ISS Shadow Copy Service

Shadow Copy Service (also known as "Previous Versions")

One of the precautionary measures built into a number of the ISS Windows filestore system is Shadowcopy. This copies all files 4 times a day into a back-up system. (Shadowcopy is not ISS's main back-up strategy, but is a useful by-product of the file server system.)

This means that if you accidentally damage or delete a file, you will usually be able to restore a copy, very quickly, which is only a few hours old.

Caveats:

  1. The Shadow Copy Service only applies to the Home Folder Service, Shared Filestore Service and Research Storage Service.  If you lose files from your own disk (either removable disk or own computer hard drive) you will need specialised software to retrieve them: ISS do not provide this service.
  2. In normal circumstances the system operates 4 times a day, Monday to Friday at 0700, 1000, 1300 and 1600.
  3.  If you have saved a new file today it may not yet have been shadow-copied.  If you have deleted a new file which you have not yet saved you will not be able to retrieve it using Shadow Copy.
  4. Up to 64 copies are kept, which covers around 3 weeks worth of shadow copies (this may be reduced if ever the space set aside for shadow copy becomes full).
  5. Occasionally system management issues may force ISS to switch off Shadow Copy for a period, on one or more servers.
  6. We strongly recommend that you ask for advice when using Shadow Copy for the first time, because an inexperienced user can overwrite good files with old copies! Ask for advice from:
    • an ISS Cluster Room Help Desk;
    • or seek help from your School's Computing Officer.
    • or email it.servicedesk@ncl.ac.uk (or phone 5999);

How do I use Shadowcopy?

Step by step guides on using the Shadow Copy service can be found here below.