Backup Task Scheduling Scoring for IO Delay and Server Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current backup task scheduling in data protection systems is often set by system administrators based on experience, making it difficult to determine whether the scheduling settings are appropriate for backup client terminals and servers, leading to issues like increased IO delays and server instability due to concurrent tasks.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that acquire scheduling settings and execution information to determine a score indicating the impact of the scheduling setting on the backup system's performance, allowing administrators to evaluate and adjust settings accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If backup tasks are scheduled during peak IO period of backup client terminal, then backup task execution is performed, but IO delay is significantly increased and services become unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup task executionVSAvoidIO delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system collects execution information including IO delay metrics and service availability data during backup task execution. This feedback is used to calculate a score that reflects the impact on system performance, enabling administrators to adjust scheduling settings based on actual observed effects rather than theoretical predictions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces experience-based manual scheduling with an automated scoring system that objectively evaluates scheduling settings based on collected execution information. The system substitutes administrative guesswork with data-driven decision-making through automated score calculation and analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If too many backup tasks are scheduled in the same time interval, then backup operations are performed, but performance of backup server is degraded due to concurrently executed tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup operation throughputVSAvoidbackup server stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors execution information including server performance metrics and stability indicators during concurrent backup task execution. The collected data feeds into the scoring mechanism to evaluate whether the current scheduling setting causes server degradation, enabling dynamic adjustment of scheduling parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables administrators to self-evaluate scheduling effectiveness through the provided scoring mechanism. By presenting objective scores based on actual execution information, the system allows administrators to autonomously identify and correct scheduling issues without requiring external expertise or complex analysis tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If scheduling setting is determined by system administrator based on experience, then scheduling can be configured, but administrator cannot know whether current setting is appropriate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling configurationVSAvoidscheduling effectiveness knowledge

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system collects execution information that provides direct feedback on how well the scheduling setting performs in practice. This feedback loop transforms the administrator's lack of knowledge into actionable insights by quantifying the impact of scheduling decisions through objective scoring based on real execution data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms abstract scheduling effectiveness into a visible, quantifiable score that administrators can easily interpret. By converting complex performance data into a simple numerical indicator, the system makes scheduling quality immediately apparent and actionable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS11797390B2Method, device, and computer program product for managing scheduling of backup task

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, a device, and a computer program product for managing scheduling of a backup task. A method for managing scheduling of a backup task is provided, including: acquiring a scheduling setting for a target backup task, the scheduling setting specifying at least a start time of executing the target backup task in a backup system; acquiring execution information associated with execution of the target backup task according to the scheduling setting; and determining a score for the scheduling setting based on the execution information, the score indicating a degree of impact of the execution of the target backup task according to the scheduling setting on the performance of the backup system. With the embodiments of the present disclosure, the scheduling setting can be evaluated, thereby optimizing the scheduling of a backup task and improving the performance of a backup system.