Customized Bootable Image for Direct System State Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for rebooting Linux machines to a specific point in time, such as the 'two-step reboot' approach using kexec, are not suitable for all hypervisors and UEFI systems, leading to inefficiencies and limitations in data management and protection.
Innovation Solution
A single-step reboot approach is implemented, where a customized bootable image is created based on a generic image and a backup image of the machine at a specific point in time, including the kernel, drivers, and internal settings, allowing direct restoration of the system state without the need for intermediate booting steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a two-step reboot approach using kexec is used, then the system can be rebooted to a specific point in time, but compatibility with certain hypervisors and UEFI systems is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the generic bootable image and the backup image into a single customized bootable image that contains both the kernel/drivers and the complete system state at a specific point in time. This consolidation eliminates the need for the two-step reboot process (booting from generic image then using kexec), thereby improving compatibility with hypervisors and UEFI systems while reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system state (including kernel, drivers, and all configuration data) is prepared and embedded into the customized bootable image in advance, before the actual reboot operation. This preliminary preparation allows the system to boot directly into the restored state without requiring intermediate booting steps or complex post-boot restoration procedures.
2Ease of operation
If a two-step reboot approach is used, then system state can be restored, but the process is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the generic bootable image and backup image into a single customized bootable image, the patent eliminates multiple booting steps and reduces the restoration process to a single direct boot operation. This significantly improves ease of operation and reduces the time required to restore system state compared to the two-step approach requiring kexec invocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The complete system state is pre-loaded into the customized bootable image during image creation, so that when restoration is needed, the system can boot directly into the restored state without requiring time-consuming post-boot restoration operations. This preliminary embedding of the system state dramatically reduces restore time and improves user convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain aspects, a method of creating customized bootable images for client computing devices in an information management system can include: creating a backup copy of each of a plurality of client computing devices, including a first client computing device; subsequent to receiving a request to restore the first client computing device to the state at a first time, creating a customized bootable image that is configured to directly restore the first client computing device to the state at the first time, wherein the customized bootable image includes system state specific to the first client computing device at the first time and one or more drivers associated with hardware existing at time of restore on a computing device to be rebooted; and rebooting the computing device to the state of the first client computing device at the first time from the customized bootable image.