VSS_USAGE_TYPE enumeration (vswriter.h)

The VSS_USAGE_TYPE enumeration specifies how the host system uses the data managed by a writer involved in a VSS operation.

Syntax

typedef enum VSS_USAGE_TYPE {
  VSS_UT_UNDEFINED = 0,
  VSS_UT_BOOTABLESYSTEMSTATE,
  VSS_UT_SYSTEMSERVICE,
  VSS_UT_USERDATA,
  VSS_UT_OTHER
} ;

Constants

VSS_UT_UNDEFINED Value: 0 The usage type is not known. This indicates an error on the part of the writer.
VSS_UT_BOOTABLESYSTEMSTATE The data stored by the writer is part of the bootable system state.
VSS_UT_SYSTEMSERVICE The writer either stores data used by a system service or is a system service itself.
VSS_UT_USERDATA The data is user data.
VSS_UT_OTHER Unclassified data.

Remarks

The usage type of the data that a writer manages is specified when it initializes its cooperation with the shadow copy mechanism through CVssWriter::Initialize.

Information about the usage type of the data that a writer manages can be retrieved through its metadata using IVssExamineWriterMetadata::GetIdentity.

Requester applications that are interested in backing up system state should look for writers with the VSS_UT_BOOTABLESYSTEMSTATE or VSS_UT_SYSTEMSERVICE usage type.

Requirements

Requirement	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows XP [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server	Windows Server 2003 [desktop apps only]
Header	vswriter.h

See also

CVssWriter::Initialize

IVssExamineWriterMetadata::GetIdentity

VSS_COMPONENT_TYPE

VSS_OBJECT_TYPE

VSS_SOURCE_TYPE