Proxy backup of virtual disk image files on NAS devices
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium storing program instructions executable to:
- perform a backup of a virtual machine executing on a virtualization server computer by;
requesting a first snapshot of a virtual disk image file of the virtual machine to be created on a network-attached storage (NAS) device coupled to the virtualization server computer, wherein the virtual disk image file stores a plurality of files used by the virtual machine, wherein the virtual disk image file and the first snapshot are stored in a file system volume on the NAS device;
requesting a second snapshot of the file system volume to be created on the NAS device;
after requesting the second snapshot of the file system volume to be created, requesting the first snapshot of the virtual disk image file to be released;
receiving access information useable to access the second snapshot on the NAS device; and
using the second snapshot to backup the virtual disk image file from the NAS device to a backup storage device without transferring the virtual disk image file through the virtualization server computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for backing up a virtual machine executing on a virtualization server computer are described. A snapshot of a virtual disk image file of the virtual machine may be created on a network-attached storage (NAS) device coupled to the virtualization server computer. The snapshot may be used to backup the virtual disk image file from the NAS device to a backup storage device without transferring the virtual disk image file through the virtualization server computer. Mapping information useable to access the plurality of files stored in the virtual disk image file on an individual basis may be created and stored together with the backup copy of the virtual disk image file on the backup storage device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium storing program instructions executable to:
perform a backup of a virtual machine executing on a virtualization server computer by; requesting a first snapshot of a virtual disk image file of the virtual machine to be created on a network-attached storage (NAS) device coupled to the virtualization server computer, wherein the virtual disk image file stores a plurality of files used by the virtual machine, wherein the virtual disk image file and the first snapshot are stored in a file system volume on the NAS device; requesting a second snapshot of the file system volume to be created on the NAS device; after requesting the second snapshot of the file system volume to be created, requesting the first snapshot of the virtual disk image file to be released; receiving access information useable to access the second snapshot on the NAS device; and using the second snapshot to backup the virtual disk image file from the NAS device to a backup storage device without transferring the virtual disk image file through the virtualization server computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory storing program instructions; wherein the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to perform a backup of a virtual machine executing on a virtualization server computer by; requesting a first snapshot of a virtual disk image file of the virtual machine to be created on a network-attached storage (NAS) device coupled to the virtualization server computer, wherein the virtual disk image file stores a plurality of files used by the virtual machine, wherein the virtual disk image file and the first snapshot are stored in a file system volume on the NAS device; requesting a second snapshot of the file system volume to be created on the NAS device; after requesting the second snapshot of the file system volume to be created, requesting the first snapshot of the virtual disk image file to be released; receiving access information useable to access the second snapshot on the NAS device; and using the second snapshot to backup the virtual disk image file from the NAS device to a backup storage device without transferring the virtual disk image file through the virtualization server computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
executing program instructions on a first computer system to perform a backup of a virtual machine executing on a virtualization server computer, wherein said executing the program instructions causes the first computer system to perform operations including; requesting a first snapshot of a virtual disk image file of the virtual machine to be created on a network-attached storage (NAS) device coupled to the virtualization server computer, wherein the virtual disk image file stores a plurality of files used by the virtual machine, wherein the virtual disk image file and the first snapshot are stored in a file system volume on the NAS device; requesting a second snapshot of the file system volume to be created on the NAS device; after requesting the second snapshot of the file system volume to be created, requesting the first snapshot of the virtual disk image file to be released; receiving access information useable to access the second snapshot on the NAS device in response to requesting the second snapshot to be created; and using the second snapshot to backup the virtual disk image file from the NAS device to a backup storage device without transferring the data through the virtualization server computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
Specification