Bare-Metal Restore via Target Computer Conduit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bare-metal restore techniques require a computer to boot into a secondary operating system, which limits their ability to restore backup data onto a target storage device without regard to the operating system or file system, necessitating specific configuration and bootable media.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows a target computer to boot independently of the target storage device, exposing it to a restoring computer to perform a bare-metal restore, acting as a conduit for the restoration process, regardless of the operating system or file system, using boot software and protocols like iSCSI to facilitate block-level restore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current bare-metal restore techniques are used, then backup data can be restored to a secondary data storage device, but the computer must boot into a secondary operating system which limits flexibility and requires specific configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a target computer as an intermediary device that mediates between the restoring computer and the target storage device. The target computer exposes the target storage device to the restoring computer through network protocols (iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, SMB), enabling block-level restore operations without requiring the target computer to boot into a secondary operating system. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for OS-specific boot configurations while maintaining restore functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a target computer boots independent of the target storage device, then OS agnostic restore is enabled, but the target computer must expose the storage device through network protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The target computer is designed to support multiple network storage protocols (iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, SMB) simultaneously, enabling it to expose the target storage device through various protocols depending on the restoring computer's capabilities. This universal protocol support allows the same target computer configuration to serve multiple restore scenarios without requiring protocol-specific configuration for each protocol type.
3Productivity
If block-level backup is performed, then restoration speed is improved, but the backup data must be restored in the same physical sequence as blocks appear on the secondary storage device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic block ordering during the restore process. Instead of restoring blocks in a fixed physical sequence, the system can dynamically reorder blocks based on the target storage device's requirements and the backup data's structure. This dynamic approach maintains the speed benefits of block-level restoration while providing flexibility in the restore sequence, allowing the restoring computer to optimize the restoration process based on real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product for performing a bare-metal restore, the system including a target storage device, and a target computer configured to boot independent of the target storage device, expose the target storage device to a restoring computer after the target computer has booted, and act as a conduit for the restoring computer to perform a bare-metal restore of backup data onto the target storage device, and the method including booting a target computer independent of a target storage device, exposing the target storage device to a restoring computer after the target computer has booted, and causing the target computer to act as a conduit for the restoring computer to perform a bare-metal restore of backup data onto the target storage device.