Incremental Backup Consolidation via Link Map Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional incremental backup methods lead to excessive disk storage space usage due to the need to retain numerous old backup files, as deleting old backups can corrupt subsequent restoration processes and result in data loss.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for consolidating incremental backups by creating a new backup that includes links to the latest data from selected backups, updating these links, and deleting unnecessary backups, thereby reducing storage needs while maintaining data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If incremental backups are retained to maintain data integrity and enable restoration, then reliability is improved, but disk storage space increases constantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple incremental backup files into a single consolidated backup file. The consolidation process combines data from multiple incremental backups and creates a unified backup structure that maintains restoration capability while reducing the number of separate files stored on disk, directly addressing the storage space issue while preserving data integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a consolidated backup that copies and integrates data from multiple incremental backups. Instead of storing numerous separate incremental backup files, the system creates a single consolidated copy that contains the necessary data and metadata to enable restoration, thereby reducing storage requirements while maintaining reliability
2Volume of stationary object
If old backup files are deleted to reduce storage space, then disk storage space is reduced, but subsequent restoration processes are corrupted and data loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary consolidation of incremental backups before deletion. By first merging the incremental backups into a consolidated file and updating the backup map to reflect the new structure, the system ensures that restoration capability is maintained before any old files are deleted, preventing data loss and corruption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables discarding of old incremental backup files after consolidation. The backup map is updated to reference the consolidated backup file, allowing the system to safely delete old incremental files while preserving the ability to restore data through the consolidated backup, thus recovering storage space without sacrificing restoration capability
3Reliability
If numerous incremental backup files are stored to maintain restoration points, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to managing multiple files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple incremental backup files into a single consolidated backup file, significantly simplifying backup file management. Instead of tracking and managing numerous separate incremental files, the system maintains a single consolidated file with an updated backup map, reducing complexity while preserving restoration capability across multiple time points
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and computer program product for consolidation of incremental backups, wherein each incremental backup includes data and a backup map with links that point to data of current and/or previous backups, including selecting a plurality of incremental backups to be consolidated; combining the links in the backup maps of the selected backups into a single set of links; consolidating the selected backups to a new backup that contains the latest data from the selected backups, the latest data determined based on the links in the single set; updating the links in the single set to point to the data in the new backup; and storing the updated links in the new backup as part of a backup map of the new backup. The selected backups comprise one initial full backup and at least one incremental backup. In the combining step, the addresses from the backup maps of first backup of the selected sequence of backups up to the last created backup is checked. The selected incremental backups are organized into a tree.