Virtual Machine Backup via Hardware Snapshot and Direct Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VM backup methods using software snapshots face performance issues due to high computational costs and resource constraints, especially in high-load environments, while hardware snapshots are limited by regulatory retention requirements, storage dependency, and cost concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method that eliminates the need for a hypervisor host to mount hardware snapshots, allowing direct mounting to a backup server, and utilizes hypervisor-based changed block tracking for efficient incremental backups, reducing costs and improving performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software snapshots are used for VM backup, then backup capability is provided, but computational cost increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hardware snapshots as an intermediary mechanism between the VM and backup storage. Instead of using software-based snapshots that require hypervisor involvement and high computational resources, the hardware snapshot feature of the storage device creates point-in-time copies at the storage level, eliminating the need for software-based snapshot management and reducing computational overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based snapshot mechanism (which requires hypervisor participation and generates high computational cost) with a hardware-based snapshot mechanism provided by the storage device. This substitution eliminates the need for software intervention in the snapshot creation process, thereby reducing computational cost and improving performance.
2Reliability
If hypervisor snapshots are used to create complete VM image copies, then backup completeness is ensured, but backup time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes hardware snapshots that are created preliminarily by the storage device before the backup process begins. These pre-created point-in-time copies serve as the basis for backup operations, eliminating the need for time-consuming software-based snapshot creation and allowing immediate backup of the complete VM image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the storage device's hardware snapshot copying capability to create exact point-in-time copies of the VM data at the storage level. This hardware-based copying mechanism is more efficient than software-based copying, enabling complete VM image backups to be performed faster while ensuring backup completeness.
3Productivity
If storage snapshots are used, then backup efficiency improves, but storage dependency and cost concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the backup system to utilize the universal hardware snapshot capability provided by modern storage devices. By making the backup process dependent on this widely-available storage feature rather than proprietary software, the system achieves broad compatibility and reduces complexity while maintaining high backup efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If hardware snapshots are mounted through hypervisor host, then compatibility is maintained, but unnecessary steps increase and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hypervisor host from the snapshot mounting process, allowing the backup server to mount hardware snapshots directly without intermediate hypervisor involvement. This removal of the unnecessary intermediate step reduces mounting time and simplifies the backup workflow while maintaining compatibility through direct storage-to-backup-server connectivity.
5Reliability
If complete VM image backups are performed, then data integrity is ensured, but backup size increases and storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup process into two stages: first, hardware snapshots create point-in-time copies of only the changed or critical data blocks; second, the backup server processes and stores these segmented data portions. This segmentation approach ensures data integrity while reducing the overall backup size compared to traditional complete image backups.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for virtual machine (VM) backup from a storage snapshot. An embodiment operates by receiving selective backup parameters including a VM to backup and then creating a VM snapshot associated with the VM. Next, an offset table associated with a virtual disk of the VM stored on a storage is retrieved. The embodiment further includes generating a storage snapshot and deleting the VM snapshot and then promoting the storage snapshot to a new logical unit number. The promoted storage snapshot is then mounted to the backups server. The virtual disk data is backed up to a backup storage using the offset table from the storage snapshot. The storage snapshot is dismounted from the backup server and deleted from the storage.