IP Library Granted Patent US 12,346,715
Granted Patent B2
US 12,346,715 · App. 17/103,184 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Data protection management of application instance executing in accordance with virtual volume-based storage system

Inventor: Sunil Kumar (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
G06F9/45558G06F3/0619G06F3/065G06F3/0665G06F3/0673G06F2009/45579
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,346,715
App. No.
17/103,184
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Data protection management techniques in information processing systems are disclosed. For example, a method is provided to manage generation of a copy of data of an application instance executed by a virtual processing device of a host device operatively coupled to a virtual volume-based storage system. Generation of the copy of the data of the application instance is caused to be performed on the virtual volume-based storage system independent of a virtualization layer associated with the host device.

Claims (33)

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processing device being operatively coupled to an information processing system comprising at least a host device comprising one or more application instances and one or more virtual processing devices, a virtualization layer, and a virtual volume-based storage system, wherein the at least one processing device communicates with the a virtualization layer via a first communication channel, wherein the at least one processing device communicates with the virtual volume-based storage system via a separate second communication channel, and wherein the at least one processing device, when executing program code, is configured to:

cause the virtual volume-based storage system to generate a copy of data of an application instance of the one or more application instances executed by a virtual processing device of the one or more virtual processing devices in the form of an unmanaged snapshot by sending a command to the virtual volume-based storage system in order to provide granularity at an application-level:

cause the virtual volume-based storage system to import the unmanaged snapshot to the virtualization layer using a virtualization layer-provided application programming interface; and

cause conversion of the copy of data of the application instance from an unmanaged snapshot to a managed snapshot to enable access of the managed snapshot by the virtual processing device and attach the managed snapshot in the virtual volume-based storage system;

wherein the virtualization layer associated with the host device has a permitted number of managed snapshots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by pushing an agent module to the virtual processing device to cause the agent module to be inserted on the virtual processing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein, upon commencement of an application protection operation, the at least one processing device is further configured to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by initiating establishment of a communication link with the agent module on the virtual processing device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein, upon establishment of the communication link, the at least one processing device is further configured to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by querying the agent module for information relating to one or more virtual volumes associated with the application instance and stored on the virtual volume-based storage system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by causing the application instance to halt input/output operations.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by causing the application instance to restart input/output operations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the virtual processing device comprises a virtual machine.

8. A method performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory executing program code, the at least one processing device operatively coupled to an information processing system comprising at least a host device comprising one or more application instances and one or more virtual processing devices, a virtualization layer, and a virtual volume-based storage system, wherein the at least one processing device communicates with the a virtualization layer via a first communication channel, and wherein the at least one processing device communicates with the virtual volume-based storage system via a separate second communication channel, the method comprising:

causing the virtual volume-based storage system to generate a copy of data of an application instance of the one or more application instances executed by a virtual processing device of the one or more virtual processing devices in the form of an unmanaged snapshot by sending a command from the at least one processing device to the virtual volume-based storage system via the first communication channel in order to provide granularity at an application-level;

causing the virtual volume-based storage system to import the unmanaged snapshot to the virtualization layer using a virtualization layer-provided application programming interface; and

causing conversion of the copy of data of the application instance from an unmanaged snapshot to a managed snapshot to enable access of the managed snapshot by the virtual processing device and attach the managed snapshot in the virtual volume-based storage system;

wherein the virtualization layer associated with the host device has a permitted number of managed snapshots.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein managing generation of the copy of data of the application instance further comprises pushing an agent module to the virtual processing device to cause the agent module to be inserted on the virtual processing device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein managing generation of the copy of data of the application instance further comprises, upon commencement of an application protection operation, initiating establishment of a communication link with the agent module on the virtual processing device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein managing generation of the copy of data of the application instance further comprises, upon establishment of the communication link, querying the agent module for information relating to one or more virtual volumes associated with the application instance and stored on the virtual volume-based storage system.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein managing generation of the copy of data of the application instance further comprises causing the application instance to halt input/output operations.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein managing generation of the copy of data of the application instance further comprises causing the application instance to restart input/output operations.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the virtual processing device comprises a virtual machine.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, the program code being executed by at least one processing device, comprising a processor coupled to a memory, operatively coupled to an information processing system comprising at least a host device comprising one or more application instances and one or more virtual processing devices, a virtualization layer, and a virtual volume-based storage system, wherein the at least one processing device communicates with the a virtualization layer via a first communication channel, wherein the at least one processing device communicates with the virtual volume-based storage system via a separate second communication channel, and wherein, wherein the program code when executed by the at least one processing device causes the at least one processing device to:

cause the virtual volume-based storage system to generate a copy of data of an application instance of the one or more application instances executed by a virtual processing device of the one or more virtual processing devices in the form of an unmanaged snapshot by sending a command to the virtual volume-based storage system in order to provide granularity at an application-level;

cause the virtual volume-based storage system to import the unmanaged snapshot to the virtualization layer using a virtualization layer-provided application programming interface; and

cause conversion of the copy of data of the application instance from an unmanaged snapshot to a managed snapshot to enable access of the managed snapshot by the virtual processing device and attach the managed snapshot in the virtual volume-based storage system;

wherein the virtualization layer associated with the host device has a permitted number of managed snapshots.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the virtual processing device comprises a virtual machine.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the program code when executed by the at least one processing device further causes the at least one processing device to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by pushing an agent module to the virtual processing device to cause the agent module to be inserted on the virtual processing device.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the program code when executed by the at least one processing device further causes the at least one processing device to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by initiating establishment of a communication link with the agent module on the virtual processing device.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein, upon establishment of the communication link, the program code when executed by the at least one processing device further causes the at least one processing device to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by querying the agent module for information relating to one or more virtual volumes associated with the application instance and stored on the virtual volume-based storage system.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the program code when executed by the at least one processing device further causes the at least one processing device to manage generation of the copy of data of the application instance by causing the application instance to halt input/output operations.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0342) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0460 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0051) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056136/0752) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0771 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 055408 FRAME 0697 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056136/0752 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0051 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0342 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 055408/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2020
From: KUMAR, SUNIL
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 054460/0448 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220164211A1 · May 26, 2022
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