Bitmap-Based Data Block Restoration for Backup Volumes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data backup and restoration techniques are inefficient as they restore duplicate and unchanged data blocks, leading to prolonged restoration times and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method using bitmap information to identify and restore only changed data blocks by processing bitmaps associated with recovery points, allowing for efficient data block restoration by performing logical operations on bitmaps to create a recovery bitmap that indicates changed data blocks since a specific recovery point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional backup techniques restore all data blocks from a recovery point, then data restoration is performed, but unchanged and duplicate data blocks are also restored leading to prolonged restoration time and resource wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed data blocks from the backup image by comparing bitmap information between the current volume and the recovery point, rather than restoring all data blocks. This selective extraction of changed blocks eliminates unnecessary restoration operations and reduces restoration time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by creating and storing bitmap information that tracks changed data blocks at each recovery point during the backup process. This preliminary tracking enables efficient identification of changed blocks during restoration, avoiding the need to restore unchanged blocks
2Reliability
If conventional techniques restore all data blocks including unchanged ones, then complete restoration is achieved, but resources are wasted on restoring duplicate blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed data blocks by processing bitmap information that identifies which blocks have changed since the recovery point. This selective extraction maintains restoration completeness for changed blocks while eliminating wasteful restoration of unchanged blocks, thereby conserving computational resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses bitmap information as feedback to identify which data blocks have changed since the recovery point. This feedback mechanism enables the system to make intelligent decisions about which blocks require restoration, avoiding wasteful restoration of unchanged blocks while ensuring all changed blocks are restored
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for recovering a volume to a first recovery point using bitmap information is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises processing bitmap information associated with at least one recovery point, wherein the bitmap information comprises at least one bitmap that represents at least one changed block since a first recovery point of the at least one recovery point, wherein the first recovery point is associated with a backup image and restoring the at least one changed block from the backup image to a volume.