StarWind Software

I yesterday registered and downloaded the free iScsi target.
Looks like it works very reliable and fast, and, it is actually free, no built in adverts in the installer, no hidden drawbacks.

I am now able use the 2012 Server backup to make synthetic backups of the Virtual machines to Disks which are connected to some PC on a different floor with a backup speed of 3.5GBytes/min using standard Ethernet-Cabling. I found that rather impressive.

Great product.
Thank you.

Great news Keep using and sending us your feedback. Much appreciated. Thanks!

For whatever reason, after I added 3 more remote (USB) disks to the backup, the Server 2012 Software refused to start the backup completely. I was unable to find out the reason, so I reverted to a guest based VSS backup, which makes not much difference since I only have two guest OS running on the machine.

But if anyone has an Idea for this error message (translated from german):
"VSS-service-error: Unexpected Error "DeviceIoControl(\\?\Volume{85ca71e0-2a31-11e2-93e7-806e6f6e6963} - 0000000000000190,0x0053c008,0000001084DAC4C0,0,0000001084DAD4D0,4096,[0])". hr = 0x80070017, DataError (CRC-check)"

That would be interesting.

The volume in question is the second volume of the Raid system on the server. chkdsk found no problems, and, the log of the Raid also shows no failures.

What backup are you using?

The Built in Windows Server Backup

Can you confirm that you have installed our VSS provider?
Also, is it possible for you to switch to using StarWind CDP device (which takes snapshots) or Backup plug-in for VMs?

No, I use the Microsoft VSS provider which comes with the Server 2012
I only use the Starwind iSCSI target.

As far as I know it is recommended to use VSS provider from SAN vendor, so I`d recommend you to download and install it.
You can find it at the Customers Page:
http://www.starwindsoftware.com/customer-page

I have to say, the way your company handles registered users/email addresses is strange: you have canceled my login to the starwind site for no apparent reason - I have given my real email address.
Also you did send unwanted mailings without my explicit consent - which I dislike very much - I might have forgotten to uncheck the checkmark "subscribe for updates" when I registered, but, "subscribe for updates" does not mean I want to get every marketing blurb from your third party advertising subcontractor.

If your company for whatever reason cancels my login it would be fair to notify me, and, also stop sending spam (you might call these "newsletters")..
If I really need some of your not free Software offerings, chances are not very good I will choose yours after this has happend, regardless of the quality of the software. And If I for whatever reason need one of your "free" offers, I can get them anyway.

Please rethink the way you deal with your clients.

It's a software default one. MS hardware VSS works with MS target only and it still does not support placing VHDs / VHDXs on a CSV (so still puts cluster into redirected mode).

nobody wrote:No, I use the Microsoft VSS provider which comes with the Server 2012
I only use the Starwind iSCSI target.

1) I'll ask web guys to check what was wrong with your login account.

2) There should be indeed a checkbox "don't send anything to me" or something like this. I'll ask the same people to make it more visible.

nobody wrote:I have to say, the way your company handles registered users/email addresses is strange: you have canceled my login to the starwind site for no apparent reason - I have given my real email address.
Also you did send unwanted mailings without my explicit consent - which I dislike very much - I might have forgotten to uncheck the checkmark "subscribe for updates" when I registered, but, "subscribe for updates" does not mean I want to get every marketing blurb from your third party advertising subcontractor.

If your company for whatever reason cancels my login it would be fair to notify me, and, also stop sending spam (you might call these "newsletters")..
If I really need some of your not free Software offerings, chances are not very good I will choose yours after this has happend, regardless of the quality of the software. And If I for whatever reason need one of your "free" offers, I can get them anyway.

Please rethink the way you deal with your clients.

Thank you for your help. This is good news.
You are able to opt out of the "newsletters" but, not, when registering yourself - unless this is the "subscribe for updates". I guess this has to be done later some profile management screen - which I am currently not able to access.
I understand that you sometimes have lockout someone from your database for various reasons, but, I would suggest to use a more friendly error message instead of "Your account has been banned due to invalid personal data or non-corporative email.".
Like: "We apologize that it is currently not possible for you to login, please click here so send an automated message to the administration, which will take care of the problem".
I would have reacted much more friendly If I had seen a message like this.

Honestly I'm not sure as it's linked to the features of a CRM system we use to store and process user accounts.

nobody wrote:Thank you for your help. This is good news.
You are able to opt out of the "newsletters" but, not, when registering yourself - unless this is the "subscribe for updates". I guess this has to be done later some profile management screen - which I am currently not able to access.
I understand that you sometimes have lockout someone from your database for various reasons, but, I would suggest to use a more friendly error message instead of "Your account has been banned due to invalid personal data or non-corporative email.".
Like: "We apologize that it is currently not possible for you to login, please click here so send an automated message to the administration, which will take care of the problem".
I would have reacted much more friendly If I had seen a message like this.

Dear Sir.
If you have issues with registration or with your already registered account please contact our sales department sales@starwindsoftware.com
A few reasons why your account has been banned:
You have indicated non- corporate email (real email address does not means that it is corporate/ if you do not have corporate email you should also contact sales@starwindsoftware.com
You have indicated invalid phone number, company name,country or you already have registered account with another email address.

I’m sure you have got message when you tried to log – in that you should contact SALES:

“Your account has been banned due to invalid personal data or non-corporative email.
To renew your account and provide valid data, please contact sales”


If you need to unsubscribe from our marketing emails, you can do it easily with pushing hyperlink in the bottom of each of our newsletters.

Tiana, thank you for your update!