Virtual Machine Backup via Direct Server Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backup technologies for Virtual Machines (VMs) deployed in Virtual Storage Area Networks (VSANs face inefficiencies such as increased bandwidth consumption, performance bottlenecking, and latency due to their distributed nature, which leads to slow backup operations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves detecting a VM backup attempt, identifying virtual servers hosting VM portions within the VSAN, obtaining these portions in parallel without generating network traffic, and performing a load-balancing operation to direct underutilized servers to assist in the backup process, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional backup technology obtains VM portions through the VSAN network, then backup operations can be performed, but bandwidth consumption increases and latency occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts VM portion data directly from the distributed storage locations on virtual servers without routing it through the VSAN network. The backup host accesses storage devices directly on individual virtual servers, bypassing the network infrastructure that would otherwise consume bandwidth and introduce latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup process is segmented into parallel operations where the backup host simultaneously accesses multiple virtual servers. Each virtual server's locally hosted VM portions are backed up independently and concurrently, eliminating the sequential processing bottleneck and reducing overall backup time.
2Productivity
If a single virtual server assembles all VM portions sequentially, then backup processing can be performed, but performance bottlenecking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The backup operation is divided into multiple parallel segments, with each virtual server contributing its locally hosted VM portions simultaneously. This eliminates the sequential assembly bottleneck where a single server would need to gather all portions one after another, thereby increasing throughput and reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple virtual servers perform backup operations continuously and simultaneously rather than sequentially. The backup host maintains continuous useful action by parallelizing data retrieval across all participating virtual servers, maximizing resource utilization and eliminating idle waiting time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If VM portions are obtained through the VSAN, then distributed VMs can be backed up, but VSAN latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data access path from the VSAN network infrastructure and creates direct access channels between the backup host and individual virtual servers' storage devices. This eliminates the network latency inherent in routing all data through the VSAN while maintaining full support for distributed VM architectures.
4Ease of operation
If all VM portions are gathered through a central virtual server, then backup coordination is simplified, but performance bottlenecking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup host acts as an intermediary that directly coordinates with multiple virtual servers simultaneously. Rather than routing all communication through a single central virtual server, the backup host mediates parallel data retrieval operations, maintaining operational simplicity while eliminating performance bottlenecks through direct multi-server access.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method for backing up virtual machines deployed in virtual storage area networks may include (1) detecting an attempt to back up a virtual machine deployed in a virtual storage area network, (2) identifying, within the virtual storage area network, a plurality of virtual servers that are each hosting a portion of the virtual machine, (3) obtaining each portion of the virtual machine in parallel from the plurality of virtual servers within the virtual storage area network, and then (4) backing up each portion of the virtual machine obtained from the plurality of virtual servers. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.