How do I specify the <Component> for diskshadow?

[Michael B. Smith [MVP]]

I am attempting to use diskshadow.exe on Windows Server 2008 RTM. My question
is specifically with the "writer verify" and "writer exclude" commands.

The technet help at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771649.aspx
is fairly non-specific. It tells me that the syntax is “writer exclude
[<Writer> | <Component>]” and that “Writers are specified by ID.“ But it
doesn’t tell me how to specify <Component>!

For example, I can get the writer ID from “vssadmin list writers”. No
problem, and that works great. As an example:

writer exclude {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f}

works fine. To get the components, I go into diskshadow and do a “list
writers” which gives me a more detailed output. For example:

* WRITER "Microsoft Exchange Writer"
- Writer ID = {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
- Writer instance ID = {16fcd338-7db0-404a-b6e1-d329981c494b}
- Supports restore events = TRUE
- Writer restore conditions = VSS_WRE_ALWAYS
- Restore method = VSS_RME_RESTORE_IF_CAN_REPLACE
- Requires reboot after restore = FALSE
- Excluded files:
+ Component "Microsoft Exchange Writer:\Microsoft Exchange
Server\Microsoft Information
Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da"
- Name: cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da
- Logical path: Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft
Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH
- Full path: \Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft
Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da
- Caption: First Storage Group
- Type: VSS_CT_FILEGROUP [2]
- Is selectable: TRUE
- Is top level: TRUE
- Notify on backup complete: TRUE
- Paths affected by this component:
- Volumes affected by this component:
- Component Dependencies:
<…further output elided…>

In the case of an Exchange server with multiple storage groups, I want to
suppress a particular component – for example, one storage group (note that
this also applies to SQL Server, MSDE, AD LDS, etc.) – it isn’t Exchange
specific. What syntax do I use to suppress the component with "writer
exclude"?

Using the sample output above, it’s not:

 Component: "Microsoft Exchange Writer:\Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft
Information Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da"
 Name: cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da
 Logical path: Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft Information
Store\WIN2008-EXCH
 Full path: \Microsoft Exchange Server\Microsoft Information
Store\WIN2008-EXCH\cdfc9a65-f5ed-4e96-8a83-fe8a399ec7da

The only one of those syntaxes that diskshadow accepts is “Name”, and that
doesn’t work. At least, I’ve not been able to figure out how to make it work.
Thus, my dilemma.

Do you have any samples/examples of the proper syntax for specifying
<Component>? If I could, I would use vshadow which does have multiple
documents syntaxes for <Component>. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on Server
2008.

Thanks for any assistance. I appreciate your time.

(And if I've posted to the wrong group, apologies in advances, please direct
me to the proper group.)
--
Regards,

Michael B. Smith, MCITP:SA,EMA/MCSE/Exchange MVP
My blog: http://TheEssentialExchange.com/blogs/michael
Link with me at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/theessentialexchange