Proxy-Based Backup for Hyper-V Cluster Shared Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In clustered environments, existing data backup and restoration methods require installing a backup agent on every server, which is cumbersome and can impair production server operations, lacking flexibility in designating servers for backup and restore operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a proxy-based system where a user can specify a particular node in the cluster to perform backup and restore operations, allowing for a prioritized list of nodes and default or alternative node selection, eliminating the need for backup agents on all servers and enabling flexible node designation for data backup and restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backup agent is installed on every server in the cluster environment, then backup and restore operations can be performed on all servers, but the complexity of the system increases and production server operations may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The backup agent functionality is extracted from individual servers and consolidated into a single designated server within the cluster. This allows backup operations to be performed on all servers without installing agents on each one, reducing system complexity while maintaining backup capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A single server is designated to perform multiple functions including backup, restore, and proxy operations for the entire cluster. This universal server handles backup tasks for all other servers, eliminating the need for individual agents on each server.
2Reliability
If a backup agent is installed on every server in the cluster environment, then comprehensive backup coverage is achieved, but the ease of operation decreases due to cumbersome installation and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The backup agent is extracted from the general server population and placed only on a specifically designated server. This eliminates the need to install and maintain agents on every server, significantly improving ease of operation while preserving comprehensive backup coverage through the designated server's ability to access and backup data from all cluster servers.
3Reliability
If backup operations are performed on production servers, then backup functionality is provided, but the productivity of production servers decreases due to backup processing loads
Solution Approach 1:
Backup processing loads are extracted from production servers and transferred to a designated server. The designated server performs all backup and restore operations, allowing production servers to focus solely on their primary functions without the overhead of backup processing, thereby maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A designated server acts as an intermediary between the backup system and production servers. It handles all backup processing tasks, mediating between the need for comprehensive backup coverage and the need to maintain production server performance by preventing backup loads from directly impacting production workloads.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a method includes receiving, at a physical proxy node, a backup request from a client outside the cluster environment, the backup request identifies a VM that is to be backed up, and including data that resides on a virtual federated database that is an element of the cluster environment and to which respective databases of each node of the cluster environment are mapped, and the backup request is received at the physical proxy node due to the position of the physical proxy node in a PSOL. Next, initiating, with an agent at the physical proxy node, a save program on the physical proxy node, and initiating, with the save program, a secondary save process on the physical proxy node that is a federated backup process and includes reading the VM identification from the backup request, and backing up the VM identified in the backup request.