Data storage system utilizing proxy device for storage operations
First Claim
1. A method for creating a snapshot of a data store associated with a virtual machine using a proxy computing device on which the virtual machine resides, the method comprising:
- receiving a snapshot request at the proxy computing device, the proxy computing device having;
one or more processors,one or more data stores,a plurality of virtual machines instantiated on the proxy computing device, each of the plurality of virtual machines configured to execute an operating system of the respective virtual machine, wherein the plurality of virtual machines are instantiated using the one or more processors,each of the plurality of virtual machines comprising a virtual data store comprising primary data generated by at least one application executing on the respective virtual machine, wherein the virtual data stores of the plurality of virtual machines share the one or more data stores, and a virtual data agent configured to manage backup storage operations of the respective virtual machine,a virtual machine manager configured to manage the use of the one or more processors and the one or more data stores by the plurality of virtual machines, anda data agent configured to manage backup storage operations of the proxy computing device,wherein the snapshot request comprises a request by the virtual data agent of a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines to create a point-in-time snapshot copy of at least a portion of the virtual data store of the first virtual machine, and wherein the proxy computing device forms part of a networked storage system comprising at least one storage device that is configured to take snapshots representing point-in-time copies of data;
forwarding, by the data agent of the proxy computing device, the snapshot request to the storage device on behalf of the first virtual machine, wherein a point-in-time snapshot of the portion of the virtual data store is created on the storage device in response to the snapshot request;
receiving, at the proxy computing device, a snapshot identifier associated with the point-in-time snapshot; and
forwarding the snapshot identifier to the first virtual machine by the proxy computing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data storage environment can include one or more virtual clients instantiated on a host proxy computing device. The virtual clients may have only indirect access to a storage device, and may access the storage device via the proxy computing device. For example, the proxy computing device receives storage operation requests from one of the virtual clients, such as a request to create, mount or revert a snapshot of virtual client data. The proxy computing device generally acts as an intermediary between the virtual clients and the storage device to carry out the snapshots or other storage operations. The proxy computing device may further receive a notification upon completion of the storage operations, and transmits relevant data to the requesting virtual client regarding the storage operation.
733 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for creating a snapshot of a data store associated with a virtual machine using a proxy computing device on which the virtual machine resides, the method comprising:
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receiving a snapshot request at the proxy computing device, the proxy computing device having; one or more processors, one or more data stores, a plurality of virtual machines instantiated on the proxy computing device, each of the plurality of virtual machines configured to execute an operating system of the respective virtual machine, wherein the plurality of virtual machines are instantiated using the one or more processors, each of the plurality of virtual machines comprising a virtual data store comprising primary data generated by at least one application executing on the respective virtual machine, wherein the virtual data stores of the plurality of virtual machines share the one or more data stores, and a virtual data agent configured to manage backup storage operations of the respective virtual machine, a virtual machine manager configured to manage the use of the one or more processors and the one or more data stores by the plurality of virtual machines, and a data agent configured to manage backup storage operations of the proxy computing device, wherein the snapshot request comprises a request by the virtual data agent of a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines to create a point-in-time snapshot copy of at least a portion of the virtual data store of the first virtual machine, and wherein the proxy computing device forms part of a networked storage system comprising at least one storage device that is configured to take snapshots representing point-in-time copies of data; forwarding, by the data agent of the proxy computing device, the snapshot request to the storage device on behalf of the first virtual machine, wherein a point-in-time snapshot of the portion of the virtual data store is created on the storage device in response to the snapshot request; receiving, at the proxy computing device, a snapshot identifier associated with the point-in-time snapshot; and
forwarding the snapshot identifier to the first virtual machine by the proxy computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A data storage system, comprising:
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a host computing device comprising one or more processors and one or more data stores; a plurality of virtual machines instantiated on the host computing device and executing on the one or more processors, wherein a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines is configured to execute an operating system and is instantiated using the one or more processors, and wherein the first virtual machine includes a virtual data store comprising primary data generated by at least one application executing on the first virtual machine, wherein the virtual data store corresponds to at least a portion of at least one data store of the one or more data stores, and a virtual data agent configured to manage backup storage operations of the first virtual machine; and a virtual machine manager configured to manage the use of the one or more processors and the one or more data stores by the plurality of virtual machines, wherein the at least one data store stores at least a portion of the primary data, wherein the first virtual machine is configured to request performance of a storage operation of at least a portion of the primary data, and wherein the host computing device is configured to act as a proxy between the first virtual machine and at least one storage device by forwarding the request to the at least one storage device on behalf of the first virtual machine, wherein the at least one storage device performs the storage operation in response to the forwarded request. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for performing a data storage operation associated with a virtual machine and using a proxy computing device on which the virtual machine resides, the method comprising:
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receiving a storage operation request at a proxy computing device having at least one virtual machine instantiated thereon, the at least one virtual machine configured to execute an operating system and including a virtual data store comprising primary data generated by at least one application executing on the at least one virtual machine, the virtual data store corresponding to at least a portion of at least one data store of one or more data stores of the proxy computing device, and a virtual data agent configured to manage backup storage operations of the at least one virtual machine, the proxy computing device forming part of a networked storage system comprising at least one storage device to perform the storage operation, and the storage operation request comprising a request from the virtual data agent of the at least one virtual machine to perform the storage operation on at least a portion of the primary data; and forwarding, using a data agent of the proxy computing device, the storage operation request to the at least one storage device on behalf of the at least one virtual machine, wherein the at least one storage device performs the storage operation in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification