SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO BACKUP UNPROTECTED VIRTUAL MACHINES
Virtualization sprawl can lead to virtual machines with no designated periodic backup. If the data associated with these unprotected virtual machines is not backed up, it cannot be restored if needed, leading to system failures. A data storage system identifies and protects the unprotected virtual machines. For instance, the system automatically identifies and categorizes unprotected virtual machines. The system further identifies those unprotected virtual machines that remain uncategorized, applies a default backup policy to the uncategorized and unprotected virtual machines, and backs up the virtual machines using the default backup policy.
1 . A method to protect unprotected virtual machines in a data management system, the method comprising:
automatically identifying with one or more computer processors virtual machines not associated with a backup policy in a data management system;
for one or more categories where each category is associated with criteria and a backup policy, automatically determining with one or more computer processors whether backup characteristics of each virtual machine not associated with a backup policy meet the criteria associated with any category;
for each virtual machine, automatically identifying the virtual machine as unprotected when its backup characteristics do not meet the criteria associated with any category;
retrieving a default backup policy;
automatically associating with one or more processors the default backup policy to the unprotected virtual machines; and
automatically backing up according to the default backup policy with one or more computer processors the virtual machines associated with the default backup policy.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing a list of virtual machines in the data management system with a list of the computing devices in the data management system, each computing device associated with a backup policy, the list of virtual machines stored in a database associated with virtual machine management software and the list of computing devices stored in a database associated with an information manager for the data management system.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the list of computing devices comprises a list of physical machines and virtual machines in the data management system that have designated backup policies.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing the backup characteristics of each virtual machine without a designated backup policy to the criteria associated with each category.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein when there is a match between the backup characteristics and the criteria, the virtual machine is assigned the associated backup policy.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more categories comprise auto-discovery rules.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more categories comprise one or more of a cluster category, a data center category, a datastore category, a server category, a guest host name category, an operating system category, a resource pool category, and a virtualization application category.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the default backup policy is retrieved from a database associated with an information manager.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the default backup policy specifies a secondary storage device and a recovery period, the secondary storage device storing backup data from the virtual machines associated with the default backup policy.
10 . The method of claim 1 further comprises storing an indication of the virtual machines associated with the default backup policy in a database associated with an information manager for the data management system.
11 . A system to protect unprotected virtual machines in an information management cell, the system comprising:
computer hardware including one or more computer processors; and
computer-readable storage comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer hardware to perform operations defined by the computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions configured to:
automatically identify a virtual machine not associated with a backup policy in an information management cell;
for one or more categories where each category is associated with criteria and a backup policy, automatically determine whether backup characteristics of each virtual machine not associated with a backup policy meet the criteria associated with any category;
for each virtual machine, automatically identify the virtual machine as unprotected when its backup characteristics do not meet the criteria associated with any category;
retrieve a default backup policy;
automatically associate the default backup policy to the unprotected virtual machines; and
automatically back up according to the default backup policy the virtual machines associated with the default backup policy.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to compare a list of virtual machines in the information management cell with a list of the computing devices in the information management cell, each computing device associated with a backup policy, the list of virtual machines stored in a database associated with virtual machine management software and the list of computing devices stored in a database associated with an information manager for the information management cell.
13 . The system of claim 12 wherein the list of computing devices comprises a list of physical machines and virtual machines in the data management system that have designated backup policies.
14 . The system of claim 11 wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to compare the backup characteristics of each virtual machine without a designated backup policy to the criteria associated with each category.
15 . The system of claim 11 wherein when there is a match between the backup characteristics and the criteria, the computer-executable instructions are further configured to assign the associated backup policy to the virtual machine.
16 . The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more categories comprise auto-discovery rules.
17 . The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more categories comprise one or more of a cluster category, a data center category, a datastore category, a server category, a guest host name category, an operating system category, a resource pool category, and a virtualization application category.
18 . The system of claim 11 wherein the default backup policy is retrieved from a database associated with an information manager.
19 . The system of claim 11 wherein the default backup policy specifies a secondary storage device and a recovery period, the secondary storage device storing backup data from the virtual machines associated with the default backup policy.
20 . The system of claim 11 wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to store an indication of the virtual machines associated with the default backup policy in a database associated with an information manager for the information management cell.