Incremental Backup Bridge Device Using Record File Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage systems face performance degradation due to the time-consuming process of scanning all files during incremental backups, especially when dealing with large numbers of files, leading to overall system inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and bridge device that manage incremental backups by determining the existence of a record file, comparing file attributes, and preventing unnecessary backups based on comparison results, thereby reducing the number of comparison operations and enhancing backup speed without introducing side effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conventional storage system scans all files in the target device to compare with files in the source device, then the backup completeness is ensured, but the backup speed and system performance are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating and maintaining a record file that stores file information (such as file names, sizes, or checksums) before the actual backup process. During incremental backup, the system compares only the current file list against this pre-existing record file to determine which files have changed, rather than scanning and comparing all files in the target device. This preliminary preparation enables fast identification of changed files while ensuring backup completeness.
2Reliability
If the conventional storage system scans all files during incremental backup, then all changed files are detected, but the time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary file identification information (such as file names, sizes, or checksums) from the source device and stores it in a record file. During incremental backup, only this extracted information is compared against the current state, rather than scanning and comparing all file contents in the target device. This extraction approach ensures accurate detection of changed files while dramatically reducing the time required for comparison operations.
3Measurement precision
If the storage system compares all files to ensure accurate change detection, then the backup accuracy is maintained, but the computational resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial comparison by only comparing the essential file identification information stored in the record file against the current file list, rather than performing exhaustive comparison of all files. This partial action approach maintains sufficient precision for detecting changed files (by comparing key attributes like names, sizes, or checksums) while avoiding the excessive computational resources that would be required for complete file content comparison.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for enhancing speed of incremental backup, a bridge device, and a storage system are provided. The method includes: regarding a predetermined location within the storage system, determining whether a record file exists; in response to the record file existing, determining whether any file needing to be compared exists; in response to said any file needing to be compared existing, comparing said any file needing to be compared with content of the record file to generate at least one comparison result, wherein said at least one comparison result indicates whether a set of attributes of said any file needing to be compared completely exist in the record file; according to said at least one comparison result, determining whether any difference is found; and in response to said any difference being not found, preventing triggering any backup from a source storage device to a target storage device.