Proxy VM Simultaneous File Recovery from Multiple Backups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backup systems are inefficient in performing simultaneous file-level recovery from multiple backups, leading to time-consuming and risky processes, especially in large-scale networks, as they require serial browsing through each backup and risk data corruption during direct mounting.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a simultaneous file-level recovery process using a proxy virtual machine (vProxy) that allows mounting and browsing of multiple recovery points concurrently, leveraging snapshot backups and NFS data store mounts, enabling quick access and copying of files across multiple backups without direct mounting to the production VM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If file level recovery is performed by browsing through each backup serially using existing FLR options, then files can be recovered from backups, but the process becomes time-consuming and tedious when multiple backups need to be inspected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup browsing function by creating separate, simultaneous browsing sessions for each backup through the proxy VM. Instead of serially navigating through backups, the system divides the recovery task into parallel segments, allowing users to inspect multiple backups concurrently without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy VM is pre-configured with mounting capabilities for multiple NFS data stores before recovery operations begin. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for sequential mounting and browsing, allowing immediate parallel access to multiple backup restore points without waiting for each backup to be processed individually.
2Ease of operation
If FLR mounts backups directly to the production VM, then files can be accessed and restored, but the risk of data corruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy VM as an intermediary between the backup storage and the production VM. This intermediary mounts the NFS data stores containing backup restore points, allowing file access without direct mounting to the production VM. The proxy VM acts as a buffer that enables easy file access while protecting production system integrity from potential corruption.
3Productivity
If multiple backups are mounted simultaneously using existing systems, then recovery efficiency improves, but processing delays occur due to FLR processing limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy VM creates virtual disk copies of the NFS-mounted backup data stores and presents them as local virtual disks to the user. This copying mechanism allows simultaneous access to multiple backups without the processing delays of FLR, as the virtual disk copies can be mounted and browsed in parallel without sequential processing bottlenecks.
4Loss of information
If serial browsing through backups is performed to locate specific backup files, then all backups can be searched, but the manageability becomes unmanageable with many restore points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup search task by providing separate browsing interfaces for each mounted backup through the proxy VM. Users can simultaneously navigate multiple segmented backup views, making it easy to locate specific files across numerous restore points without the confusion of serial browsing through a single consolidated interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Consolidating data across several backups to a single virtual machine (VM) at a single instance. A process stores a VM to be backed up such that each backup comprises a single VM disk (VMDK). Upon request from the backup server, the deduplication system returns the location of the VMDKs as a network file system (NFS) path for each VMDK. This path entry is exported to the hypervisor hosting a proxy VM. The entry is mounted as a data store to the hypervisor. The proxy VM uses the VMDK which is in the data store and mounts the disk. This is performed for each VMDK so that the proxy VM mounts the NFS paths that is exported from the deduplication system onto a local file system of the base VM. From the local file system, it creates the mount points to become a user-searchable drive.