Pre-configured Replica VMs for Zero RTO Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data protection systems face challenges in reducing Recovery Time Objective (RTO) during data recovery operations, leading to increased damage and costs, as they often require significant time to configure and boot virtual machines, and existing methods do not effectively balance cost and availability during disaster recovery.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data protection system that replicates production virtual machines to replica virtual machines, allowing the OS to be pre-configured and ready for immediate recovery, and sharing replica virtual machines among multiple applications to optimize resource usage and reduce RTO, while using replication strategies such as Quality of Service, failure domain awareness, and related application strategies to prioritize and manage application replication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional data protection systems are used to backup and recover data, then data can be protected and restored, but the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is extended due to the time required to configure and boot virtual machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring replica virtual machines with the operating system and application software before disasters occur. These replica VMs are maintained in a ready-state with pre-loaded configurations, allowing immediate failover without the need to configure or boot during recovery operations. This pre-positioning of recovery resources directly reduces RTO while maintaining data protection reliability.
2Loss of time
If replica virtual machines are pre-configured and maintained for immediate recovery, then RTO is reduced, but the cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a hybrid state management system where replica virtual machines can transition between different readiness states. Instead of maintaining all replica VMs in a continuously powered-on state, the system dynamically adjusts their state based on recovery priorities, available resources, and risk assessments. High-priority applications maintain fully configured replica VMs, while lower-priority applications use less resource-intensive replication methods, optimizing the balance between RTO reduction and resource consumption.
3Loss of energy
If multiple applications share the same replica virtual machine to optimize resource usage, then cost is reduced, but the complexity of managing failure domains and recovery priorities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the replication strategy into distinct, manageable components: failure domain identification, application priority classification, and replica VM allocation rules. The system segments applications into different priority levels and assigns them to appropriate replica VMs based on their failure domain and recovery objectives. This modular approach to replication strategy management reduces complexity by breaking down the overall system into independent, rule-based segments that can be configured and maintained separately.
Data Source
AI summary
Data protection operations including replication operations are disclosed. Virtual machines, applications, and/or application data are replicated according to at least one strategy. The replication strategy can improve performance of the recovery operation.