Patent ID: 8037032
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for providing incremental backups for a source computing machine, the method comprising: (a) creating a first backup snapshot comprising a virtual machine (VM) snapshot of an initial copy of a source computing machine volume, wherein said VM snapshot comprises a timestamp and a first redo log file; (b) reconfiguring and customizing said first backup snapshot to create a first bootable VM, writing changes associated with said reconfiguring and customizing into said first redo log file, then creating a first bootable snapshot comprising a VM snapshot of said first bootable VM, wherein said VM snapshot of said first bootable VM comprises a timestamp for said first bootable VM and a redo log file; (c) performing an incremental update of said first backup snapshot or a subsequent backup snapshot, then creating a subsequent backup snapshot comprising a VM snapshot of said incremental update, wherein said VM snapshot of said incremental update comprises a timestamp for said incremental update and a redo log file; and (d) reconfiguring and customizing said subsequent backup snapshot to create a subsequent bootable VM, then creating a subsequent bootable snapshot comprising a VM snapshot of said subsequent bootable VM, wherein said VM snapshot of said subsequent bootable VM comprises a timestamp for said subsequent bootable VM and a redo log file.