In-place Disk Unformatting via Backup Zone
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for recovering data from formatted disks are incomplete, especially in time-critical situations where a secondary location for copying is unavailable, and introduce security and compliance issues due to unverified storage and network channels.
Innovation Solution
A distributed system for in-place unformatting of disks, which creates a backup file to occupy a predetermined location on the disk, copies primal and file table data to this backup zone, and then unformats the disk to its preformat configuration without relocating data, thereby enabling quick and secure recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is copied to a separate disk for recovery, then data recovery is possible, but additional storage resources and network channels are required which introduce security and compliance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup and recovery operations into the same disk by utilizing the unallocated space on the formatted disk itself. The backup file is created in the unallocated space, and recovery is performed by restoring data from this backup file back to the original location, eliminating the need for separate storage devices and unverified network channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of the solution by moving from external storage (separate disks or network locations) to internal storage (unallocated space on the same disk). This dimensional shift allows recovery operations to occur entirely within the disk's own structure, avoiding external security risks.
2Reliability
If data is copied to a secondary location for recovery, then data can be recovered, but the process is time-consuming and requires provisioned storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by creating a backup file in the unallocated space of the formatted disk before the formatting operation completes. This backup file contains essential data that can be quickly restored, eliminating the need for time-consuming data scanning and reconstruction processes associated with conventional recovery methods.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining the backup storage with the disk's own unallocated space rather than using external storage, the system eliminates data transfer time over networks and avoids the provisioning delay of securing additional storage resources, enabling immediate recovery operations.
3Reliability
If conventional data recovery methods are used, then some data can be recovered, but comprehensive data recovery is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary backup of critical data to the unallocated space before formatting completes, ensuring that comprehensive data recovery is possible. This preliminary action captures data that would otherwise be lost, and the structured backup file format simplifies the recovery process compared to conventional scanning methods.
Data Source
AI summary
Various methods and systems for in-place unformatting of disks are provided. The system includes a preparation component configured for creating a backup file on the disk and a preformatting component for using the backup file to occupy a predetermined location that defines a backup zone on the disk. The backup file is a space-holder such that the preformatting component copies primal data and file table data to the backup zone. The system further includes a formatting component for formatting the disk storing the primal data and the file table and an unformatting component that copies the primal data and file table data from the backup zone back to their original locations to unformat the disk to a preformat configuration. A safeguard component may also be implemented to ensure that the preformat component is invoked before the format component if the preparation component was executed on a volume.