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Setting up Shadow Copies for Previous versions on a Failover Cluster

Derek Benak 40 Reputation points
2025-05-06T12:32:39.6366667+00:00

I have a failover cluster for file shares running on Windows Server 2016. I want to setup Shadow Copies on a separate volume from the data.

If I use the Shadow Copies tab in the volume properties, I can choose which volume I want the copies to go. However, if I use the option through failover cluster management, all I have is a simple on/off option, I cannot select the destination.

I have been unable to find setup instructions and limitations of Shadow Copies in a Clustered environment.

Any advice or links to documentation is appreciated.

Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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  1. Andrew Li 155 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff
    2025-05-30T09:25:13.1566667+00:00

    Hello Derek，

    We regret to inform you that we cannot manage VSS storage locations through Failover Cluster Manager, as these are two separate functionalities.

    The volume shadow copies on different disk drives can only be configured individually using the command: vssadmin add shadowstorage /for=c: /on=d: /maxsize=**GB

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc788051(v=ws.11)

    Best Regrads,

    Andrew

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