Abstract: A technique of backing up a workload in a virtual environment includes identifying one or more files that are associated with the workload. One or more source volumes that include the one or more files are identified. A respective target volume is provisioned for each of the one or more source volumes identified. Only dirty blocks are copied (in a snapshot mode that prevents an update to the one or more source volumes during the snapshot mode) from each of the one or more source volumes to its respective target volume. The one or more dirty blocks are then copied from each target volume to a backup medium.

Abstract: A technique for cloud infrastructure backup in a virtualized environment utilizing shared storage includes obtaining a workload input/output (I/O) profile to the shared storage over a time period. An attempt to locate one or more time windows in the workload I/O profile for which a cloud infrastructure backup can be staged is initiated. In response to determining the cloud infrastructure backup can be staged during at least one of the time windows, staging of the cloud infrastructure backup is scheduled during a selected one of the time windows. In response to determining the cloud infrastructure backup cannot be staged during at least one of the time windows, an interference tolerance approach is employed for accessing the shared storage for active workloads and the cloud infrastructure backup during the staging of the cloud infrastructure backup.

Abstract: A technique of backing up a workload in a virtual environment includes identifying one or more files that are associated with the workload. One or more source volumes that include the one or more files are identified. A respective target volume is provisioned for each of the one or more source volumes identified. Only dirty blocks are copied (in a snapshot mode that prevents an update to the one or more source volumes during the snapshot mode) from each of the one or more source volumes to its respective target volume. The one or more dirty blocks are then copied from each target volume to a backup medium.