Block Retrieval for Backup Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Block-based backup systems face significant time overhead when restoring multiple files due to the inefficiencies in retrieving and processing blocks from backup media, particularly in large directory restorations.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves determining and retrieving contiguous groups of blocks that include both associated and non-associated blocks, optimizing the retrieval process by sorting and filtering blocks based on inode numbers and physical locations, and forwarding these groups to the restoration target for efficient restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If blocks are retrieved individually for each file during restoration, then file restoration can be performed with simple processing logic, but the restoration time increases significantly due to overhead and idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by sorting blocks by physical location before retrieval and grouping them into contiguous sequences in advance. This preprocessing of block information allows the restoration process to efficiently retrieve contiguous blocks without individual overhead, significantly reducing restoration time while maintaining simple processing logic during the actual restoration operation.
2Reliability
If only associated blocks are retrieved for restoration, then data accuracy is improved by retrieving only needed blocks, but device complexity increases due to the need for precise block identification and filtering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by sorting blocks by physical location before retrieval and grouping them into contiguous sequences in advance. This preprocessing of block information allows the restoration process to efficiently retrieve contiguous blocks without individual overhead, significantly reducing restoration time while maintaining simple processing logic during the actual restoration operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary associated blocks from the backup media by using inode numbers to identify and retrieve only the blocks needed for restoration. This extraction approach ensures data accuracy by retrieving precisely the required blocks while avoiding unnecessary data transfer and processing.
3Productivity
If contiguous groups of blocks including non-associated blocks are retrieved, then retrieval efficiency is improved by reducing seek operations, but data transmission volume increases due to inclusion of extra blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial or excessive action by retrieving contiguous groups of blocks that may include some non-associated blocks alongside the associated blocks. This approach accepts a partial increase in data transmission volume as a trade-off for the significant efficiency gain from reducing seek operations and enabling continuous data stream retrieval from backup media.
Data Source
AI summary
Information is retrieved by receiving a list of one or more files to be restored; and obtaining a contiguous group of blocks that includes a first segment of one or more blocks associated with the one or more files to be restored, a gap of one or more blocks that are not associated with the one or more files to be restored that is adjacent to the first segment, and a second segment of one or more blocks associated with the one or more files to be restored that is adjacent to the gap.