Virtual Machine Backup via VMDK Parsing and Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Protecting data in virtualized computing environments is inefficient due to the time and resources required for conventional backup and restoration methods, especially as the amount of data increases.
Innovation Solution
The use of a virtual environment manager and a deduplicated data repository allows for efficient data protection by taking snapshots of virtual machines, parsing and indexing VMDK files to enable direct recovery of individual files and incremental backups, reducing redundant data transmission and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional backup methods are used to protect data in virtualized computing environments, then data protection is achieved, but the process takes considerable time and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual machine disk image into individual file system objects (files, directories, metadata). Instead of backing up the entire VMDK image as a single unit, the system parses the image and identifies individual file system objects, allowing selective backup of only the changed or required objects. This segmentation enables incremental backups to focus on specific portions of data rather than the entire image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary components from the virtual machine disk image for backup purposes. By parsing the VMDK file and identifying individual file system objects, the system extracts only the relevant data portions that need to be protected, leaving out unchanged or unnecessary data. This extraction approach reduces the backup data volume and processing time while maintaining data protection integrity.
2Reliability
If conventional backup methods are used to protect data in virtualized computing environments, then data protection is achieved, but considerable resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual machine disk image into individual file system objects, allowing the backup system to process and transmit only the necessary portions of data. This segmentation reduces the computational load by avoiding processing of entire disk images, thereby conserving computational resources while maintaining data protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by backing up only the necessary file system objects rather than performing complete backups of entire virtual machine disk images. The system identifies and backs up only the changed or required objects, reducing computational resources consumed while achieving adequate data protection coverage.
3Reliability
If the amount of data that needs to be backed up increases, then more comprehensive data protection is achieved, but the efficiency of backup and restoration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments large volumes of data into individual file system objects, enabling selective identification and backup of only the necessary portions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high backup efficiency even when protecting large amounts of data, as it avoids processing entire disk images and focuses only on changed or required objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing selective backups of only the necessary file system objects rather than backing up entire virtual machine disk images. This approach maintains backup efficiency while achieving comprehensive data protection coverage for the required data portions, avoiding the performance degradation associated with processing complete large-scale images.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for protecting data. In some embodiments, this includes taking a snapshot of a virtual machine, parsing the virtual machine to determine a header section and a file system, indexing the virtual machine based on the parsing, storing the index in a storage device, and storing the snapshot in a deduplicated data storage device.