Virtual Volume Snapshots for Application-Level Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data protection management systems in information processing systems with virtualization functionalities struggle to provide effective data protection for application instances at application-level granularity, often resulting in inefficient use of snapshot capacity and limited number of backup copies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a data protection manager that operates independently of the virtualization layer, allowing for the generation of application instance data snapshots on a virtual volume-based storage system, thereby providing application-level granularity and an unlimited number of snapshots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data protection is implemented at virtual machine level through virtualization layer, then data protection coverage is achieved, but snapshot capacity is inefficiently utilized and number of backup copies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data protection from the virtualization layer and implements it at the storage system level. Instead of protecting entire virtual machines through the virtualization layer, the system creates granular snapshots at the storage volume level, allowing selective protection of specific data portions and improving snapshot capacity utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data protection functionality from the virtualization layer and relocates it to the storage system. This extraction allows the storage system to independently manage snapshots without being constrained by virtualization layer limitations, enabling unlimited backup copies and efficient capacity usage.
2Reliability
If data protection is implemented through virtualization layer, then virtual machine level protection is provided, but application level granularity is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent further segments data protection granularity from virtual machine level down to application level. By implementing protection at the storage volume level rather than virtual machine level, the system can protect specific application data with precise granularity, allowing selective backup of only the necessary data portions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtualization layer manages snapshots, then integration with virtual infrastructure is achieved, but number of snapshot copies is limited and capacity efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts snapshot management from the virtualization layer and assigns it to the storage system. This extraction removes the limitations imposed by virtualization layer resources, allowing the storage system to create unlimited snapshot copies with full capacity efficiency while maintaining integration through standardized interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Data protection management techniques in information processing systems are disclosed. For example, a method is provided to manage generation of a copy of data of an application instance executed by a virtual processing device of a host device operatively coupled to a virtual volume-based storage system. Generation of the copy of the data of the application instance is caused to be performed on the virtual volume-based storage system independent of a virtualization layer associated with the host device.