FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to performing backup operations. In particular, this disclosure relates to performing backup operations using replicas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In order to prevent data loss, data can be backed up. Data backup operations produce backup images. A backup image includes a backup copy of application data or the contents of a given storage entity, such as a file system or disk drive. Such backup images can be stored and/or maintained in remote cloud-based storage devices in the form of cloud backups for retrieval and restoration at a later time, for example, in case of hardware failure, and the like.

Data replication involves making duplicate copies of data and improves reliability, fault-tolerance, and/or accessibility. The purpose of data replication is to prevent data loss if failures or disasters occur in one location. If such failures or disasters do occur that destroy or damage a copy of the data in one location, the copy of the data at a secondary site can be accessed. For these purposes, among others, replicated data can also be stored and/or maintained in remote cloud-based storage devices, for example, in the form of replicas.

Backup and replication solutions each have their own advantages and drawbacks, and are therefore frequently implemented (and packaged) together, for example, in cloud backup and cloud-based disaster recovery (DR) services (e.g., as backup destinations and DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service)). For example, backup involves making a secondary copy of data that can be restored to use if the primary copy becomes lost or unusable. Backup images include a point-in-time copy of primary data typically taken on a repeated cycle (e.g., daily, monthly, yearly, and the like). On the other hand, replication is either synchronous or asynchronous, and transfer of data to a remote copy of achieved either immediately or within a short time delay, respectively. In modern computing environments, both backup and replication require large amounts of data to be transmitted over networks (e.g., to a cloud backup and DR service provider).

In addition, because data corruption or user file deletion is immediately or very quickly replicated to a secondary copy, replication is ineffective as a backup method. Further, because replication only maintains only copy of data at a cloud location, a replicated copy does not include historical versions of data (e.g., from preceding weeks, months, and the like). On the contrary, because a backup copy is a point in time copy of data, full and incremental backup images can be created, thus providing appreciable storage benefits.

Therefore, it is not surprising that modern businesses and organizations implement both backup and replication solutions, for example, to protect and guarantee the same data. Unfortunately, such modern businesses and organizations bear significant separate costs related to network bandwidth—for cloud backups, and separately, for cloud-based DR services. For example, the same data transmitted from on premise storage to cloud-based storage as part of a backup operation, has to be re-transmitted from on premise storage to cloud-based storage as part of a replication operation. This re-transmission of data is not only redundant and discourages cloud adoption, but also results in costly and wasteful network bandwidth utilization.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and processes can include performing a replication operation, receiving a backup operation instruction at a replication agent, and, in response to receipt of the backup operation instruction, performing an application quiescing operation and invoking an action of a backup agent. The replication operation sends data of an application executed by a virtual machine at a primary site, to a secondary site. The virtual machine is executed by a computing system at the primary site. The backup operation instruction is received from the backup agent. The application quiescing operation is performed by the replication agent. The application quiescing operation quiesces the replication operation, at least in part, by quiescing the application.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below.

