Data Integrity Check Virtual Machine for Cloud Backup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data protection environments face significant challenges in performing data integrity checks efficiently without imposing excessive overhead costs and reducing system performance, particularly when using cloud storage and virtual machines that lack flexibility and configurability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dedicated data integrity check virtual machine (VM) that operates on the same dataset as the data protection VM, allowing it to perform read-only operations and handle data integrity checks independently, thereby reducing the workload on data protection entities and improving overall system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data integrity checks are performed by data protection entities, then data integrity is ensured, but system performance deteriorates and overhead costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data protection function into separate virtual machines: data protection VMs that handle backup/restore operations and a dedicated data integrity check VM that performs integrity verification. This segmentation allows each VM to specialize in its function without interfering with others, ensuring data integrity while maintaining system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The data integrity check function is extracted from the data protection entities and placed in a separate dedicated VM. This extraction removes the performance burden of integrity checks from the data protection VMs, allowing them to focus on their primary functions without degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If data integrity checks are performed by data protection entities, then data integrity is ensured, but overhead costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidoverhead costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data protection function into separate virtual machines: data protection VMs that handle backup/restore operations and a dedicated data integrity check VM that performs integrity verification. This segmentation allows each VM to specialize in its function without interfering with others, ensuring data integrity while maintaining system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The data integrity check function is extracted from the data protection entities and placed in a separate dedicated VM. This extraction removes the performance burden of integrity checks from the data protection VMs, allowing them to focus on their primary functions without degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cloud storage is used for backup, then cost and convenience are improved, but data integrity concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated data integrity check VM as an intermediary between the cloud storage and the data protection entities. This intermediary performs comprehensive integrity checks on backup data stored in the cloud, providing an additional layer of verification that addresses data integrity concerns while maintaining the convenience of cloud storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If VMs are used for data protection instead of purpose-built appliances, then flexibility is reduced, but cost is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidconfigurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic resource allocation and configuration for the data integrity check VM, allowing it to be scaled and adjusted based on specific needs. The VM can be configured with appropriate CPU, memory, and storage resources dynamically, providing the flexibility and configurability typically associated with purpose-built appliances while maintaining the cost advantages of virtualization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10936425B2Method of tracking and analyzing data integrity issues by leveraging cloud services
Publication Date: 2021.03.02 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US10936425B2 patent drawing
  • US10936425B2 patent drawing
  • US10936425B2 patent drawing

AI summary

One example method includes detecting the occurrence of a data corruption event regarding a backup dataset created by the data protection entity, transmitting, to a data integrity check entity, a request to perform a data integrity check with respect to the backup dataset, and the backup dataset comprises a backup of an entity other than the data integrity check entity and the data protection entity, and as between the data protection entity and the data integrity check entity, no portion of the data integrity check is performed by the data protection entity, receiving, from the data integrity check entity, results of the data integrity check, and the results of the data integrity check identify a data integrity problem that resulted from the data corruption event involving the backup dataset, and taking an action, based on the results of the data integrity check, to resolve the identified data integrity problem.