Differential Backup From Storage Image Dirty Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data backup technologies face incompatibilities between block level and application level backups, which can prevent the restoration of application level backups and result in data loss or corruption, especially when trying to restore from differential backups.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying 'dirty' blocks in a storage image, creating a differential backup data structure, and transmitting these blocks to a data management process to provide a differential backup, allowing for efficient restoration without disrupting the system or losing data changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If block level backups are used, then backup speed and efficiency are improved, but compatibility with application level backups deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup process into two distinct components: block level backups for efficient data capture and application level differential backups for compatibility and transaction integrity. The system identifies and separates modified blocks (dirty blocks) from the storage image, creating application-level differential backups from these specific blocks rather than requiring complete block level backup sets for every restoration scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary process that translates between block level backup data and application level backup requirements. The system uses dirty block identification and differential backup creation as a mediator that allows block level backups to serve dual purposes: providing fast backup creation while also enabling application-level restoration compatibility through the generated differential backup data structures.
2Reliability
If full block level backups are created, then data coverage is improved, but bandwidth requirements and storage space worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary data portions for differential backups by identifying dirty blocks (modified blocks) in the storage image. Instead of transmitting entire full backups, the system extracts and transmits only the changed blocks, significantly reducing bandwidth requirements while maintaining complete data coverage for restoration purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by creating differential backups that contain only the necessary changes since the last backup, rather than performing complete full backups repeatedly. This partial backup approach maintains full data coverage capability while minimizing the quantity of data transmitted and stored.
3Productivity
If block level backups are used, then backup creation speed is improved, but restoration flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by creating application level differential backup data structures from block level backup data in advance. The system proactively identifies dirty blocks and creates differential backup representations that enable flexible restoration operations later, without requiring the actual restoration decision to be made at backup creation time.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for providing a differential backup from a storage image are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing a differential backup from a storage image comprising identifying one or more dirty blocks in a storage image, creating a differential backup data structure, and transmitting the one or more dirty blocks to a data management process utilizing the differential backup data structure to provide a differential backup.