Virtual Disk Backup Mounting for Application Service Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems in computing devices face challenges in ensuring data availability and rapid restoration of application services due to the risk of data loss from persistent storage failures, particularly in distributed systems where data redundancy is relied upon for recovery.
Innovation Solution
A system that stores multiple copies of data throughout the system in a low storage footprint format with limited indexing, enabling rapid restoration of application services by selectively accessing and utilizing backup data stored in backup storages, which can be remotely accessed and mounted for application services without the need for local restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple copies of data are stored throughout the system for rapid restoration, then data availability and restoration speed are improved, but storage resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates remote copies of virtual disk backups in backup storage systems that can be directly mounted and accessed by production hosts. These copies enable rapid restoration without requiring full local restoration, as the backup system can serve data directly to multiple production hosts simultaneously, thus improving restoration speed while controlling storage resource usage through intelligent copy management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the restoration process into two phases: rapid service resumption using remote backup copies, and subsequent full restoration when resources are available. This segmentation allows the system to prioritize service continuity over complete data redundancy, improving restoration speed while reducing peak storage resource requirements.
2Reliability
If traditional data redundancy methods are used in distributed systems, then data availability is improved, but device complexity and storage overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backup storage system as an intermediary between production hosts and primary data storage. This intermediary maintains remote copies of virtual disk backups and provides a simplified interface for data access during restoration scenarios. The backup system abstracts the complexity of data redundancy management from production hosts, reducing system complexity while maintaining data availability through coordinated access to backup copies.
3Reliability
If full restoration from backup is performed, then complete data recovery is achieved, but service resumption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by creating and maintaining remote copies of virtual disk backups in advance in backup storage systems. These pre-positioned copies are ready for immediate mounting and access when restoration is needed, eliminating the time-consuming process of transferring data during restoration. The preliminary preparation of backup copies enables rapid service resumption while ensuring complete data recovery is still achievable through subsequent full restoration processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for providing an application service to clients includes identifying a failure of the application service that causes the application service to be suspended; in response to identifying the failure: instantiating an instance of an application for providing the application service in a production host; identifying at least one virtual disk level backup that is: associated with the application and is a portion of deduplicated backups; extracting the at least one virtual disk level backup from deduplicated backups to obtain a copy of the at least one virtual disk level backup; identifying application data associated with the application within the copy of the at least one virtual disk level backup; transitioning an application service session for a client of the clients to the instance of the application; and resuming the application service for the client using the instance of the application and the application data.