Backup Storage System Snapshot Replication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backup systems are inefficient and costly, often requiring significant downtime, failing to maintain data consistency across multiple storage devices, and lacking historical information, which increases data recovery time and risks data loss.
Innovation Solution
A backup system that replicates data in real-time, maintains historical information, and allows for non-disruptive backups by intercepting data writes at the logical volume layer, enabling efficient restoration to any point in time without requiring full recovery to a baseline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full system backup is performed using conventional cold backup procedures, then data is backed up completely, but the file system must be quiesced and users cannot access files during the backup process, resulting in significant downtime and loss of user productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a snapshot of the file system state before the backup process begins. This snapshot captures the entire file system at a specific point in time without requiring the file system to be quiesced, allowing users to continue accessing files during the backup process while ensuring complete data backup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a duplicate copy of the file system state through snapshot technology. Instead of backing up data directly from the active file system, the system creates a copy of the file system state at a specific point in time, which can then be backed up without impacting user access to the original file system.
2Loss of time
If snapshot technology is used to minimize downtime during backup, then the database or application is stopped for a shorter period, but there is overhead associated with snapshot maintenance that adversely impacts input/output throughputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating the snapshot before the backup process begins, capturing the file system state at a specific point in time. This allows the backup to proceed without requiring the file system to be quiesced during the actual backup operation, minimizing downtime while the snapshot maintenance overhead is incurred only during snapshot creation, not during the backup process itself.
3Reliability
If periodic full system backups are performed, then data is backed up regularly, but the backups become obsolete almost immediately after completion and there is a constant risk of losing data between backup intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a snapshot that captures the file system state at a specific point in time before any changes occur. This snapshot serves as a permanent reference point that can be used for recovery, eliminating the risk of data loss between backup intervals because the snapshot represents a complete, consistent state that can be restored if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a duplicate copy of the file system state through snapshot technology. This copy preserves the file system state at a specific point in time, allowing for recovery to that exact state if data loss occurs, thereby eliminating the obsolescence problem of periodic backups and removing the constant risk of data loss between backup intervals.
4Reliability
If synchronous volume replication is used to replicate data in real-time, then data is protected against physical loss, but substantial resources are required and the overall processing of the computer system is slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating a snapshot copy of the file system state. Unlike synchronous volume replication that continuously replicates data in real-time, the snapshot copy is created at a specific point in time and can be used for recovery without requiring continuous resource allocation for replication, thus protecting against physical loss while maintaining system processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A backup computer storage system that protects and/or recovers data on a primary computer storage system is disclosed. The backup computer system may be used to backup databases, files, and/or applications. In some embodiments, the backup system may be used to backup an image of the primary computer system. In other embodiments, the backup system may be used to backup one or more databases. In some embodiments of the present invention, the backup system replicates an image of data that is on a primary computer system. The backup system may also be used to restore data from the backup system to the primary computer system. In some embodiments, the backup system may restore data to a database while non-affected portions of the database are available and can be used. In some embodiments, the backup system records all transactions in real time without overwriting any previously stored backup data. In some embodiments of the present invention, the backup system maintains historical and/or chronological information related to the backed up data.