Virtual Machine Backup Configuration Cataloging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing a large number of virtual machines requires significant administrative effort due to repetitive tasks such as creating, configuring, and restoring virtual machines, which can be tedious and time-consuming for administrators.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods that gather configuration information of virtual machines during backup and associate it with backup images in a searchable catalog, allowing administrators to efficiently locate and restore virtual machines by searching for specific configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If administrators manually manage virtual machines (creating, configuring, locating, and restoring), then they can perform these tasks, but the administrative effort and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically gathering configuration information about virtual machines during the backup process itself, before administrators need to locate or restore VMs. This pre-cataloging of VM attributes (hardware specs, software installed, operational context) in a searchable database eliminates the need for administrators to manually search through backup repositories, directly reducing the time and effort required for VM management tasks.
2Productivity
If administrators manually locate and restore virtual machines from backup, then restoration can be performed, but the work becomes repetitive and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary cataloging system that acts as a mediator between the backup repository and administrators. This system automatically indexes virtual machine configuration information (hardware specifications, installed software, operational context) and stores it in a searchable database. Administrators can query this catalog using specific criteria to quickly locate desired VMs without manually browsing backup files, thereby improving restoration efficiency while simplifying the overall backup management process.
3Loss of time
If configuration information is collected and stored in a searchable catalog, then virtual machines can be quickly located, but the initial setup and data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the configuration information gathering process with the existing backup operation. Instead of treating cataloging as a separate, complex task, the patent integrates VM attribute collection into the backup workflow itself. The same infrastructure that captures VM images also automatically extracts and indexes configuration data (hardware specs, software inventory, operational context), combining two functions into one unified process and avoiding the need for additional complex cataloging infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for enhancing virtual machine backup image data may include identifying a virtual machine to be stored as a backup image. The computer-implemented method may also include collecting configuration information that identifies at least one aspect of how the virtual machine is configured. The computer-implemented method may further include storing the backup image of the virtual machine in a backup repository. The computer-implemented method may additionally include associating the configuration information within the backup image in a catalog of virtual machine backup images, the catalog being searchable by the configuration information. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.