Reliably testing virtual machine failover using differencing disks
In one embodiment, a virtual machine replication system may test a replica data set while continuing to replicate a primary data set. A data storage 250 may store a replica data set for a replica virtual machine 302 to back up a primary data set for a primary virtual machine 304 . The data storage 250 may preserve a test point in time 322 in the replica data set using a test differencing disk 344 . A processor 220 may execute a test virtual machine 342 that performs a test operation on the test point in time 322 while the replica data set continues to replicate the primary data set.
1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:
maintaining a replica data set for a replica virtual machine to back up a primary data set for a primary virtual machine; and
executing a test operation on the replica data set with a test virtual machine while the replica data set continues to replicate the primary data set.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preserving a test point in time in the replica data set for the test virtual machine to execute the test operation while avoiding causing data duplication.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating the test virtual machine to model the replica virtual machine.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
deleting the test virtual machine upon completion of the test operation.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a delta data subset for the replica data set replicated from the primary data set while preserving a test point in time.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adding a delta data subset to the replica data set received from the primary data set.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
isolating the test virtual machine from a primary workload of the primary virtual machine.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting a test point in time from a point in time option set.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
designating a failover point in time based on the test operation.
10. A tangible computer-readable medium having a set of instructions detailing a method stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the method, the method comprising:
maintaining a replica data set for a replica virtual machine to back up a primary data set for a primary virtual machine;
preserving a test point in time in the replica data set using a test differencing disk; and
executing a test operation on the test point in time with a test virtual machine.
11. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
discarding the test differencing disk upon completion of the test operation.
12. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
creating the test virtual machine to model the replica virtual machine.
13. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
deleting the test virtual machine upon completion of the test operation.
14. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a delta data subset for the replica data set replicated from the primary data set while preserving a test point in time.
15. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
adding a delta data subset to the replica data set received from the primary data set.
16. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
isolating the test virtual machine from a primary workload of the primary virtual machine.
17. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
designating a failover point in time based on the test operation.
18. A virtual machine replication server, comprising:
a data storage that stores a replica data set for a replica virtual machine to back up a primary data set for a primary virtual machine and preserves a test point in time in the replica data set using a test differencing disk; and
a processor that executes a test virtual machine that performs a test operation on the test point in time while the replica data set continues to replicate the primary data set.
19. The virtual machine replication server of claim 18 , further comprising:
a communication interface that receives a delta data subset for the replica data set replicated from the primary data set while preserving the test point in time.
20. The virtual machine replication server of claim 18 , wherein the processor designates a failover point in time based on the test operation.