Virtual Disk Cloning for Efficient VM Redeployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for redeploying baseline virtual machines (BVMs) to child virtual machines (CVMs in clustered storage systems are inefficient due to the use of copy-on-write files, which become large and cumbersome, and the process is slow, leading to storage efficiency and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves cloning and swapping virtual drives of the BVM into a temporary directory and then moving them into the CVM's directory, allowing for rapid and efficient redeployment by replacing existing CVM virtual drives with cloned drives from the BVM, thereby avoiding the need to clone entire VMs and reducing the risk of incomplete or corrupt copies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copy-on-write files are used to track changes in child VMs, then change tracking is achieved, but storage space consumption increases and files become large and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the change tracking mechanism from the traditional copy-on-write file approach and replaces it with a differential backup system that only stores changed blocks. This separates the tracking function from the storage burden, maintaining reliability while reducing storage consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual disk is segmented into blocks, and only changed blocks are tracked and stored in the differential backup file. This segmentation allows selective copying of only necessary data portions, reducing overall storage space requirements while maintaining complete change tracking capability.
2Reliability
If traditional redeployment methods are used, then baseline VM updates can be applied to child VMs, but the process is slow and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by creating differential backups of only the changed blocks before redeployment. This preliminary preparation enables faster restoration during updates, as only the differential portion needs to be processed rather than entire virtual disk images.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying entire virtual disk images during redeployment, the system copies only the differential backup portions containing changed blocks. This selective copying dramatically reduces redeployment time while ensuring all necessary updates are applied correctly.
3Reliability
If entire VMs are cloned during redeployment, then complete VM copies are created, but storage resources are wasted and error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by cloning only the necessary portions of the VM (changed blocks) rather than entire VM images. This partial cloning approach uses fewer storage resources while maintaining sufficient data for reliable VM restoration and updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential changed blocks from the source VM for cloning purposes, separating necessary data from redundant information. This extraction process reduces storage resource consumption while preserving the integrity and reliability of the cloning operation.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for redeploying a baseline VM (BVM) to one or more child VMs (CVMs) by merely cloning virtual drives of the BVM, instead of the entirety of the parent BVM. A temporary directory is created in a datastore that has the target CVMs that are targeted for virtual drive replacement (e.g., are to be “re-baselined”). One or more replacement virtual drives (RVDs) are created in the temporary directory, where the RVDs comprise a clone of a virtual drive of the source BVM. The one or more RVDs are moved from the temporary directory to a directory of the target CVMs, replacing existing virtual drives of the target CVMs so that the target CVMs are thus re-baselined to the state of the parent BVM.