Incremental Backup Progress Indication via File Count Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
During incremental data backups, users face challenges with progress indication as the sizing phase can be time-consuming, leading to stalled appearance or perceived errors, as traditional methods do not provide accurate progress updates until the sizing phase is complete.
Innovation Solution
The method determines a total backup size indicator based on the total number of files and bytes of the source file system volume, allowing for real-time progress estimation by propagating or copying nodes and updating completion metrics, thereby providing a backup completion percentage without relying on the sizing phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the traditional sizing phase is performed to calculate backup progress, then the progress indication accuracy is improved, but the backup time is increased and the user perceives stalled progress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary sizing phase before the actual backup to calculate the total backup size. This preliminary action allows the system to establish a baseline for progress calculation that will be used throughout the backup process, eliminating the need to re-calculate sizes during the backup itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies file metadata (such as file sizes) from the source file system to calculate progress indicators during the backup process. Instead of re-measuring files during backup, the system uses pre-copied metadata information to compute real-time progress, significantly reducing calculation overhead.
2Measurement precision
If the sizing phase is performed before backup to determine total size, then the progress calculation is accurate, but the user experiences stalled progress indication during the sizing phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous progress indication throughout the entire backup process by combining the preliminary sizing results with real-time tracking of copied data. Instead of showing stalled progress during sizing, the system continuously updates the progress indicator as files are copied, creating a seamless and continuous useful action from the user perspective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the progress indication is continuously updated based on the ratio of copied data to total backup size. This real-time feedback provides users with accurate progress information throughout the backup process, eliminating the perception of stalled operations.
3Measurement precision
If the source file system volume is iterated during sizing phase, then the total backup size is determined accurately, but the backup process efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the iterative sizing operation as a preliminary action before the actual backup process. By completing the time-consuming iteration and size calculation upfront, the system establishes all necessary metrics before data copying begins, allowing the main backup process to proceed at full speed without repeated calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies file metadata information during the preliminary sizing phase and stores it for reuse during the backup process. This copying of size information eliminates the need to re-iterate through the file system during backup, significantly improving backup process efficiency while maintaining accurate progress calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
The described embodiments set forth techniques for providing a backup progress estimate for a backup of a source file system volume (FSV). The techniques involve determining, for the source FSV, a backup size during performance of backup operations. The operations can include determining the backup size based on a number of files on the source FSV. Additionally, the operations can include copying files of the source FSV and/or propagating corresponding files of a destination FSV to a location of the backup of the source FSV on a destination storage device and updating one or more metrics using a number of files and/or a number of bytes copied and/or propagated to the backup. In this manner, a progress indication for the backup may be determined based on the one or more metrics responsive to files and/or directories of the source file system volume being stored on a destination storage device.