Virtual Machine Backup Agent Assignment via Time Domain Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for managing backup operations of virtual machines are inefficient, as they do not effectively utilize computing resources, leading to suboptimal performance and potential failures in completing backups due to random assignment of VMs to backup agents without considering their specific parameters and capacities.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that assign virtual machines to backup agents based on parameters converted to a common representation domain, such as time, allowing for intelligent distribution and prioritization, ensuring that each VM is assigned to a backup agent within the agent's capacity, thereby optimizing backup operations and resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VMs are assigned to backup agents randomly, then the assignment process is simple, but backup completion reliability deteriorates due to capacity mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts multiple VM parameters (backup window, priority, size) and agent capacities into a common representation domain (time domain). This parameter transformation enables systematic matching by converting heterogeneous parameters into comparable time-based metrics, resolving the contradiction between reliable assignment and process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a backup agent mapper as an intermediary component that performs the parameter conversion and matching logic. This mediator handles the complexity of parameter matching internally, presenting a simplified interface to both VMs and backup agents while ensuring reliable assignments through systematic parameter comparison.
2Measurement precision
If multiple VM parameters are considered for assignment, then assignment accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms multiple parameters (backup window, priority, size) into a single common representation (time domain) that can be directly compared with agent capacity. This parameter consolidation maintains assignment accuracy by preserving the essential constraints while enabling efficient single-dimension matching, thus reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the assignment process into distinct phases: parameter extraction, parameter conversion to common domain, and matching execution. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, particularly the conversion phase which transforms complex multi-parameter matching into simpler time-based comparisons.
3Productivity
If backup capacity is not considered in assignment, then assignment speed is fast, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent expresses backup capacity and VM requirements in the same time-based representation domain, enabling direct comparison and optimization of resource utilization. By converting capacity metrics into time units, the system can efficiently match VMs to agents that can complete backups within their windows, improving productivity without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotential conditions by converting all parameters to a common representation domain. This allows fair and efficient comparison between VM requirements and agent capacities, ensuring that assignments are made based on equivalent time-based metrics rather than incomparable different units, thus optimizing resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing backup operations includes obtaining a plurality of parameters for each of a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), wherein the plurality of parameters are in a common representation domain, obtaining a plurality of backup capacities each associated with one of a plurality of backup agents, wherein the backup capacity is in the common representation domain, assigning, using the plurality of parameters and the plurality of backup capacities, at least a portion of the plurality of VMs to the plurality of backup agents, and initiating, based on the assigning, backup operations based on at least the portion of the plurality of VMs.