System and method for backup in a virtualized environment
A remote backup agent that provides data storage services to virtual machines includes a persistent storage and a processor. The persistent storage stores workflows for the virtual machines. The processor performs a first remote backup of the virtual machines based on the workflows using production agents hosted by production hosts that also host the virtual machines; obtains a workflow update; updates the workflows based on the workflow update to obtain updated workflows; and performs a second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows using the production hosts without modifying the production agents.
1. A remote backup agent that provides data storage services to virtual machines, comprising:
a persistent storage comprising workflows for the virtual machines; and
a processor programmed to:
perform a first remote backup of the virtual machines based on the workflows using production agents hosted by production hosts that also host the virtual machines;
obtain a workflow update;
update the workflows based on the workflow update to obtain updated workflows; and
perform a second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows using the production hosts without modifying the production agents;
wherein the remote backup agent is separate from the production hosts.
2. The remote backup agent of claim 1 , wherein performing the first remote backup of the virtual machines based on the workflows using the production agents comprises:
identifying a first portion of the virtual machines based on the workflows;
identifying a first portion of the production hosts that each host a virtual machine of the first portion of the virtual machines;
sending a backup initiation request to each production host of the first portion of the production hosts;
obtaining first backup data from each production host of the first portion of the production hosts after sending the backup initiation request; and
storing the first obtained backup data in backup storage.
3. The remote backup agent of claim 2 , wherein the backup initiation request specifies a respective portion of data of a respective virtual machine of the first portion of the virtual machines.
4. The remote backup agent of claim 2 , wherein each respective backup initiation request specifies a processing order for the first portion of the virtual machines.
5. The remote backup agent of claim 2 , wherein performing the second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows comprises:
identifying a second portion of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows.
6. The remote backup agent of claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the virtual machines and the second portion of the virtual machines have different members.
7. The remote backup agent of claim 5 , wherein performing the second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows further comprises:
identifying a second portion of the production hosts that each host a virtual machine of the second portion of the virtual machines.
8. The remote backup agent of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the production hosts and the second portion of the production hosts have identical members.
9. The remote backup agent of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the production hosts and the second portion of the production hosts have different members.
10. The remote backup agent of claim 7 , wherein performing the second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows further comprises:
obtaining second backup data from each production host of the second portion of the production hosts after sending a second backup initiation request to each production host of the second portion of the production hosts.
11. The remote backup agent of claim 10 , wherein performing the second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows further comprises:
storing the second obtained backup data in the backup storage.
12. The remote backup agent of claim 1 , wherein updating the workflows based on the workflow update to obtain updated workflows comprises:
modifying the workflows without modifying the production agents.
13. The remote backup agent of claim 1 , wherein each production host of the production hosts only hosts a single production agent of the production agents.
14. A method of providing data storage services to virtual machines, comprising:
performing, by a remote backup agent, a first remote backup of the virtual machines based on workflows using production agents hosted by production hosts that also host the virtual machines;
obtaining, by the remote backup agent, a workflow update;
updating, by the remote backup agent, the workflows based on the workflow update to obtain updated workflows; and
performing, by the remote backup agent, a second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows using the production hosts without modifying the production agents;
wherein the remote backup agent is separate from the production hosts.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein performing the first remote backup of the virtual machines based on the workflows using the production agents comprises:
identifying a first portion of the virtual machines based on the workflows;
identifying a first portion of the production hosts that each host a virtual machine of the first portion of the virtual machines;
sending a backup initiation request to each production host of the first portion of the production hosts;
obtaining first backup data from each production host of the first portion of the production hosts after sending the backup initiation request; and
storing the first obtained backup data in backup storage.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the backup initiation request specifies a respective portion of data of a respective virtual machine of the first portion of the virtual machines.
17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method for providing data storage services to virtual machines, the method comprising:
performing, by a remote backup agent, a first remote backup of the virtual machines based on workflows using production agents hosted by production hosts that also host the virtual machines;
obtaining, by a remote backup agent, a workflow update;
updating, by a remote backup agent, the workflows based on the workflow update to obtain updated workflows; and
performing, by a remote backup agent, a second remote backup of the virtual machines based on the updated workflows using the production hosts without modifying the production agents;
wherein the remote backup agent is separate from the production hosts.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein performing the first remote backup of the virtual machines based on the workflows using the production agents comprises:
identifying a first portion of the virtual machines based on the workflows;
identifying a first portion of the production hosts that each host a virtual machine of the first portion of the virtual machines;
sending a backup initiation request to each production host of the first portion of the production hosts;
obtaining first backup data from each production host of the first portion of the production hosts after sending the backup initiation request; and
storing the first obtained backup data in backup storage.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the backup initiation request specifies a respective portion of data of a respective virtual machine of the first portion of the virtual machines.