Secondary Backup Storage Dependency Chain Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backup operations in computing environments require significant manual effort, time, and resource allocation, particularly during twinning and migration processes, as they often involve multiple systems and complex coordination.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes a secondary backup storage system to determine the completion of a first backup operation, generates a protection copy using a snapshot-based backup from a primary backup system, and links this copy to a second protection copy produced by a concurrent backup operation, enabling efficient restoration of assets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual coordination is used for backup operations during twinning and migration, then reliability of backup can be maintained, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The backup system performs self-identification and self-coordination of backup chains through automated metadata generation and processing. The system automatically identifies relationships between protection copies and constructs backup chains without requiring manual administrator intervention, thereby reducing backup time while maintaining reliability through systematic automated procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates and processes metadata that provides feedback about the state of protection copies and their relationships. This feedback mechanism enables automated identification of backup chains and coordination of backup operations, replacing manual coordination while maintaining reliability through structured information flow
2Measurement precision
If manual steps are performed for backup coordination, then measurement precision of backup state can be maintained, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical coordination steps with automated electronic metadata processing. The metadata structure systematically tracks backup states and relationships, providing precise measurement of backup chain status without requiring manual administrator actions, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining tracking precision
Solution Approach 2:
Metadata serves as an intermediary that automatically captures and communicates the state of protection copies and backup chains. This intermediary mechanism provides precise tracking of backup operations without requiring direct manual intervention, enabling automated coordination that maintains measurement precision while improving productivity
3Productivity
If automated backup chain identification is implemented, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup system is segmented into distinct functional components: metadata generation, metadata processing, backup chain identification, and restoration coordination. This segmentation allows automated productivity improvements in each component while managing overall system complexity through modular design, where each segment handles a specific aspect of the backup operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining, by a secondary backup storage system, that a first backup operation has completed and produced a first protection copy of assets stored in a client storage array, where a primary backup storage system is used to obtain a snapshot-based backup from the client storage array and provide the snapshot-based backup to the secondary backup storage system, where the first protection copy is generated using the snapshot-based backup. The method includes identifying a second backup operation that was started before the first backup operation was started, determining that the second backup operation successfully produced a second protection copy, and generating linking metadata that links the first protection copy to the second protection copy in response to determining that the second backup operation successfully produced the second protection copy, where linking metadata is used to restore at least a portion of the assets during a restore operation.