I/O Interception for Near-Real-Time VM Data Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing snapshot-based backup and recovery technologies for virtual machines (VMs) result in recovery point objectives (RPOs) of tens of minutes, impacting user operations due to the expense and frequency limitations of taking snapshots.

Innovation Solution

Intercepting virtual disk I/Os in the I/O path to replicate data to a backup site in near real-time, forming a recoverable snapshot-log chain by applying replicated I/O streams on a base snapshot, and optimizing RPO to seconds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If snapshots are taken periodically to back up virtual machines, then data protection is achieved, but recovery point objective deteriorates to tens of minutes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidrecovery point objective

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous data protection by continuously capturing and replicating I/O operations to a backup site, eliminating the periodic gaps inherent in traditional snapshot-based backup. This continuous replication ensures that the backup site always has near-real-time data, reducing RPO to seconds while maintaining reliable data protection through ongoing synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Loss of time

If snapshots are taken frequently to improve recovery point objective, then user operations are impacted due to expense and frequency limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery point objectiveVSAvoiduser operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the I/O operation stream and redirects it to a backup site, allowing the original I/O operations to proceed uninterrupted on the production system. This copying approach eliminates the need to pause or slow down user operations for backup purposes, achieving frequent data capture without impacting ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of time

If I/O operations are replicated in near real-time to reduce recovery point objective, then data protection reliability is improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery point objectiveVSAvoiddata protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component that captures I/O operations and manages their replication to the backup site. This intermediary ensures data integrity during transmission and provides a reliable bridge between the production system and backup site, maintaining high data protection reliability while achieving near-real-time replication and low RPO.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260023589A1Systems and methods for continuous data protection comprising storage of completed I/O requests intercepted from an I/O stream using touch points

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 RUBRIK INC

AI summary

Example embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for continuous data protection (CDP) and more specifically to an input and output (I/O) filtering framework and log management system to seek a near-zero recovery point objective (RPO).