IVssBackupComponents::ExposeSnapshot method (vsbackup.h)
The ExposeSnapshot method exposes a shadow copy as a drive letter, mounted folder, or file share.
Syntax
HRESULT ExposeSnapshot(
[in] VSS_ID SnapshotId,
[in] VSS_PWSZ wszPathFromRoot,
[in] LONG lAttributes,
[in] VSS_PWSZ wszExpose,
[out] VSS_PWSZ *pwszExposed
);
Parameters
[in] SnapshotId
Shadow copy identifier.
[in] wszPathFromRoot
The path to the portion of the volume made available when exposing a shadow copy as a file share. The value of this parameter must be NULL when exposing a shadow copy locally; that is, exposing it as a drive letter or mounted folder.
The path cannot contain environment variables (for example, %MyEnv%) or wildcard characters.
There is no requirement that the path end with a backslash (""). It is up to applications that retrieve this information to check.
[in] lAttributes
Attributes of the exposed shadow copy indicating whether it is exposed locally or remotely. The value must be either the VSS_VOLSNAP_ATTR_EXPOSED_LOCALLY or the VSS_VOLSNAP_ATTR_EXPOSED_REMOTELY value of _VSS_VOLUME_SNAPSHOT_ATTRIBUTES.
[in] wszExpose
When a shadow copy is exposed as a file share, the value of this parameter is the share name. If a shadow copy is exposed by mounting it as a device, the parameter value is a drive letter followed by a colon—for example, "X:" or a mounted folder path (for example, "Y:\MountX"). If the value of this parameter is NULL, then VSS determines the share name or drive letter if the lAttributes parameter is VSS_VOLSNAP_ATTR_EXPOSED_REMOTELY.
[out] pwszExposed
The exposed name of the shadow copy. This is either a share name, a drive letter followed by a colon, or a mounted folder. The value is NULL if ExposeSnapshot failed. VSS allocates the memory for this string.
Return value
The following are the valid return codes for this method.
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
The shadow copies were successfully exposed. |
|
The caller does not have sufficient backup privileges or is not an administrator. |
|
One of the parameter values is not valid. |
|
The caller is out of memory or other system resources. |
|
The backup components object is not initialized, this method has been called during a restore operation, or this method has not been called within the correct sequence. |
|
The specified shadow copy does not exist. |
|
Expected provider error. The provider logged the error in the event log. For more information, see Event and Error Handling Under VSS. |
|
Unexpected error. The error code is logged in the error log file. For more information, see
Event and Error Handling Under VSS.
Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP: This value is not supported until Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. E_UNEXPECTED is used instead. |
|
Unexpected provider error. The error code is logged in the error log. For more information, see Event and Error Handling Under VSS. |
Remarks
The caller is responsible for freeing the string that the pwszExposed parameter points to by calling the CoTaskMemFree function.
When exposing a persistent shadow copy, it remains exposed through subsequent boots.
When exposing a shadow copy of a volume, the shadow copy may be treated either as a mountable device or as a file system available for file sharing.
When it is exposed as a device—as with other mountable devices—the shadow copy of a volume is exposed at its mount point (drive letter or mounted folder) starting with its root.
When exposed as a file share, subsets (indicated by wszPathFromRoot) of the volume can be shared.
For more information on how to expose shadow copies, see Exposing and Surfacing Shadow Copied Volumes.
Requirements
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum supported client | Windows Vista [desktop apps only] |
| Minimum supported server | Windows Server 2003 [desktop apps only] |
| Target Platform | Windows |
| Header | vsbackup.h (include VsBackup.h, Vss.h, VsWriter.h) |
| Library | VssApi.lib |
See also
IVssBackupComponents::ImportSnapshots