Continuous Data Protection Block-Level Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing backup solutions perform periodic backups, leading to data loss in case of disasters and limited ability to restore data to specific points in time, as they do not provide continuous protection of data volumes.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for continuous data protection (CDP) that backs up data blocks in real time to both a local and remote CDP log, allowing for the restoration of data to any specified point in time by using timestamp information, with data transmission over a network, such as the Internet, for redundancy and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If periodic backups are performed, then backup simplicity and storage efficiency are improved, but data protection reliability and restoration flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup system complexityVSAvoiddata protection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous data protection by continuously copying data blocks to a CDP log whenever changes are detected, eliminating the gaps between periodic backups. This continuous action ensures that data is protected at any point in time, resolving the contradiction between backup simplicity and data protection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by immediately copying data blocks to the CDP log before any potential disaster occurs. This preliminary backup action ensures that the most recent data state is preserved, enabling restoration to any specified point in time and improving both reliability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If continuous data protection is implemented, then data protection reliability and restoration flexibility are improved, but storage requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection reliabilityVSAvoidCDP system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the backup process into discrete block-level operations, where only changed blocks are copied to the CDP log rather than the entire data volume. This segmentation reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored and managed, thereby reducing storage requirements and system complexity while maintaining continuous protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of only the changed data blocks in the CDP log, rather than maintaining complete copies of the entire data volume. This selective copying approach reduces storage requirements and simplifies the system architecture while still providing comprehensive protection for restored data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If real-time backup to local CDP log is performed, then restoration speed and accessibility are improved, but data loss in case of local storage failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoration speedVSAvoiddata protection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a remote CDP log on a different storage device or system as an intermediary backup destination. This intermediary ensures that even if the local CDP log or storage device fails, the most recent data blocks are preserved remotely, thereby eliminating data loss risk while maintaining fast local restoration capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs beforehand cushioning by simultaneously backing up data to both local and remote CDP logs. This dual-location backup approach cushions against the risk of local storage failure, ensuring that data is protected even if the primary backup destination is lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If data blocks are transmitted over network for remote storage, then data protection reliability and disaster recovery capability are improved, but network bandwidth consumption and transmission time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisaster recovery capabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the changed data blocks for remote backup to the CDP log, rather than transmitting the entire data volume. This extraction approach minimizes network bandwidth consumption and transmission time while still providing comprehensive disaster recovery capability for the modified data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7822827B2Continuous data protection and remote block-level storage for a data volume

Publication Date: 2010.10.26 COHESITY INC

AI summary

A system and method for writing and reading blocks of a data volume are disclosed. The method provides continuous data protection (CDP) for a data volume by backing up blocks of the data volume in real time to a local CDP log and transmitting the blocks over the Internet for storage in a remote CDP log on a server computer system in response to write requests that change the blocks of the data volume. In response to a read request for a particular block the method attempts to read the block from the data volume. If the block is not present in the data volume the method attempts to read the block from the local CDP log. If the block is not present in the local CDP log the method request the server computer system to read the block from the remote CDP log and return the block.