Virtual Machine File Metadata Generation and Sync
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for searching virtual machine (VM) backups are inefficient due to the need for scanning or downloading large backup files to generate file metadata, which is laborious and resource-intensive, especially when dealing with multiple VMs and different VM image formats.
Innovation Solution
Generating file metadata during the backup process by scanning the VM's file table and storing it separately, allowing for decoupled retrieval and indexing, which reduces the burden on the backup process and supports multiple VM image formats without the need for agents on each VM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If file metadata is generated by scanning or downloading large backup files, then search functionality is achieved, but time consumption and resource usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating file metadata during the backup process itself, before any search operations are needed. The metadata is extracted and stored in advance, eliminating the need to scan or download large backup files when searches are performed. This pre-computation approach directly resolves the time consumption issue while maintaining reliable search functionality.
2Reliability
If file metadata is generated by scanning or downloading large backup files, then search functionality is achieved, but resource usage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating file metadata during the backup process itself, before any search operations are needed. The metadata is extracted and stored in advance, eliminating the need to scan or download large backup files when searches are performed. This pre-computation approach directly resolves the time consumption issue while maintaining reliable search functionality.
3Extent of automation
If agents are deployed on each VM to collect file metadata, then metadata collection is automated, but device complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the need for VM agents entirely. Instead of deploying software on each virtual machine to collect metadata, the system extracts file metadata directly from the backup data stream during the backup process. This eliminates the complexity of agent deployment, configuration, and maintenance across multiple VMs while maintaining automated metadata collection.
4Productivity
If metadata is generated during backup, then retrieval can be decoupled from backup process, but additional storage for metadata is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by separating file metadata from the main backup data. Metadata is extracted during the backup process and stored in a separate, lightweight format. This decoupling allows the backup process to proceed efficiently without waiting for metadata operations, while the metadata storage requirements remain minimal compared to the actual backup data.
Data Source
AI summary
File metadata of a virtual machine can be generated when performing a backup of a virtual machine. A backup copy of the virtual machine and the file metadata can be stored in a backup storage system. The file metadata can be retrieved from the storage system in a manner that is decoupled from the performance of the backup of the virtual machine. The file metadata can be used for searching for files within the backup copy of the virtual machine.