VM Snapshot Coordination Without Guest-to-Manager Connectivity

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtualization platforms face challenges in generating application-consistent backups in virtual machines due to virtualization overhead, leading to timeouts, unsupported disk types, and incomplete backups, which can result in data loss or corruption.

Innovation Solution

A data protection system with an in-guest agent and host-level snapshot data mover coordinates snapshot generation and rollover, leveraging VMware ESXi's Light Weight Delta Filter and PowerProtect Data Manager to facilitate application-aware backups without relying on VMware Tools, ensuring timely and complete snapshot creation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If VMware Tools are used for snapshot generation in virtualized environments, then application-consistent backups can be achieved, but network connectivity requirements and virtualization overhead cause timeouts and incomplete backups

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup consistencyVSAvoidsnapshot timeout

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the snapshot generation functionality from the virtualized environment (VMware Tools) and implements it directly in the host operating system. This removes the dependency on network connectivity between the guest agent and virtual machine management center, eliminating timeouts caused by virtualization overhead while maintaining application-consistent backup capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a host-level intermediary component that mediates between the backup software and the virtualized environment. This intermediary operates at the host OS level rather than through the virtualized guest environment, providing a direct communication path that bypasses network connectivity requirements and virtualization overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If VMware Tools are used for snapshot generation, then application-aware backups are enabled, but network connectivity requirements increase system complexity and cause disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication awarenessVSAvoidnetwork connectivity requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the snapshot generation functionality from the virtualized environment (VMware Tools) and implements it directly in the host operating system. This removes the dependency on network connectivity between the guest agent and virtual machine management center, eliminating timeouts caused by virtualization overhead while maintaining application-consistent backup capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a host-level intermediary component that mediates between the backup software and the virtualized environment. This intermediary operates at the host OS level rather than through the virtualized guest environment, providing a direct communication path that bypasses network connectivity requirements and virtualization overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If VMware Tools are used for snapshot generation, then application-consistent backups are possible, but processing cycles are diverted from production requests leading to disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidproduction request handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning the snapshot generation capability at the host OS level before backup operations are initiated. This allows the system to rapidly generate snapshots without diverting processing cycles from production requests, as the host-level implementation does not interfere with guest application processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the backup functionality into host-level and guest-level components. The critical snapshot generation function is separated and implemented at the host OS level, while the guest agent maintains application awareness capabilities. This segmentation allows snapshot generation to proceed independently without disrupting production requests in the guest environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12530218B2Achieving application consistent snapshots in absence of network connectivity between in-guest agent and virtual machine management center

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A command is received by a data protection agent to conduct an application-consistent backup of an application. The agent and application are installed as guests in a virtual machine (VM) provided by a hypervisor of a host. The VM is connected to a virtual machine guest network. The hypervisor is connected to an infrastructure network, separate from the virtual machine guest network. A socket communication channel is established between the agent and a snapshot data mover running on the host and outside the VM. A request for a snapshot is issued over the socket communication channel to the snapshot data mover. The snapshot request is passed to a virtual machine manager connected to the infrastructure network.