Application Snapshot Restoration via HTTP Timestamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Restoring applications and their data to a specific point in time is a manual and error-prone process, requiring complex orchestration of system clock changes and explicit data restoration.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates at the HTTP request level, allowing seamless restoration of applications by specifying a timestamp in the HTTP request, which includes an executable image and metadata to recreate the exact operating environment, enabling access to applications as they behaved at a particular point in time without manual administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual restoration process is used to restore applications to a particular point in time, then the restoration can be performed with existing storage systems, but the process is error-prone and requires complex orchestration of system clock changes and explicit data restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the entire application execution environment including the operating system, application code, data, and system state at a particular point in time. This copy is stored as a snapshot that can be restored without manual intervention. The snapshot contains all necessary components to recreate the exact application state, eliminating errors associated with manual restoration processes while maintaining simplicity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing the complete application environment state before any changes occur. The snapshot is created in advance and includes the operating system, application binaries, data files, and execution context. When restoration is needed, the pre-prepared snapshot can be directly applied without requiring complex orchestration of multiple separate restoration steps.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual restoration process is used, then existing storage systems can be utilized, but manual intervention is required which increases the potential for errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service restoration by automatically capturing application states and creating snapshots without requiring manual configuration. The application environment monitors itself and automatically snapshots its state at designated points in time. When restoration is triggered, the system automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate snapshot without human intervention, eliminating manual errors while maintaining ease of implementation through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automated copying of the application execution environment to create restorable snapshots. The system automatically copies the operating system state, application code, data, and execution context to a stored snapshot. This automated copying process eliminates manual intervention errors while maintaining simplicity in system implementation, as the copying is handled by the system itself rather than requiring complex manual procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If snapshots are copied and stored over time to allow version restoration, then multiple versions can be recovered, but the storage utilization increases continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested doll by storing snapshots in a hierarchical structure where common components are shared. The application environment snapshot contains nested structures where the operating system, shared libraries, and common data files are stored once and referenced by multiple snapshots. When an application state is snapshot, only the unique or changed portions are stored separately, while common elements are nested within the shared structure, reducing overall storage requirements while maintaining the ability to restore multiple versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements discarding and recovering by automatically managing snapshot retention policies. Older snapshots that are no longer needed for compliance or recovery purposes are automatically discarded to free up storage space. The system recovers storage efficiency by selectively removing redundant or expired snapshots while maintaining the necessary version history for business requirements. This dynamic management allows multiple versions to be recovered when needed while preventing unbounded storage growth.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a request is received for restoration, where the request includes an application identifier (ID) identifying a first application and a timestamp specifying a particular time and date (time/date) of past. A restore module executed by a processor identifies a first application bundle based on the timestamp and the application ID. The first application bundle includes an executable image of the first application and metadata describing an operating environment that hosted the first application at the particular time/date. The restore module restores the first application in a first operating environment configured based on the metadata of the first application bundle.