Virtual Machine Shadow Copy Backup via Block Set Merging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing backup generation methods for virtual machines in computing devices often interrupt primary functions by consuming significant computing resources, leading to performance issues and 'phantom slowdowns' as they require extensive processing and storage, which can impact continuous operation.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a production host with a persistent storage and a production agent, which generates a virtual machine shadow copy and merges it using a local block set storage template to create a backup, allowing continuous operation while minimizing resource consumption by disassociating the template from the virtual machine data and storing the backup in backup storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional backup generation methods are used for virtual machines, then backup completeness is ensured, but computing resources are heavily consumed and primary functions are interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup completenessVSAvoidprimary function performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup process is segmented into two distinct components: shadow copies that capture consistent snapshots of virtual machine data, and incremental changes stored separately. This segmentation allows the shadow copies to be generated without interrupting primary functions, while only the smaller incremental changes require processing resources during backup operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Shadow copies are generated in advance as preliminary action before backup operations. These pre-generated shadow copies contain consistent snapshots of the virtual machine data, eliminating the need to process entire datasets during backup and reducing resource consumption during actual backup execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If extensive computing resources are allocated for backup generation, then backup reliability is improved, but continuous operation of virtual machines is impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup reliabilityVSAvoidvirtual machine uptime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous operation of virtual machines during backup generation by using shadow copies that are created without interrupting VM execution. The production agent continuously captures data changes in the shadow copy environment, allowing backups to be generated while VMs maintain full operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The shadow copy acts as an intermediary between the virtual machine data and the backup process. It provides a consistent snapshot view of the data without requiring the virtual machine to be stopped or resources to be heavily allocated during backup operations, thus maintaining both reliability and continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If shadow copies are generated for all virtual machine data including auto-recovery disks, then backup completeness is achieved, but processing time and resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup completenessVSAvoidbackup processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by selectively processing only the necessary components of shadow copies. When an auto-recovery disk is detected in the shadow copy, the system processes only that specific disk rather than the entire shadow copy, reducing processing time while maintaining backup completeness for the affected data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The backup process applies local quality by treating different parts of the shadow copy differently based on their content. Auto-recovery disks are identified and processed with specialized handling, while other data follows standard backup procedures, optimizing processing efficiency for each data type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10572350B1System and method for improved application consistency in a distributed environment

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A production host for hosting virtual machines includes a persistent storage and a production agent. The persistent storage stores virtual machine data associated with a virtual machine of the virtual machines and a virtual machine shadow copy associated with the virtual machine data. The production agent obtains a backup generation request for the virtual machine; in response to the backup generation request, generates the virtual machine shadow copy; makes a determination that the virtual machine shadow copy comprises an auto-recovery disk that comprises some data; in response to the determination, merges the virtual machine shadow copy using a parent block set storage template to obtain a backup of the virtual machine; and store the backup in backup storage. The parent block set storage template is not associated with the virtual machine shadow copy.