VM Backup Blueprints for Faster Application Recovery Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Creating new applications with virtual machines is time-consuming and error-prone due to the need for manual scripting and reconfiguration during deployment.
Innovation Solution
A data management system groups virtual machines into blueprints, using them to create and configure new applications, and supports instantiating and deleting these applications efficiently, leveraging backup configurations for disaster recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual scripting and reconfiguration is used during deployment, then flexibility and customization are improved, but time consumption and error rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring virtual machine templates with all necessary scripts, configurations, and dependencies before deployment. These templates are prepared in advance and stored in a repository, allowing rapid instantiation without manual scripting during actual deployment. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining customization through template selection while eliminating time-consuming manual configuration steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating reusable virtual machine templates that can be instantiated multiple times. Instead of manually scripting each deployment, the system copies pre-configured templates and instantiates them with parameter customization. This maintains adaptability through template parameters while dramatically reducing deployment time by eliminating repetitive manual configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual scripting and reconfiguration is used during deployment, then customization capability is improved, but error rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
By performing configuration validation and script testing in advance during template creation, the system identifies and corrects errors before deployment. The pre-configured templates undergo rigorous validation, ensuring reliability while maintaining customization capability through template parameters and selection options.
Solution Approach 2:
By copying proven, validated templates rather than creating configurations from scratch, the system inherits the reliability of previously tested configurations. Customization is achieved through template parameters rather than manual script modification, reducing errors while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If data backup configurations are leveraged for application management, then disaster recovery capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the same data backup configuration system for multiple purposes: both routine application deployment and disaster recovery operations. The blueprint technology serves as a universal mechanism that simplifies both normal operations and recovery scenarios, reducing the need for separate complex systems while maintaining strong disaster recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces blueprints as an intermediary layer between the backup system and application instances. These blueprints act as templates that mediate between stored backup configurations and actual application deployment, simplifying the interaction and reducing system complexity while enhancing disaster recovery through structured template-based restoration.
4Productivity
If automation is increased in the deployment process, then productivity is improved, but initial setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the complex setup work in advance during template creation. Once templates are established with all automation scripts and configurations, subsequent deployments become simple instantiation operations. This shifts complexity from the deployment phase to the one-time template creation phase, improving ongoing productivity while isolating initial setup complexity to a manageable upfront task.
Data Source
AI summary
A data management platform may group a first instance of a set of virtual machines into a backup group for performing a backup of data from a source data storage environment to a target data storage environment in accordance with a backup configuration. The data management platform may receive, from a user, an input to create a second instance of the set of virtual machines at the target data storage environment. In some examples, data backed up to the target data storage environment from the first instance may be configured as a source for the second instance. The data management platform may instantiate, in response to receiving the input, the second instance of the set of virtual machines using the backup configuration for the first instance of the set of virtual machines and the data backed up to the target data storage environment.