Patent ID: 8533164

Claim:
In a data processing system having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, at least one input/output (I/O) adapter that enables connection to an external network with a shared storage repository, and a virtualization management component executing within the data processing system to generate a plurality of operating system (OS) partitions including a first virtual I/O server (VIOS) partition of multiple VIOS partitions communicatively coupled to create a VIOS cluster, a method comprising: responsive to receipt of a VIOS restore command at a first VIOS within the VIOS cluster: retrieving the configuration backup file from a local storage; comparing a DRC (Dynamic Reconfiguration connector) name retrieved from the retrieved configuration backup file with a current DRC name associated with the VIOS partition in which the OS instance is executing; and in response to determination of a DRC name mismatch: retrieving an initial UUID (Universal Unique Identification) of the VIOS from within the configuration backup file; accessing a UUID table within a management tool; locating a matching UUID to the initial UUID within the UUID table; and in response to locating the matching UUID: verifying that the configuration data file belongs to the VIOS in which the restore operation is being initiated; and performing the restore operation, wherein the restore operation includes restoring the configuration of the hardware, logical and virtual devices of the first VIOS to a state that existed at a time at which a backup operation that created the configuration backup file was performed, wherein the performing the backup operation on the first VIOS partition comprises: copying the configuration information for each device whose configuration information is required for the configuration backup file; writing the configuration information and the initial UUID into a single extensible markup language (XML) file; performing a zip operation to compress the single file; and storing the single file as the configuration backup file, tagged with at least the DRC name as an identifier of the configuration backup file.