Virtual Machine Backup via Snapshot Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual machine backup methods consume significant processor and memory resources of the virtualization platform, affecting performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A backup method and system where a backup server mounts an initial volume snapshot of a virtual machine, creates an initialization backup volume, and uses snapshot resource pools to track data block changes, allowing for incremental backups and efficient data recovery without extensive resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup is performed through image of cluster file system or storage live migration, then backup reliability is improved, but processor and memory resources of virtualization platform are greatly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the backup operation from the virtualization platform to a dedicated backup server. The virtualization platform only needs to provide storage interface and data blocks, while the backup server handles all backup processing including mounting snapshots, acquiring data blocks, and writing to backup storage. This extraction eliminates the resource consumption problem while maintaining backup reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a backup server as an intermediary between the virtualization platform and backup storage. The backup server mounts the initial volume snapshot, acquires original data blocks from the primary storage device, and writes them to the backup storage device. This intermediary approach allows the virtualization platform to remain resource-efficient while the backup server handles the resource-intensive backup operations.
2Reliability
If all original data blocks are acquired and backed up, then backup completeness is improved, but backup time and disk space are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by mounting the initial volume snapshot before backup and unmounting it after backup completes. This preliminary setup ensures that all necessary data blocks are accessible and can be acquired efficiently. The snapshot mechanism pre-establishes the data state, allowing for efficient acquisition of only the necessary original data blocks without redundant operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses snapshot copying to create a point-in-time copy of the volume for backup purposes. The initial volume snapshot provides a stable, readable copy of the data that can be mounted and accessed without affecting the original volume. This copying approach ensures backup completeness while minimizing the impact on the production system and reducing backup time.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a backing up method, device, and system for a virtual machine. The backing up method for a virtual machine includes: mounting, by a backup server, a snapshot initial volume of a to-be-backed-up original volume of a virtual machine in a primary storage device to the backup server; creating, by the backup server, an initialization backup volume on a backup storage device and mounting the initialization backup volume to the backup server; and backing up, by the backup server, an original data block of the original volume to the initialization backup volume.