Virtual Machine Snapshot Packaging for Storage-Compatible Backup

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Computing environments lack adequate data protection and storage efficiency for backing up and restoring virtual machines due to overhead and cost, and are not natively compatible with storage environments for leveraging robust storage functionalities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing virtual machine and storage agents that interact with both environments to facilitate backup, using metadata to create metafiles and snapshot packages compatible with storage environments for efficient data transfer and storage, enabling long-term retention, deduplication, and incremental backups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If snapshots are maintained within the computing environment for backup, then data protection capability is improved, but overhead and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection capabilityVSAvoidoverhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the backup storage function from the computing environment to a separate storage environment. Snapshots are created in the computing environment but then transferred and stored in the storage environment, which is specialized for backup operations. This separation reduces the overhead on the computing environment while maintaining data protection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an agent as an intermediary component that facilitates communication and data transfer between the computing environment and the storage environment. The agent manages snapshot creation, transfer, and storage operations, reducing the direct overhead on the computing environment while enabling robust backup functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If snapshots are maintained within the computing environment for backup, then data protection capability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the storage parameters by moving from maintaining snapshots in the high-cost computing environment to storing them in the more cost-effective storage environment. The agent manages the transfer and storage, optimizing the cost-to-protection ratio by leveraging the storage environment's capabilities for long-term retention and deduplication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If computing environment directly provides backup functionality, then backup capability is improved, but compatibility with storage environments is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup capabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with storage environments

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the storage environment universal by enabling it to serve multiple purposes: long-term backup storage, incremental backup operations, and restoration source. The agent provides a universal interface that works with different storage environments, enhancing compatibility and adaptability while maintaining strong backup capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If full backups are performed frequently, then data protection is improved, but computing resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidcomputing resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic backup actions with varying frequencies. Full backups are performed periodically, while incremental backups are performed more frequently between full backups. This periodic approach ensures data protection is maintained while significantly reducing the computing resources required compared to frequent full backups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent discards the need to transfer entire virtual machine data for each backup operation. Instead, only the changes (incremental data) are identified, transferred, and stored. The agent manages tracking what has been backed up and what needs to be updated, recovering only the necessary data portions, which conserves computing resources while maintaining data protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS12373313B2Virtual machine backup from computing environment to storage environment

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 NETAPP INC

AI summary

Techniques are provided for backing up virtual machines from a computing environment to a storage environment. A virtual machine agent is utilized to generate a snapshot of the virtual machine. Metadata comprising a snapshot identifier of the snapshot and virtual disk information of virtual disks captured by snapshot is generated at the computing environment. The metadata is retrieved and used to create a metafile that is transferred to the storage environment within which snapshots of the virtual machine are to be stored. The snapshot is retrieved from the computing environment and is packaged into a snapshot package having a protocol format used by the storage environment. The snapshot package is transferred to the storage environment.