Backup Agent Automates VM Application Discovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual machine backup applications lack the ability to automatically discover applications within a virtual machine and associate them with backup policies, as well as perform application-specific pre- and post-backup actions, leading to inefficient data backup processes.
Innovation Solution
A backup agent within the virtual machine communicates with a backup server to discover and list applications, transmit a universally unique identifier, and perform application-specific actions, including pre- and post-backup operations, ensuring data is backed up according to defined policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If virtual machine backup applications use traditional backup methods, then backup processes are simple to implement, but they cannot automatically discover applications within the virtual machine or associate them with backup policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backup agent as an intermediary component installed within the virtual machine that communicates with the backup server. This agent automatically discovers applications inside the VM, retrieves their metadata, and associates them with appropriate backup policies, thereby enabling automatic application discovery without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup agent enables the virtual machine to perform self-service by automatically discovering its own applications, generating inventory lists, and associating data with backup policies without requiring external manual intervention. This self-service capability enhances automation while keeping the backup system manageable.
2Extent of automation
If virtual machine backup applications manually manage backup policies, then policy association is simple and clear, but it requires manual intervention and cannot automatically perform application-specific actions
Solution Approach 1:
The backup agent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the virtual machine environment, discovering applications, and automatically associating them with backup policies based on predefined criteria. The agent receives feedback from the backup server regarding policy requirements and adjusts its discovery and association processes accordingly, enabling automatic policy association while maintaining operational simplicity through rule-based automation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If backup applications focus on basic backup functionality, then the system is easy to operate, but it cannot perform application-specific pre-backup or post-backup actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup process into distinct phases: pre-backup actions, the actual backup operation, and post-backup actions. The backup agent is designed to execute specific actions during each phase based on the application being backed up. This segmentation allows the system to perform application-specific actions without overwhelming complexity, as each phase can be independently configured and managed.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup agent performs preliminary actions before the actual backup process, such as application-specific preparations, data validation, and policy verification. By executing these preliminary actions automatically, the system enhances adaptability to different application requirements while maintaining operational simplicity through pre-configured action templates.
4Extent of automation
If virtual machine backup applications do not integrate with backup servers, then the system architecture is simple, but it cannot automatically transmit identifiers or discover applications
Solution Approach 1:
The backup agent is designed as a universal component that can operate across different virtual machine environments and communicate with backup servers using standardized protocols. It performs multiple functions including application discovery, metadata collection, identifier transmission, and policy association. This multi-functionality enables automatic identifier transmission and application discovery while managing system integration complexity through a unified agent architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing a backup of data to a backup server for one or more applications on a virtual machine having a universally unique identifier (UUID). A backup application can be deployed within the virtual machine, residing on a guest operating system. The backup application can report a list of applications on the virtual machine to the backup server. The backup server can deploy any application-specific modules that may be needed to perform the backup, and a list of pre- and post-backup actions to take, per application. The backup server can trigger the pre- and/or post-backup actions. The virtual machine can inform the backup server that the pre- and/or post-backup actions have completed. Backups can be in accordance with one or more policies stored at the backup server and associated with the virtual machine UUID or associated with an account that the virtual machine, or its user, are associated with.