Time-Based Virtual Machine Reversion with Bitmap Block Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reverting virtual machines to previous states are time-consuming and resource-intensive, often causing user downtime due to the need to load entire virtual machine disks, especially when network congestion or multiple users access secondary storage.
Innovation Solution
A filter driver monitors input/output commands between the virtual machine and its disk, capturing changes to create recovery points and generate bitmaps, allowing selective replacement of modified data blocks to revert the virtual machine to a previous state without loading the entire disk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire virtual machine disk is loaded to revert to a previous state, then the virtual machine can be restored, but the process becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the modified data blocks from the virtual machine disk using bitmap information, rather than loading the entire disk. The bitmap tracks which blocks have changed, allowing the system to selectively retrieve and replace only those specific blocks needed for reversion, significantly reducing restoration time and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine disk is segmented into individual data blocks, and the patent operates at the block level rather than treating the disk as a monolithic unit. By identifying and processing only the modified blocks through bitmap tracking, the system divides the restoration task into manageable segments that can be handled efficiently.
2Measurement precision
If monitoring is performed to detect changes in the virtual machine, then changes can be captured for reversion, but monitoring may cause changes to the virtual machine or consume virtual machine resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a filter driver as an intermediary component that sits between the virtual machine and the storage system. This filter driver intercepts and monitors write operations without requiring direct access to or modification of the virtual machine's core processes, thereby detecting changes with high precision while minimizing resource consumption and avoiding interference with virtual machine operations.
3Reliability
If multiple users access secondary storage or network congestion occurs, then data access becomes slower, but the need to revert virtual machines remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts bitmap information that identifies modified data blocks, allowing the system to request only those specific blocks from secondary storage rather than accessing the entire disk. This selective data retrieval approach maintains reversion capability while significantly improving access speed even under network congestion or multi-user conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Recovery points can be used for replicating a virtual machine and reverting the virtual machine to a different state. A filter driver can monitor and capture input/output commands between a virtual machine and a virtual machine disk. The captured input/output commands can be used to create a recovery point. The recovery point can be associated with a bitmap that may be used to identify data blocks that have been modified between two versions of the virtual machine. Using this bitmap, a virtual machine may be reverted or restored to a different state by replacing modified data blocks and without replacing the entire virtual machine disk.