System and method for full virtual machine backup using storage system functionality

摘要

Techniques for virtual machine full backup are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a request to back up a virtual machine (VM) of a client, a request of VM backup is sent out. A consistent state of the VM is then identified via a VM application program interface (VM API). Subsequently a request is sent to a storage system associated with the client to ask for VM disk image associated with the consistent state of the VM to a target backup storage system.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method implemented on a backup application server, the method comprising:
in response to a request to back up a virtual machine (VM) received at the backup application server, transmitting a first request to a VM monitor (VMM) of a host system hosting the VM via a VM application programming interface (VM API) over a network, the first request requesting the VMM to capture a VM snapshot representing a consistent state of the VM, wherein the backup application server manages a plurality of host systems as clients over the network for backup purposes; identifying by the backup application server the consistent state of the VM remotely over the network via the VM API associated with the VM; and transmitting from the backup application server a second request to a first storage system associated with the host system to send one or more VM disk images associated with the consistent state of the VM to a second storage system as a target backup storage system over the network, wherein the host system is a separate system communicatively coupled to the first storage system.