Metabase Snapshot Writer (MSW) uses COM interfaces to ensure NTbackup creates a stable and reliable backup of the metabase. MSW is automatically activated when NTbackup is called to back up the metabase. MSW determines if one of the drive volumes NTbackup is assigned to back up contains the metabase.bin file. If so, MSW flushes the data from the metabase in RAM to the metabase.bin file. If not, MSW waits for the next call for NTbackup. Next, MSW prevents new information from being added to the RAM metabase for a maximum of two minutes, while NT Backup backs up metabase.bin. When NT Backup finishes, MSW releases the write lock on the metabase in RAM. The following graphic illustrates the MSW activation and functionality.
Note Metabase Snapshot Writer supports NTbackup, it is not a part of the Configuration Backup/Restore application that runs from the IIS snap-in.
Important NTbackup does not invoke Metabase Snapshot Writer when restoring the metabase.bin file. Before restoring the metabase with NTbackup, stop the WWW (World Wide Web Publishing) service to prevent IIS from writing to the metabase.bin file.
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