Virtual Machine Replication via Journaling Appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data protection systems face challenges in minimizing downtime during recovery and keeping pace with data transactions at production sites, leading to potential shutdowns due to backlog of un-logged data transactions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for replicating virtual machines by using a virtualization layer to split IOs and manage volumes, allowing for dynamic adaptation to changing data transaction rates, enabling efficient data replication and recovery without disrupting production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If journaling is used to enable continuous data protection and rollback to any point in time, then data recovery flexibility is improved, but the overhead of multiple data transactions at the backup site causes the backup site to fall behind when data transaction rates are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data protection functionality by introducing a dedicated journaling appliance that separates the journaling function from the backup storage system. This allows the backup site to receive only essential journal data rather than processing multiple data transactions, thereby improving backup throughput while maintaining recovery flexibility through the dedicated journaling capability.
2Reliability
If the backup site processes all data transactions to maintain data consistency, then data consistency is improved, but the production site must slow down to prevent backlog buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the journaling function from the backup storage system and places it on a dedicated journaling appliance. This extraction allows the backup site to maintain data consistency by receiving journal data without processing all data transactions, thereby preventing backlog buildup while maintaining consistency through the separated journaling pathway.
3Reliability
If synchronous replication is used to minimize lag between sites, then data consistency is improved, but the complexity of managing replication across multiple sites increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a journaling appliance as an intermediary between the production site and backup storage system. This intermediary simplifies the replication architecture by centralizing journal data collection and distribution, thereby reducing the complexity of managing synchronous replication across multiple sites while maintaining data consistency through coordinated journal updates.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method, system, and program product for moving a virtual machine from a first site to a second site, the method comprising notifying a replication appliance that a virtual machine is moving from the first site to the second site; wherein a volume corresponding to the virtual machine is being replicated from the first site to the second site, reducing the lag between the volume on the first site and the second site, and moving the virtual machine from the first site to the second site.