Replication Catch-up Strategy

A system including:

• a target machine having a replication target;
• a source machine having a set of snapshots including replicated snapshots and un-replicated snapshots stored in time sequence that backup one or more virtual machines,
• the source machine including one or more processors coupled with memory storing instructions that when executed perform at a current replication set-point:
• receiving a criterion for an un-replicated window, wherein the un-replicated window indicates a difference in the sequence between the current replication set-point and a last replication set-point, the last replication set-point corresponding to at least one un-replicated snapshot after a last replicated snapshot in the sequence;
• and
• comparing the un-replicated window determined to a previously determined criterion for the un-replicated window, and based upon the comparing:
• when the un-replicated window is greater than the previously determined criterion for an un-replicated window, replicate a snapshot in the sequence equal to or greater than a configured set-point position of the un-replicated window in the sequence, thereby skipping some earlier un-replicated snapshots at positions prior to the middle position and marking the replicated snapshot in the sequence, and
• otherwise, replicate an un-replicated snapshot after the last replicated snapshot in the sequence.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for replicating to a replication target at a target machine and at a current replication set-point, a set of snapshots including replicated snapshots and un-replicated snapshots stored in sequence at a source machine that backup one or more virtual machines, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, perform:

• receiving a criterion for an un-replicated window, wherein the un-replicated window indicates a difference in the sequence between the current replication set-point and a last replication set-point, the last replication set-point corresponding to at least one un-replicated snapshot after a last replicated snapshot in the sequence;
• and
• comparing the un-replicated window determined to a previously determined criterion for the un-replicated window, and based upon the comparing:
• when the un-replicated window is greater than the previously determined criterion for an un-replicated window, replicate a snapshot in the sequence equal to or greater than a configured set-point position of the un-replicated window in the sequence, thereby skipping some earlier un-replicated snapshots at positions prior to the middle position and marking the replicated snapshot in the sequence, and
• otherwise, replicate an un-replicated snapshot after the last replicated snapshot in the sequence.

A method of replicating to a replication target at a target machine and at a current replication set-point, a set of snapshots including replicated snapshots and un-replicated snapshots, stored in sequence at a source machine, that backup one or more virtual machines, the source machine performing:

• receiving a criterion for an un-replicated window, wherein the un-replicated window indicates a difference in the sequence between the current replication set-point and a last replication set-point, the last replication set-point corresponding to at least one un-replicated snapshot after a last replicated snapshot in the sequence;
• and
• comparing the un-replicated window determined to a previously determined criterion for the un-replicated window, and based upon the comparing:
• when the un-replicated window is greater than the received criterion for an un-replicated window,
• replicating a snapshot in the sequence equal to or greater than a configured set-point position of the un-replicated window in the sequence, thereby skipping some earlier un-replicated snapshots at positions prior to the configured set-point position, and
• marking the replicated snapshot in the sequence;
• and
• replicating an un-replicated snapshot positioned after the last replicated snapshot in the sequence, otherwise.