Abstract: Example apparatus and methods process virtual machine image level backups that may include files that are compressed and files that are not compressed. Example apparatus and methods may produce virtual machine image level backups by selectively compressing some files associated with the image while leaving other files in their uncompressed state. Example apparatus and methods may selectively recover a file or even an entire disk image from an image level backup that may include both compressed files and files that are not compressed. The file recovery or image recovery may be performed at the file level by accessing files in the image and selectively decompressing files that are compressed in the image while passing through files that are not compressed in the image. Different files in a single image may be compressed or decompressed using different techniques.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, or processors configured to access a tracking enabled storage volume associated with a container; perform a full backup of the storage volume, where performing the full backup includes defining a full backup point; perform a first incremental backup of the storage volume based on the full backup point, where performing the first incremental backup includes defining a current backup point; determine whether a backup termination condition has been met; upon determining that the backup termination condition has not been met: performing a subsequent incremental backup of the storage volume based on the current backup point; and updating the current backup point. Embodiments may restore the tracking enabled storage volume from the full backup and the incremental backups.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, or processors configured to access a tracking enabled storage volume associated with a container; perform a full backup of the storage volume, where performing the full backup includes defining a full backup point; perform a first incremental backup of the storage volume based on the full backup point, where performing the first incremental backup includes defining a current backup point; determine whether a backup termination condition has been met; upon determining that the backup termination condition has not been met: performing a subsequent incremental backup of the storage volume based on the current backup point; and updating the current backup point. Embodiments may restore the tracking enabled storage volume from the full backup and the incremental backups.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods process virtual machine image level backups that may include files that are compressed and files that are not compressed. Example apparatus and methods may produce virtual machine image level backups by selectively compressing some files associated with the image while leaving other files in their uncompressed state. Example apparatus and methods may selectively recover a file or even an entire disk image from an image level backup that may include both compressed files and files that are not compressed. The file recovery or image recovery may be performed at the file level by accessing files in the image and selectively decompressing files that are compressed in the image while passing through files that are not compressed in the image. Different files in a single image may be compressed or decompressed using different techniques.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods process virtual machine image level backups that may include files that are compressed and files that are not compressed. Example apparatus and methods may produce virtual machine image level backups by selectively compressing some files associated with the image while leaving other files in their uncompressed state. Example apparatus and methods may selectively recover a file or even an entire disk image from an image level backup that may include both compressed files and files that are not compressed. The file recovery or image recovery may be performed at the file level by accessing files in the image and selectively decompressing files that are compressed in the image while passing through files that are not compressed in the image. Different files in a single image may be compressed or decompressed using different techniques.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods use two types of storage to improve boot time associated with recovering a virtual machine running on a hypervisor. The first storage is deduplication based and the second storage is not deduplication based. Example apparatus and methods may read data from the first storage to support operations immediately upon the VM booting and until a full recovery has been completed. Example apparatus and methods may also write a snapshot to the second storage and then support random input/output for the virtual machine from the snapshot in the second storage immediately upon the VM booting until a full recovery has been completed. Having dual devices facilitates using deduplication storage for deduplication-centric I/O while non-deduplication storage is used for random I/O while transfer of a recovery image from a backup device to a primary device associated with the VM is completed.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods process virtual machine image level backups that may include files that are compressed and files that are not compressed. Example apparatus and methods may produce virtual machine image level backups by selectively compressing some files associated with the image while leaving other files in their uncompressed state. Example apparatus and methods may selectively recover a file or even an entire disk image from an image level backup that may include both compressed files and files that are not compressed. The file recovery or image recovery may be performed at the file level by accessing files in the image and selectively decompressing files that are compressed in the image while passing through files that are not compressed in the image. Different files in a single image may be compressed or decompressed using different techniques.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods use two types of storage to improve boot time associated with recovering a virtual machine running on a hypervisor. The first storage is deduplication based and the second storage is not deduplication based. Example apparatus and methods may read data from the first storage to support operations immediately upon the VM booting and until a full recovery has been completed. Example apparatus and methods may also write a snapshot to the second storage and then support random input/output for the virtual machine from the snapshot in the second storage immediately upon the VM booting until a full recovery has been completed. Having dual devices facilitates using deduplication storage for deduplication-centric I/O while non-deduplication storage is used for random I/O while transfer of a recovery image from a backup device to a primary device associated with the VM is completed.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods provide two types of storage for a virtual machine running on a hypervisor. The first storage is de-duplication based and the second storage is not de-duplication based. Example apparatus and methods may acquire data from the first storage to instantiate the virtual machine, to instantiate an operating system on the virtual machine, or to instantiate an application on the virtual machine from the first storage. Example apparatus and methods may write a snapshot to the second storage and then support random input/output for the virtual machine, for the operating system, or for the application from the second storage. The snapshot may selectively be collapsed or the second storage may selectively be retired and thus example systems may selectively update the first storage from the second storage. Having dual devices facilitates using de-duplication storage for de-duplication-centric I/O while non-de-duplication storage is used for random I/O.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods provide two types of storage for a virtual machine running on a hypervisor. The first storage is de-duplication based and the second storage is not de-duplication based. Example apparatus and methods may acquire data from the first storage to instantiate the virtual machine, to instantiate an operating system on the virtual machine, or to instantiate an application on the virtual machine from the first storage. Example apparatus and methods may write a snapshot to the second storage and then support random input/output for the virtual machine, for the operating system, or for the application from the second storage. The snapshot may selectively be collapsed or the second storage may selectively be retired and thus example systems may selectively update the first storage from the second storage. Having dual devices facilitates using de-duplication storage for de-duplication-centric I/O while non-de-duplication storage is used for random I/O.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for securely resetting a key. In an embodiment, this comprises setting a flag to indicate that the key is to be reset, starting a process associated with the program, determining, when the process has been started, whether the flag is set, and resetting the key to a default value based on the flag.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for securely resetting a key for accessing a computer program. In an embodiment, this comprises generating an encrypted backdoor key, providing the backdoor key to the computer program, comparing the backdoor key to a computed value, and resetting the key to a default value if the backdoor key matches the computed value.