First published on MSDN on Oct 18, 2016
SQL Server VSS allows ISVs to develop backup solutions using APIs exposed by VSS framework. One such API method which is commonly used while performing differential backup using SQL VSS is
IVssComponent::GetPartialFile
. While performing differential backup, IVssComponent::GetPartialFile is used iteratively to obtain the range of changed differential bytes for backup which changed since last full backup. The output for GetPartialFile provides the file path, file name and
pbstrRange
which is a pointer to 64KB string buffer
containing the comma-separated list of the form
offset1:length1, offset2:length2
, where each offset and length is a 64-bit integer specifying a file offset in bytes and length of the range in bytes, respectively. If the changed differential bytes within a partial file is large enough to fall outside the tracking range limit of the 64 bit string buffer,
pbstrRange
returns the partial
filename
containing those ranges instead of the range and offset within the current partial file.
The ISV Backup code should be able to handle both the output for
pbstrRange viz
offset/length
range string for backup range within the current file or
filename
containing the backup range if the range falls outside the current file.
Following T-SQL sample code can help the backup vendors to simulate this behavior consistently to test and handle this scenario where
pbstrRange
generates filename. The T-SQL sample code below updates alternate extents to create enough non-contiguous extent such that the changed differential extent range falls outside 64KB buffer so
pbstrRange
outputs filename containing the ranges to be backed up.
The script is uploaded and made in
SQL Server Sample repository
in GitHub for the community.
[snippet slug=create-sqlvss_generate_backup_filename_ranges_sample-sql lang=sql]
DISCLAIMER: © 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Sample scripts in this guide are not supported under any Microsoft standard support program or service. The sample scripts are provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all implied warranties including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk arising out of the use or performance of the sample scripts and documentation remains with you. In no event shall Microsoft, its authors, or anyone else involved in the creation, production, or delivery of the scripts be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the sample scripts or documentation, even if Microsoft has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Ravi Mandliya
Software Engineer
(@ravi_MSFT
)
Parikshit Savjani
Senior Program Manager(
@talktosavjani
)
