Abstract: A method and system for implementing data lossless synthetic full backups. Specifically, the method and system disclosed herein improves upon traditional synthetic full backup operations by considering all user-checkpoint branches, rather than just the active user-checkpoint branch, representing all chains of incremental changes to a virtual disk of a virtual machine. In considering all user-checkpoint branches, no data pertinent to users involved in the development of the non-active (or inactive) user-checkpoint branches is lost.

Abstract: A method provides for receiving network traffic from a host having a host IP address and operating in a data center, and analyzing a malware tracker for IP addresses of hosts having been infected by a malware to yield an analysis. When the analysis indicates that the host IP address has been used to communicate with an external host infected by the malware to yield an indication, the method includes assigning a reputation score, based on the indication, to the host. The method can further include applying a conditional policy associated with using the host based on the reputation score. The reputation score can include a reduced reputation score from a previous reputation score for the host.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an item level restore from a backup are described herein. A method starts by mounting files of content databases from storage device on management server. Content databases from storage device are from the backup. New database is created in relational database server with the mounted files of the content databases. Unattached database object is then created which includes pointing to the new database. Unattached database is not related to the content databases from the storage device. Unattached database object is then searched for source item selected for restore from content databases. Selected source item is exported from new database to a source item location in management server. Data from selected source item is then restored by importing data from the source item location to a target item location in management server.

Abstract: A request is received to restore a set of virtual machines (VMs) to a cluster of nodes. The nodes are profiled to collect, for each node, a current load and health status. A participating node list is generated by excluding from the list any node having a current load that exceeds a threshold or having a health status of unavailable. For each participating node, a determination is made of a recommended number of VMs to assign to a node based on a current load of the node. A participating node and VM to restore is selected. The selected VM is assigned to the selected participating node. The selection and assignment is repeated until each participating node has been assigned its respective number of VMs to restore or all VMs to restore have been assigned. The participating nodes are instructed to begin restoring their assigned VMs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media can present improved data backup of data servers, including Microsoft Exchange servers. Embodiments can provide backup of a data server using a backup application, where the backup application can send a request to the data server for data to backup and receive a first set of backup data from the data server. The backup application can also send a request to the data server for backup data criteria and receive backup data criteria from the data server. The backup application may apply the backup data criteria to the first set of data to create a second set of backup data that is new, non-duplicated data sending the second set of backup data to a storage device, thus saving storage space, backup time, and network bandwidth.

Abstract: Techniques for virtual proxy based backup of virtual machines in a cluster environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, each of a subset of virtual machines hosted by physical nodes in a cluster environment is configured as a virtual proxy dedicated to backup operations. During backup, data rollover of each virtual machine in the cluster environment that is subjected to backup is performed using a virtual proxy.

Abstract: Techniques for virtual proxy based backup of virtual machines in a cluster environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, each of a subset of virtual machines hosted by physical nodes in a cluster environment is configured as a virtual proxy dedicated to backup operations. During backup, data rollover of each virtual machine in the cluster environment that is subjected to backup is performed using a virtual proxy.

Abstract: A backup and recovery architecture for applications compatible with the Microsoft Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) includes a backup client module that includes an orchestration engine, an application manager, a common requestor, and a save transports component. The client module interacts with the VSS on the client in the generation of a shadow copy. Data is backed up from the shadow copy to a backup storage server. In various specific embodiments, the application manager includes functions that are application-specific and the orchestration engine includes functions that are not application-specific. A single consolidated log may be generated by the backup client module for a backup or recover operation.

Abstract: An incremental backup of a database includes issuing a request to a copy service requesting a snapshot of a volume having the database, and identifying a writer of the database that should participate in creating the snapshot. From the snapshot, changes to the database since a last backup of the database and log files associated with the database that include data not yet committed to the database, are transmitted to a backup storage unit.

Abstract: Embodiments for a system and method of performing restores of SQL database data, querying a backup history log to determine a sequence of full and incremental backups of the data, first restoring data from a full backup using a SQL volume shadow service (VSS) writer, placing the database into a recovering mode during the first restoring, and second restoring data from an incremental backup using a SQL virtual device interface (VDI) process while the database is in recovering mode until a stop signal is generated to form a hybrid restore process, where the stop signal comprises a STOPAT clause of the SQL VDI process that restores the database content until a given restore time.

Abstract: A high-availability cluster includes a subset of nodes having database instances where each database instance hosts a primary replica having primary databases or a secondary replica having corresponding secondary databases. An availability group includes a primary replica hosted by one database instance on one node and at least one secondary replica hosted by another database instance on another node, the secondary replica being a failover for the primary replica. A first backup preference is determined for a first availability group to identify a first preferred node for a first backup. A second backup preference is determined for a second availability group to identify a second preferred node for a second backup. The backups are triggered on the preferred nodes and the backups can proceed in parallel.

Abstract: A first cluster node receives a request for a backup of files stored in a CSV shared with a second cluster node. A first VSS writer determines a first set of files associated with the first cluster node. A second VSS writer determines a second set of files associated with the second cluster node. A WMD file associated with the backup is generated to include a first component describing the first set of files and a second component describing the second set of files. A BCD file associated with the backup is modified to store information indicating the first VSS writer to restore the first and second sets of files, such that the first and second sets of files can be restored using the first VSS writer without having to use the second VSS writer. The backup is then performed to a backup storage device.

Abstract: A backup agent issues to a virtual machine management service (VMMS) a request to export a virtual machine (VM). The VMMS generates a configuration file associated with the export that cannot be accessed by the backup agent because the file is encrypted. A full backup of the exported VM is performed. A first backup check point corresponding to the full backup is created. After the full backup, a second backup check point is created. The agent issues to the VMMS a request to export changes to the VM between the first and second backup check points. An incremental backup of the exported changes is performed and a backup components document is created. A synthetic full backup based on the incremental and full backups is created and restoration of the VM from the synthetic full backup is based on the information in the backup components document.

Abstract: Identifying virtual machines and errors for snapshots is described. A system receives, from a volume snapshot service, an error message and a corresponding component identifier associated with a backup operation. The system requests a corresponding snapshot status from each component participating in the backup operation. The system receives a corresponding snapshot status from each component participating in the backup operation. The system requests an error identifier from a component corresponding to a snapshot failure status. The system receives the error identifier from the component corresponding to the snapshot failure status. The system identifies a virtual machine based on the component identifier. The system outputs, via a user interface, a report identifying the virtual machine and the error identifier.

Abstract: Techniques for virtual proxy based backup of virtual machines in a cluster environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, each of a subset of virtual machines hosted by physical nodes in a cluster environment is configured as a virtual proxy dedicated to backup operations. During backup, data rollover of each virtual machine in the cluster environment that is subjected to backup is performed using a virtual proxy.

Abstract: Techniques for virtual proxy based backup of virtual machines in a cluster environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, each of a subset of virtual machines hosted by physical nodes in a cluster environment is configured as a virtual proxy dedicated to backup operations. During backup, data rollover of each virtual machine in the cluster environment that is subjected to backup is performed using a virtual proxy.

Abstract: Federated back up of availability groups is described. A system identifies multiple availability groups scheduled for backup. The system logs in to a structured query language instance on an active node, identifies a primary replica for the first availability group, identifies a backup preference for the first availability group based on the primary replica for the first availability group, and identifies the backup preference for the first availability group as a preferred node for backing up the first availability group if the backup preference for the first availability group is on-line. The system configures backup storage based on a name of a cluster of nodes associated with the availability groups. The system backs up the first availability group based on the preferred node for the first availability group in parallel with backing up the second availability group based on a preferred node identified for the second availability group.

Abstract: A method and system for write tracking for block based backup that supports multiple block based backup applications. The method includes creating a first bitmap for a first block based backup application by the block based backup engine, creating a second bitmap for a second block based backup application by the block based backup engine. In response to receiving a request from a block based backup application to start a backup a check is made whether the request indicates a full backup or incremental backup for the first block based backup application. A merging of the bitmaps for block based backup applications is performed such that the performance of the requested backup is taken into account for the first backup application without adversely affecting the tracking of the block based backup of other backup applications.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for optimizing the storage and transmission of a data object. Specifically, the present invention improves current data object serialization and deserialization methods involving multiple data objects. Current serialization techniques provide for serialization and deserialization using a single data object per transmission, or stream. As such, data objects may be serialized, then streamed to a destination one data object at a time. Unfortunately, present serialization and deserialization techniques require that each object must be streamed on its own binary stream, so many streams may be simultaneously transmitting. This places a toll on the transmission pipeline, and results in an “out of memory” response from the associated software application.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for automatically performing operations on applications based on dependencies on other applications are disclosed. A command to start a first application can be received. The first application is configured to use data provided by at least one another application. A determination is made whether the first application is configured to use data provided by a second application. This determining is performed in response to a receipt of the command. In response to a determination that the first application is configured to use data provided by the second application, execution of the second application is initiated.