Virtual machine change block tracking
First Claim
1. A system configured to backup a virtual machine, the system comprising:
- a client device comprising one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to;
execute a virtual machine (VM) using a hypervisor, wherein;
the VM comprises a virtual hard disk file and a change block bitmap file,the virtual hard disk file stores data associated with a virtual hard disk,the hypervisor comprises an I/O stack, andthe I/O stack comprises a driver, wherein the driver is further configured to;
intercept a first write operation generated by the VM to store data in a first sector,determine an identity of the first sector based on the first intercepted write operation,determine an entry in the change block bitmap file that corresponds with the first sector, andmodify the entry in the change block bitmap file to indicate that data in the first sector has changed;
responsive to a determination that changes to the virtual hard disk are not reflected in the change block bitmap file, invalidate the change block bitmap file and perform a full backup of the VM; and
gather data for use in performance of an incremental backup of the VM based on the change block bitmap file in response to an instruction from a storage manager, wherein the incremental backup comprises the data in the first sector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to certain aspects, a system includes a client device that includes a virtual machine (VM) executed by a hypervisor, a driver located within the hypervisor, and a data agent. The VM may include a virtual hard disk file and a change block bitmap file. The driver may intercept a first write operation generated by the VM to store data in a first sector, determine an identity of the first sector based on the intercepted write operation, determine an entry in the change block bitmap file that corresponds with the first sector, and modify the entry in the change block bitmap file to indicate that data in the first sector has changed. The data agent may generate an incremental backup of the VM based on the change block bitmap file in response to an instruction from a storage manager, where the incremental backup includes the data in the first sector.
524 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system configured to backup a virtual machine, the system comprising:
a client device comprising one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to; execute a virtual machine (VM) using a hypervisor, wherein; the VM comprises a virtual hard disk file and a change block bitmap file, the virtual hard disk file stores data associated with a virtual hard disk, the hypervisor comprises an I/O stack, and the I/O stack comprises a driver, wherein the driver is further configured to; intercept a first write operation generated by the VM to store data in a first sector, determine an identity of the first sector based on the first intercepted write operation, determine an entry in the change block bitmap file that corresponds with the first sector, and modify the entry in the change block bitmap file to indicate that data in the first sector has changed; responsive to a determination that changes to the virtual hard disk are not reflected in the change block bitmap file, invalidate the change block bitmap file and perform a full backup of the VM; and gather data for use in performance of an incremental backup of the VM based on the change block bitmap file in response to an instruction from a storage manager, wherein the incremental backup comprises the data in the first sector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of backing up a virtual machine, the method comprising:
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intercepting, by a driver, a first write operation generated by a virtual machine (VM) to store data in a first sector of a virtual hard disk, wherein; the VM is executed by a hypervisor, the VM comprises a virtual hard disk file and a change block bitmap file, the virtual hard disk file stores data associated with the virtual hard disk, the hypervisor comprises an I/O stack, and the I/O stack comprises the driver; responsive to determining that changes to the virtual hard disk are not reflected in the change block bitmap file, invalidating the change block bitmap file and performing a full backup of the VM; determining, by the driver, an identity of the first sector based on the intercepted write operation; determining, by the driver, an entry in the change block bitmap file that corresponds with the first sector; modifying, by the driver, the entry in the change block bitmap file to indicate that data in the first sector has changed; receiving an instruction from a storage manager to begin a backup of the VM; and gathering data for use in performance of an incremental backup of the VM based on the change block bitmap file in response to the received instruction, wherein the incremental backup comprises the data in the first sector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification