Virtual Machine Standby Versions in Cloud Object Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Performing full backups of virtual machines in cloud environments is costly and time-consuming, leading to potential performance reductions in primary systems and increased downtime when restoring backups.
Innovation Solution
Generating and maintaining standby versions of virtual machines in cloud object storage, which can be deployed quickly to reduce downtime, using a process that involves periodic snapshots, incremental updates, and storage in cloud object storage to minimize costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full backup of virtual machine is performed, then backup completeness is improved, but backup time and system performance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The backup process is segmented into full backups and incremental backups. Full backups capture the complete virtual machine state, while incremental backups only capture changes since the last backup, dividing the backup workload into manageable segments that reduce overall backup time and system impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining standby cloud versions of virtual machines that can be quickly deployed. This preliminary preparation reduces restoration time when failures occur, as the standby versions are already prepared and stored in cloud object storage, eliminating the need for time-consuming full backups during restoration.
2Reliability
If full backup of virtual machine is performed frequently, then data freshness is improved, but system performance and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Backup operations are segmented into full backups performed less frequently and incremental backups performed more frequently. This segmentation maintains data freshness through regular incremental updates while minimizing the performance impact on primary systems, as incremental backups only process changed data blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates standby cloud versions by copying virtual machine data to cloud object storage. These copies maintain data freshness and can be quickly deployed for restoration, reducing the need for frequent full backups on primary systems and thereby preserving system performance.
3Speed
If standby versions are maintained in cloud object storage, then restoration speed is improved, but storage cost is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Storage is segmented into cloud object storage for standby versions and local storage for active virtual machines. This segmentation enables fast restoration from cloud object storage while managing storage costs through selective placement of standby versions in the cloud, balancing restoration speed requirements with storage cost constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
Standby versions are preliminarily prepared and stored in cloud object storage before failures occur. This preliminary action enables rapid restoration by having pre-prepared versions ready for deployment, improving restoration speed while allowing cost management through controlled creation and maintenance of standby versions.
Data Source
AI summary
Contents of a full snapshot for storage in one or more cloud storage volumes are received. The contents of the full snapshot is stored in the one or more cloud storage volumes. A snapshot of a virtual machine data volume and a snapshot of a virtual machine boot volume are generated based on the contents of the full snapshot stored in the one or more cloud storage volumes. An image of the virtual machine boot volume is generated based on the snapshot of the virtual machine boot volume. The snapshot of the virtual machine data volume, the snapshot of the virtual machine boot volume, and the image of the virtual machine boot volume are stored in a cloud object storage.