Microsoft Exchange Mail Restoration via Virtualized Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for restoring Microsoft Exchange Server mail are inefficient and costly, as they require a full database backup, making it difficult to restore individual messages or mailboxes without restoring the entire database.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtualization through a system filter to retrieve and restore Microsoft Exchange Server mail from a virtual copy of the database, using logs to synchronize with the real database, allowing for fast retrieval and restoration of single messages or mailboxes without mounting the database, and using de-archiving techniques to treat backed-up files as if they were on a regular hard drive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full database backup is performed, then all mail data is protected, but the backup process is costly and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the database backup process into two levels: DB-level backup (full database backup for complete protection) and brick-level backup (individual message backup for selective restoration). This segmentation allows users to choose the appropriate backup scope, reducing unnecessary resource consumption while maintaining data protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables partial backup actions by allowing users to back up only specific mailboxes, folders, or individual messages (brick-level backup) rather than requiring full database backup. This partial action approach reduces backup costs and resource usage while still providing adequate protection for critical data.
2Ease of operation
If a brick-level backup is performed, then individual messages can be restored, but the backup process takes several hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary DB-level backup first, which is faster and covers the entire database. Then, when selective restoration is needed, it uses the pre-prepared DB-level backup combined with transaction logs to restore only specific items. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming brick-level backup while maintaining selective restoration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the DB-level backup serve multiple functions: it provides complete data protection and also serves as the basis for selective restoration of individual messages or mailboxes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate brick-level backup processes, significantly reducing backup time while maintaining both full and selective restoration capabilities.
3Productivity
If a DB-level backup is performed, then backup time is reduced, but restoration of individual messages is not conventionally possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses transaction logs as feedback mechanisms that record all changes to the database after the DB-level backup. When restoration is needed, these logs provide the necessary information to reconstruct individual messages or mailboxes from the backup, enabling selective restoration without compromising backup speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces transaction logs as an intermediary between the DB-level backup and the restoration process. These logs mediate by capturing database changes and enabling the reconstruction of specific messages or mailboxes from the backup, thus providing restoration flexibility without requiring slower brick-level backup processes.
4Reliability
If the entire database is restored, then all mail data is recovered, but the restoration process is costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the restoration process to allow selective restoration of individual messages, mailboxes, or folders from the DB-level backup using transaction logs. This segmentation enables users to restore only the specific data needed rather than restoring the entire database, significantly reducing restoration time while maintaining complete data recovery capability for required items.
5Adaptability or versatility
If brick-level backup is used, then selective restoration is enabled, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the DB-level backup multi-functional by using it for both complete data protection and selective restoration. Combined with transaction logs, this approach enables selective restoration of individual messages or mailboxes without requiring separate brick-level backup processes, thus reducing resource consumption while maintaining selective restoration adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and computer program product for restoration of MICROSOFT Exchange Server mail. MICROSOFT Exchange Server mail is retrieved from a virtual copy of the MICROSOFT Exchange database. Virtualization is implemented by a system filter. Logs are applied to a virtualized DB in order to synchronize it with a real DB of the MICROSOFT Exchange. The data located in the remote archive does not need to be copied into the real folder, because the data is made available by virtualization means. After the logs are applied, the virtualized DB is opened (without being mounted) from files from the virtual folder. From this point on, the DB of MICROSOFT Exchange can be viewed and the data can be queried and retrieved from the virtualized DB. Thus, a single message or a mailbox can be retrieved very fast, as if it were being retrieved from a real MICROSOFT Exchange DB.