Snapshot Locking for Concurrent Disk Image Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disk image operations in virtualization environments face inefficiencies due to the need for locking, which prevents concurrent operations on snapshots within a disk image, leading to interruptions and suboptimal processing efficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Enabling the attachment of snapshots to multiple virtual machines, allowing concurrent operations on different snapshots within the same disk image, with the option to lock specific snapshots for backup processes while others continue operating on the disk image, and determining efficiency metrics to decide the best approach based on snapshot size and resource availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the disk image is locked to ensure data integrity during operations, then the reliability of disk operations is improved, but the productivity of the system deteriorates due to prevention of concurrent operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the disk image into multiple snapshots, allowing different snapshots to be locked and operated on independently. This enables concurrent operations on different snapshots while maintaining data integrity within each snapshot, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by creating snapshots at different points in time. This allows the system to operate on multiple time-points concurrently, transforming the single-dimension locking problem into a multi-dimensional solution where each snapshot can be independently managed.
2Reliability
If the entire disk image is locked for backup operations, then the reliability of backup is improved, but the loss of time increases due to interruption of other operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the backup operation from the entire disk image and applies it to specific snapshots. This allows backup operations to be performed on individual snapshots without locking the entire disk image, thereby maintaining backup reliability while minimizing interruption to other operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of locking the entire disk image for backup, the patent applies partial locking only to the specific snapshot being backed up. This partial action approach ensures backup integrity for the selected snapshot while allowing other parts of the disk image to remain accessible and operational.
3Device complexity
If operations are performed sequentially on disk image snapshots, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity deteriorates due to lack of concurrent processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the disk image into independent snapshots that can be operated on concurrently. Each snapshot maintains its own lock state, allowing multiple operations to proceed in parallel without increasing overall system complexity, thus improving productivity while maintaining manageable complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for enabling disk image operations in conjunction with snapshot locking. An example method may include: attaching a first snapshot to a first virtual machine the first snapshot being stored within a disk image, generating, in view of the first snapshot, a second snapshot, the second snapshot being stored within the disk image, attaching the first snapshot to a second virtual machine, and causing the first snapshot to be locked in view of the second virtual machine performing one or more operations on the first snapshot, wherein the first virtual machine performs one or more operations on the second snapshot concurrent with the locking of the first snapshot.