Partition Level Restore for Virtual Machine Disk Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data restoration methods in virtualized environments either restore entire disk images or specific files/folders, lacking the ability to restore individual partitions efficiently, which can be inefficient when data corruption is limited to a single partition.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for partition-level restore in virtualized environments, where a virtual machine disk image is analyzed for partition information, and only the affected partition is restored using loop devices for block-level copying, allowing for granular data recovery while maintaining other partitions intact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image level restore is used to restore a virtual machine disk image, then all partitions and file systems are restored, but restoring a particular partition is not possible and unnecessary data transfer occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual machine disk image into individual partitions, enabling selective restoration of specific partitions rather than restoring the entire disk image. The system identifies partition boundaries and allows users to choose which partitions to restore, thereby reducing unnecessary data transfer while maintaining restoration reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the ability to restore individual partitions from the conventional image-level restore process. By separating partition-level operations from full image restoration, the system enables selective recovery of only the affected partitions, eliminating the waste of transferring and restoring unaffected data.
2Ease of operation
If file level restore is used to restore specific files and folders, then granular restoration is possible, but restoring entire file systems, metadata, and symbolic links is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate restoration level between image-level and file-level restore by segmenting the disk image into partitions. This partition-level approach preserves entire file systems, metadata, and symbolic links within selected partitions, while still providing granular control over which partitions to restore.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension of restoration granularity at the partition level, which is neither as coarse as image-level nor as fine as file-level restore. This intermediate dimension enables restoration of complete file systems and their structural elements (metadata, symbolic links) while maintaining user control over specific partitions.
3Device complexity
If conventional restore methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but the ability to restore individual partitions efficiently is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the restoration process into distinct phases: identifying partition boundaries, selecting target partitions, and restoring only selected partitions. This segmentation maintains operational simplicity through clear user interfaces while dramatically improving recovery efficiency by avoiding restoration of unaffected partitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of the virtual machine disk image to identify partition boundaries, file system types, and metadata structures before the actual restoration begins. This preliminary action enables efficient selective restoration by pre-processing the disk image structure information, so that only necessary partitions are restored without sacrificing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and system for partition level restore, the operations comprising: determining a restoration source virtual machine disk image and a restoration target virtual machine disk image; determining partition information for the restoration source and target virtual machine disk images; determining whether the partition information for the restoration source virtual machine disk image matches the partition information for the restoration target virtual machine disk image; and in response to determining that the partition information for the restoration source virtual machine disk image matches the partition information for the restoration target virtual machine disk image, copying all data from a partition to be restored on the restoration source virtual machine disk image to a corresponding partition on the restoration target virtual machine disk image.