Mirror Driver Promotes Linked Clone Virtual Machine Without Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for promoting a linked clone virtual machine to a full clone virtual machine require downtime, as they necessitate powering off the virtual machine, which can be lengthy and inefficient, especially when large data copies are involved.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a mirror driver that copies the contents of the delta disk to a new base disk while the virtual machine remains online, allowing the linked clone virtual machine to operate as a full clone without downtime by synchronizing I/Os and eventually removing the mirror driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the linked clone virtual machine is powered off for promotion, then the full clone conversion can be completed, but the virtual machine experiences lengthy downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror driver is installed and configured before the actual data copying begins. The driver establishes the mirroring infrastructure in advance, allowing the promotion process to proceed without requiring the virtual machine to be powered off, thus reducing downtime while ensuring conversion completion
Solution Approach 2:
A mirror driver is introduced as an intermediary component between the source disk and destination disk. This driver enables real-time data synchronization and I/O redirection during the promotion process, allowing the virtual machine to remain operational while the conversion occurs in the background
2Reliability
If a large amount of data is copied during promotion, then the full clone has complete data independence, but the promotion process takes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror driver enables continuous data copying to occur in the background while the virtual machine remains operational. The copying process does not interrupt normal operations, and the driver continuously synchronizes data between source and destination disks, completing the full data independence requirement without halting service
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a mirror copy of the disk data through the mirror driver, which replicates data from the source disk to the destination disk in real-time. This copying mechanism ensures data independence is achieved while allowing the virtual machine to continue operating throughout the process
Data Source
AI summary
One or more embodiments provide techniques for promoting a linked clone virtual machine to a full clone virtual machine. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an instruction to promote the linked clone virtual machine to a full clone virtual machine. The method also includes creating a second base disk for the linked clone virtual machine. The method includes installing a mirror driver between the first delta disk and the second base disk. The method includes copying the contents of the first delta disk to the second base disk with the mirror driver. After the contents of the first delta disk have been copied to the second base disk, the method includes removing the mirror driver and operating the linked clone virtual machine as a full clone virtual machine on the second base disk.