Discovering cluster resources to efficiently perform cluster backups and restores

A computer system comprising:

• a first node comprising one or more virtual machines (VMs);
• a second node comprising one or more VMs;
• and
• a data storage medium coupled to the first node and the second node, wherein the data storage medium is configured to store data corresponding to the one or more VMs comprised within the first node and the second node;
• a backup server configured to convey a backup or a restore request to the first node;
• wherein the first node is configured to convey a first query to a virtual subsystem of the second node and a second query to a cluster subsystem within the first node;
• wherein the second node is configured to:
• receive the first query and the second query from the first node;
• convey a first response to the first query, the first response comprising a first identification of VMs included in the second node and of data stored on the data storage medium corresponding to the identified VMs;
• and
• convey a second response to the second query, the second response comprising a second identification of highly available (HA) VMs included in the second node;
• wherein the first node is configured to:
• receive the first response and the second response;
• and
• convey configuration information including the first identification and the second identification to the backup server.

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that are executable to:

• convey a backup or a restore request to a first node comprising one or more virtual machines (VMs);
• convey from the first node a first query to a virtual subsystem of a second node and a second query to a cluster subsystem within the first node, wherein the second node comprises one or more VMs;
• convey from the second node to the first node a first response to the first query, the first response comprising a first identification of VMs included in the second node and stored data corresponding to the identified VMs;
• convey a second response to the second query, the second response comprising a second identification of highly available (HA) VMs included in the second node;
• and
• convey configuration information including the first identification and the second identification to a backup server.