptions are due to reparse points contained inside the virtual machine disks. Reparse points are used to implement symbolic links and junctions in windows and they are read by operating system (OS) components and drivers. Backup Exec uses those OS components and drivers to read reparse points in a mounted vhd to collect GRT information. The followings are some of the examples but not limited to on how an exception would occur. If running a backup to disk backup of a window 2008 or Vista Guest OS on a window 2003 media server, reparse points on target system cannot be read meaningfully by window 2003 machine which is mounting the .vhd. This would result in exceptions in job log.

Another instance might be an application installed on the guest OS that has a filter driver that uses reparse points to store file system data. If the guest has filter driver installed and the system where VHDMount is being invoked does not, those files will not be able to be protected with GRT as well.

Granular restore data will not be available if this exception occurs.

This is an Operating System limitation. The entire virtual machine can still be recovered regardless of these exceptions.



Note: The option to "Use Backup Exec Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) to enable the restore of individual files and folders from virtual machines" is enabled by default in Backup Exec.  This feature can be enabled/disabled in the Backup Job Properties.  See (FIGURE 2) and (FIGURE 3).

(FIGURE 2)
 

(FIGURE 3)