Space-efficient storage of virtual machines in a backup storage system

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a backup agent, a backup request for a space-efficient backup of a VM;
• in response to the backup request:
• parsing a virtual disk associated with the VM to obtain data block information of VM data associated with the VM;
• performing, using data block information of the VM data, a used block analysis to identify a set of used blocks by the VM data;
• generating an updated data block information, wherein the updated data block information comprises the set of used blocks;
• generating the space-efficient backup of the VM using the updated data block information;
• and
• storing the space-efficient backup in a backup storage system.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform a method, the method comprising:
• obtaining, by a backup agent, a backup request for a space-efficient backup of a VM;
• in response to the backup request:
• parsing a virtual disk associated with the VM to obtain data block information of VM data associated with the VM;
• performing, using data block information of the VM data, a used block analysis to identify a set of used blocks by the VM data;
• generating an updated data block information, wherein the updated data block information comprises the set of used blocks;
• generating the space-efficient backup of the VM using the updated data block information;
• and
• storing the space-efficient backup in a backup storage system.