System and method for hot cloning in a distributed network
First Claim
1. A method for cloning a virtual machine from a source system to a target system in an information handling system, comprising:
- freezing writes to a storage file having storage blocks of an original virtual machine such that subsequent writes create new storage blocks for the original virtual machine;
freezing writes to a memory content for the original virtual machine such that subsequent writes store in buffers;
copying the memory content including processor state and input/output state onto the target system wherein the copied memory content creates a clone of the original virtual machine;
unfreezing the memory content of the original virtual machine by merging the writes stored in the buffers and unfreezing the writes to the storage file such that subsequent writes take place normally;
configuring the clone of the virtual machine based on the target system; and
creating a new storage block for any writes to the storage file whereby the new storage block is not shared.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for hot cloning in a distributed network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for cloning a virtual machine from a source system to a target system includes freezing writes to a storage file having storage blocks such that subsequent writes create new storage blocks for the original virtual machine. The method further including freezing writes to a memory content such that subsequent writes store in buffers. The method further including copying the memory content onto the target system wherein the copied memory content creates a clone. The method further including unfreezing the memory content by merging the writes stored in the buffers and unfreezing the writes to the storage file such that subsequent writes take place normally. The method further including configuring the clone based on the target system. The method further including creating a new storage block for any writes to the storage file whereby the new storage block is not shared.
189 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method for cloning a virtual machine from a source system to a target system in an information handling system, comprising:
-
freezing writes to a storage file having storage blocks of an original virtual machine such that subsequent writes create new storage blocks for the original virtual machine;
freezing writes to a memory content for the original virtual machine such that subsequent writes store in buffers;
copying the memory content including processor state and input/output state onto the target system wherein the copied memory content creates a clone of the original virtual machine;
unfreezing the memory content of the original virtual machine by merging the writes stored in the buffers and unfreezing the writes to the storage file such that subsequent writes take place normally;
configuring the clone of the virtual machine based on the target system; and
creating a new storage block for any writes to the storage file whereby the new storage block is not shared. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An information handling system, comprising:
-
a plurality of processors coupled to a processor bus;
a memory coupled to the processor bus;
a shared storage system operably coupled to the processors and the memory;
the shared storage system including a target system and a source system having a virtual machine;
the virtual machine including a storage file having a plurality of storage blocks; and
the processors operable to execute instructions for cloning the virtual machine from the source system to the target system, comprising;
freezing writes to the storage file wherein subsequent writes create new storage blocks for the virtual machine;
freezing a memory content including processor state and input/output state for the virtual machine whereby subsequent writes are placed in buffers;
copying the memory content onto the target system to create a clone;
unfreezing the memory content of the virtual machine by merging the writes placed in the buffers and unfreezing the writes to the storage file;
configuring the clone based on the target system; and
creating a new storage block for any writes to the storage file whereby the new storage block is not shared. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of cloning a virtual machine from a source system to a target system in an information handling system, comprising:
-
instructions for stopping writes to a storage file having storage blocks of an original virtual machine and freezing writes to a memory content for the original virtual machine such that subsequent writes store in buffers;
instructions for copying the memory content including processor state and input/output state onto the target system wherein the copied memory content creates a clone of the original virtual machine;
following the instructions for copying, instructions for unfreezing the writes to the storage file and unfreezing the memory content of the original virtual machine by merging the writes stored in the buffers;
instructions for configuring the clone of the virtual machine based on the target system; and
instructions for creating a new storage block for any writes to the storage file whereby the new storage block is not shared. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification