Virtual Machine Snapshot Collapse for Rapid Cloning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual machine backup and cloning processes in distributed computing environments are time-consuming and inefficient, particularly when attempting to create a clone from a point-in-time snapshot, as they require separate management of metadata and storage snapshots.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism that collapses metadata and storage snapshots into a virtual machine image, allowing for the creation of a new virtual machine based on a point-in-time backup by combining snapshots with a unique identifier, enabling efficient cloning of virtual machines while they are running.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate management of metadata and storage snapshots is used, then backup reliability is maintained, but cloning time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate metadata snapshots and storage snapshots into a unified virtual machine image through a collapse operation. The metadata snapshot (containing configuration information) and storage snapshot (containing disk data) are merged into a single cloneable image, eliminating the need for separate management while maintaining data integrity through associated unique identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary backup actions by creating metadata and storage snapshots that can be independently maintained and validated. These pre-prepared snapshots serve as ready-to-use components that can be quickly combined when cloning is needed, reducing the actual cloning time while ensuring backup reliability through the preliminary organization of backup components.
2Reliability
If separate management of metadata and storage snapshots is used, then data integrity is maintained, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the complex separate management of metadata and storage snapshots into a single unified process. The collapse operation combines both snapshot types into one virtual machine image, simplifying the cloning process while maintaining data integrity through the preservation of unique identifier associations that verify the correctness of the combined image.
3Reliability
If traditional backup methods are used, then comprehensive backup coverage is achieved, but provisioning speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs comprehensive backup coverage through preliminary creation of metadata and storage snapshots that capture the complete state of the virtual machine. These pre-prepared snapshots enable rapid provisioning when needed, as the actual cloning process simply combines the already-captured components rather than performing a complete backup again.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an exact copy of the virtual machine state by combining metadata and storage snapshots into a clone image. This copying mechanism achieves comprehensive backup coverage while enabling fast provisioning, as the clone is created by assembling pre-captured snapshot components rather than performing time-consuming traditional backup and restoration processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system generates a clone of a virtual machine from a point-in-time snapshot backup by collapsing metadata snapshots and storage snapshots into a virtual machine image. The computer system identifies a clone request for a virtual machine, the clone request comprising a point-in-time reference, retrieves at least one metadata snapshot and at least one storage snapshot based on the point-in-time reference, combines the at least one metadata snapshot and the at least one storage snapshot into a virtual machine image, and provisions a new virtual machine based on the virtual machine image.