Intelligent Application Writer Extension for Copy Service Timeout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snapshot backup systems in virtualized environments face challenges such as application-awareness protection issues, including failed backups due to timing constraints, unsupported disk types, and over-inclusion of disks, leading to potential data loss or corruption.
Innovation Solution
A data protection backup system with an in-guest data protection agent and a host-level snapshot data mover coordinates snapshot generation, extending time windows and ensuring application consistency through intelligent communication and disk type management, avoiding unwanted log truncation and excluding unsupported disks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the copy service uses a fixed time window for snapshot generation, then the backup process is simple to manage, but the snapshot may fail to complete within the time limit leading to backup failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic time window adjustment by detecting the application writer type (e.g., SQL Server, Exchange) and extending the copy service time window based on the specific application's requirements. This allows the system to adapt the time window from a fixed value to a dynamic, application-specific value, ensuring snapshots can complete within an appropriate time frame for each application type while maintaining reliable backups.
2Reliability
If the copy service includes all disks in the snapshot, then comprehensive data protection is achieved, but unnecessary disks are included causing wasted resources and potential over-inclusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies only the necessary disks for each application writer type. By detecting the application writer type, the system determines which specific disks are required for that application and includes only those disks in the snapshot, rather than including all disks. This eliminates over-inclusion of unnecessary disks while ensuring all required disks are captured for complete data protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the snapshot inclusion based on the specific application writer type. Different application writers have different disk requirements, and the system tailors the snapshot configuration to match each application's specific needs rather than applying a uniform approach to all applications. This ensures optimal resource utilization while maintaining comprehensive protection for each application.
3Reliability
If the snapshot generation process waits for confirmation before proceeding, then data consistency is ensured, but the backup process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-determining the appropriate time window extension based on the application writer type before the snapshot generation begins. The system detects the application type in advance and configures the appropriate time window extension, so that during snapshot generation, the process can proceed without delays caused by real-time confirmation waiting. This maintains data consistency while reducing overall backup time through advance preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
A first request is issued to a copy service of a virtual machine (VM) to indicate that an application running in the VM is to be backed up. The request triggers a first time window within which the application is frozen and a second time window, inside the first time window, within which a file system of the VM is frozen. A second request is issued to a snapshot data mover for a snapshot of the application. Prior to expiration of the second time window and without having received an indication that snapshot generation was successful, the copy service is notified that generation of the snapshot has been successful. A call, responsive to the notification, is received from the copy service indicating that a cleanup operation on the snapshot can proceed. Returning the call from the copy service is delayed thereby providing additional time for generating the snapshot.