De-duplication Backup Using Virtual Restored File System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backup systems for file systems are inefficient due to slow data access times in storage devices, leading to significant downtime and potential business loss during data restoration, as they store and restore large amounts of data, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A de-duplication based backup system that copies only changed blocks of data over time, allowing for the creation of a virtual restored file system (VRFS) structure, enabling efficient data restoration and allowing clients to directly read/write from the backup system, reducing the need for extensive data copying and minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional backup systems store all data in large capacity storage devices, then data can be restored in case of loss, but the access time is slow and restoration takes significant time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed blocks of data from the file system for backup, rather than copying the entire file system. This selective extraction of changed data blocks significantly reduces the volume of data that needs to be stored and restored, directly addressing the contradiction by maintaining restoration capability while minimizing restoration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the file system into individual data blocks and tracks changes at the block level. By segmenting the backup process into tracking only modified blocks rather than copying entire files or the complete file system, the system achieves faster backup and restoration operations while maintaining data reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional systems copy large amounts of data for backup, then complete data is available for restoration, but the backup process is time-consuming and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the changed blocks of data from the file system for backup operations. This selective extraction mechanism ensures that only necessary data is copied, maintaining data completeness for restoration purposes while dramatically improving backup speed and reducing resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary tracking of data block changes before backup operations. By maintaining metadata that identifies which blocks have changed since the last backup, the system prepares in advance for efficient backup operations, avoiding the need to copy entire files or the complete file system structure.
3Reliability
If all data is copied during backup, then complete restoration is possible, but storage space requirements are large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and stores only the changed blocks of data rather than duplicating the entire file system. This selective storage approach maintains the ability to restore complete data by tracking which blocks have changed, while significantly reducing the quantity of data that must be stored in backup media.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified copies of only the changed data blocks rather than copying entire files or the complete file system structure. This selective copying mechanism preserves restoration capability by maintaining references to original unchanging blocks while storing only the necessary changed portions.
Data Source
AI summary
File system backups are performed by copying information describing changes in the file system since a previous point in time. To restore data, a virtual restored file system (VRFS) structure is created corresponding to a snapshot of data copied from the file system that is stored in the backup file system. A client can read the data stored in the backup file system pointed at by the VRFS structure as well as write to the backup file system. Multiple clients can share blocks of data stored on the backup file system via the same VRFS structure or via multiple VRFS structures. If a client writes to a data block pointed at by a VRFS, a copy of the data block is made to which the client makes changes so that the data in the original data blocks is saved for other clients.