Backup Metadata Comparison for Partial File-System Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing file-system recovery solutions often require extensive storage space and network bandwidth due to whole or full data transfers, even when some data is already maintained on recovery destinations, leading to unnecessary resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
Leveraging backup process metadata to identify and restore only the portions of file-system data needed for recovery, rather than the entire dataset, by comparing backup and destination hashes to optimize resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If whole or full data transfers are implemented during recovery operations, then data completeness is ensured, but storage space and network bandwidth are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recovery process into two distinct phases: a metadata comparison phase that identifies missing data through hash verification, and a selective data transfer phase that transfers only the identified missing portions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data completeness while minimizing resource consumption by avoiding transfer of redundant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by transferring only the necessary subset of data required for complete recovery, rather than performing excessive full data transfers. Through metadata comparison and hash verification, the system identifies and transfers only the missing data portions, achieving complete recovery with minimal resource expenditure.
2Productivity
If metadata comparison and hash verification are performed, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by generating and storing metadata including hash values during the backup phase, before recovery is needed. This preliminary preparation enables rapid comparison and identification of missing data during recovery without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus improving efficiency while managing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metadata as an intermediary layer between the backup data and the recovery process. This metadata, containing hash values and data descriptors, serves as a mediator that enables efficient comparison and identification of missing data without requiring direct complex analysis of the actual data content, thereby improving efficiency while containing processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for leveraging backup process metadata for data recovery optimization. Concerning file-system data protection, recovery operations tend to be exhaustive processes that often require extensive storage space and network bandwidth, among other, resources. Further, many existing file-system recovery solutions tend to implement whole or full data transfers (i.e., entailing the migration of all file-system data for a sought point-in-time) irrespective of which data may already be maintained on select recovery destinations, thereby unnecessarily allocating and expending said limited resources. In addressing this inefficiency, embodiments disclosed herein use metadata, produced during and/or following backup processes protecting file-system data, to identify and restore portions, rather than the entirety, of file-system data sought to be recovered from backup storage onto any recovery destination(s). Through said mechanism enabling partial file-system data recovery, usage of resources pertinent to the recovery process is optimized.