Virtual Machine Backup Integrity Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disaster recovery methods for computing devices face challenges in validating the integrity of source server backups, particularly in ensuring that virtual machine backups can access the operating system environment without installing tools on the physical machine, which is often not possible due to security restrictions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating a virtual hard drive image from data indicating the state of a source server's data storage unit, booting a virtual machine with this image, and automatically installing tools on the virtual machine to facilitate access to the operating system, allowing for the validation of backup integrity and immediate recovery of applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tools are installed on the source server to facilitate access to the operating system, then ease of operation is improved, but security restrictions prevent installation of these tools on the physical machine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the source server as a virtual machine. The tools are installed on this virtual machine copy rather than the physical source server, allowing access functionality while maintaining security constraints on the original system.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine acts as an intermediary between the recovery application and the source server operating system. Tools installed on the virtual machine enable access to the OS through this intermediate layer without directly modifying or compromising the source server.
2Reliability
If manual installation of tools is required on the virtual machine, then reliability of tool installation is improved, but recovery time increases due to user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine is pre-configured with the necessary tools and software during its creation process. When the virtual machine is later activated for recovery operations, the tools are already installed and ready to use, eliminating the need for manual installation and reducing recovery time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects when the virtual machine needs tools and performs self-installation without requiring user intervention. The recovery application automatically provisions necessary software on the virtual machine, enabling autonomous operation and reducing manual effort.
3Measurement precision
If backup integrity validation is performed manually, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where the virtual machine performs self-validation of backup integrity. The recovery application automatically checks whether necessary tools and software are present on the virtual machine and prompts for installation if needed, creating a closed-loop validation process that maintains precision while improving speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine automatically validates its own configuration and tool installation status. The system performs self-checks to determine if recovery tools are properly installed, eliminating the need for manual validation processes while maintaining accurate integrity verification.
Data Source
AI summary
An illustrative method for validating integrity of a source server backup includes receiving, at a recovery server, data indicating a state of a data storage unit associated with a source server, creating a virtual hard drive image from the received data, and storing, in memory of the recovery server, the created virtual hard drive image. The method also includes booting a virtual machine using the stored hard drive image and mounting a second drive image to the virtual machine including tools facilitating access to an operating system running on the virtual machine by an application running on the recovery server. The tools are prevented from being installed in an operating system running on the source server. The method further includes automatically detecting, by a recovery application running on the virtual machine, that the drive includes the tools, automatically installing, by the recovery application and without user intervention, the tools in the operating system running on the virtual machine, and controlling, by the application running on the recovery server, applications running on the virtual machine.