Virtual Machine User-Level Backup and Restore
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual machine resource assignment technologies require lengthy and resource-intensive whole-machine backups, leading to increased storage costs and time for service providers and users in cloud computing environments.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method and apparatus that monitor and record user file operations within virtual machines, restore the machine to its original state upon user logout, and assign idle, restored virtual machines to requesting users, eliminating the need for new machine creation and enabling user-level backups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire virtual machine is backed up as a whole (including operating system, application software and user data), then data integrity is ensured, but storage space and backup time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup object from the entire virtual machine to only the user data portion. The system divides the virtual machine into two independent parts: the base image (operating system and application software) and user data. By backing up only the user data segment, storage space requirements are dramatically reduced while data integrity is maintained through the separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the user data from the entire virtual machine image for separate backup management. The base image is excluded from the backup process, and only the user data portion is captured and stored. This extraction approach reduces storage space while ensuring that critical user data is preserved and can be restored independently.
2Reliability
If the entire virtual machine is backed up as a whole, then complete data restoration is achieved, but backup and restore time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup operation into two distinct parts: the base image (which remains unchanged) and user data (which requires backup). By only backing up the user data segment, the backup time is dramatically reduced while complete restoration is achieved by combining the restored user data with the existing base image, eliminating the need to backup and restore the entire virtual machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by maintaining a persistent base image that already contains the operating system and application software. This base image is prepared in advance and stored, eliminating the need to backup and restore it each time. Only user data requires backup operations, significantly reducing backup and restore time while ensuring complete data restoration through the combination of base image and restored user data.
3Reliability
If new virtual machines are created for each user request, then resource isolation is ensured, but storage resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple users' base images into a single shared base image repository. Instead of each user having a separate complete virtual machine image, the system combines the common base image components and allows multiple users to share them. User data is kept separate and isolated, ensuring resource isolation while dramatically reducing storage resource consumption through the shared base image infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal base image that serves multiple users simultaneously. The base image contains the operating system and application software that are common across different user environments. This universal base image can be reused for multiple user virtual machines, reducing storage resource consumption while maintaining resource isolation through separate user data spaces for each user.
4Reliability
If virtual machines are restored to original state for each user, then user data privacy is protected, but resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user data from the base image, allowing the base image to be restored to its original state for each user while user data is handled separately. This segmentation enables the base image to be reused across multiple users (improving resource allocation efficiency) while user data privacy is protected through isolated storage and selective restoration of only user-specific data portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the base image with all necessary operating system and application software components. This base image is prepared in advance and can be rapidly deployed to multiple users. User data is then added on top of this pre-configured base image, allowing for efficient resource allocation while maintaining user data privacy through separate data spaces that are restored only when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sharing virtual machine resources. The method includes: in response to at least one user logging in to the virtual machine, monitoring file operations taken by the user in the virtual machine; recording the types of file operations; in response to the user logging out from the virtual machine, restoring the virtual machine back to the original state at the time when the user logged in to the virtual machine according to the recorded types of file operations; and in response to receiving a request for virtual machine resources, assigning one of the virtual machines which is idle and restored back to the original state to the requesting user.