Boot Computer from Backup Using Virtual Storage and I/O Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backup restoration methods are time-consuming and inefficient, especially in mission-critical applications, as they require transferring large data sets over networks, leading to prolonged downtime and potential loss of productivity.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for booting a computer system from a backup without restoring data to the original storage device, using a single-thread initialization application to identify backup storage media, redirecting BIOS interrupts, creating a bitmap for data blocks, and employing an I/O filter to manage read and write requests between backup and writable storage devices, forming a virtual data storage space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is restored from backup to the original storage device, then the computer system can be restored to a previous state, but the restoration process takes many hours and causes prolonged downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual storage device as an intermediary between the backup storage and the host storage device. This virtual device acts as a mediator that presents a block device interface to the operating system while actually accessing backup data, eliminating the need for direct data restoration to the original storage device and significantly reducing restoration time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of restoring data to the original storage device, the patent creates a virtual copy of the backup data presented as a block device. This virtual copy can be mounted and accessed by the operating system without physically restoring the data, thereby maintaining system reliability while reducing restoration time.
2Reliability
If the entire backup data is transferred to the server's local storage, then the backup can be restored, but the transfer time can exceed 2,000 seconds even with 100 Megabytes per second network bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual storage device serves as an intermediary layer that allows the operating system to access backup data without transferring the entire dataset over the network. The virtual device presents a local block device interface while actually accessing backup data on-demand, eliminating the slow network transfer bottleneck.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the backup data access into individual blocks or sectors that can be accessed on-demand through the virtual storage device, rather than transferring the entire backup dataset. This segmentation allows selective access to only the necessary data blocks, dramatically improving effective transfer speed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If backup data is made editable and writable, then the backup can be modified without restoring to the original storage device, but additional software components and virtual storage layers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual storage device creates a copy of the backup data that presents a standard block device interface. This copy can be mounted and accessed by the operating system as if it were a physical storage device, enabling editability without requiring complex specialized software components.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual storage device is designed to present a universal block device interface that is compatible with standard operating systems and file systems. This multi-functionality allows the virtual backup to be accessed, edited, and mounted using existing OS capabilities, reducing the need for specialized complex software components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and computer program product for booting a computer system from the backup and working with the backup as if it were a normal storage device, including loading an initialization application to run in a single thread mode and that identifies a storage media with the backup that includes boot blocks; installing and activating a handler of a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) interrupt module, for intercepting boot loader requests to the storage media, and for redirecting them to the backup; creating a bitmap of the data blocks stored in the backup and of a writable data storage device to which new data will be written; initiating the BIOS to load and execute the boot blocks from the backup; transferring control to a routine defined by a boot record stored in the backup's boot blocks; installing and activating an I/O filter for intercepting the requests to the writable data storage device, and after a write request is received, the I/O filter writes a corresponding data block to the writable data storage, and marks this data block in the bitmap to indicate that this block is stored on the writable storage device; after a read request is received, the I/O filter checks the bitmap to see if this data block was not changed, and redirects the read request to the backup to read the data block, and if the requested data block was changed and written to the writeable data storage device, then the I/O filter redirects the read request to the written blocks on the writeable data storage device.