Selective File System Object Processing for Image Level Backups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image level backups include unnecessary data blocks, leading to slower backup performance and increased storage requirements, as they save complete disk images including deleted and unused data, which existing solutions fail to efficiently exclude.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selective processing of file system objects by intercepting deletion requests and modifying the file allocation table (FAT) during the backup process, allowing for the creation of a modified FAT in the backup disk image without physically deleting data from the source disk, thus excluding unnecessary data blocks and optimizing the backup process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional image level backups save complete disk images, then complete disk recovery is ensured, but backup time increases and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and excludes unnecessary data blocks from the backup image, specifically deleted file system objects, objects marked for deletion, unallocated space, and unused space. This selective extraction maintains recovery reliability for needed files while reducing backup time and storage requirements by not copying irrelevant data blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing a complete backup of all disk blocks, the patent applies partial action by selectively backing up only the necessary portions of the disk image. The backup process identifies and excludes unnecessary data blocks, performing backup actions only on relevant file system objects, thereby reducing overall backup time while maintaining sufficient recovery capability.
2Reliability
If conventional image level backups save complete disk images, then complete disk recovery is ensured, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and excludes unnecessary data blocks from the backup image, specifically deleted file system objects, objects marked for deletion, unallocated space, and unused space. This selective extraction maintains recovery reliability for needed files while reducing storage requirements by not copying irrelevant data blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards unnecessary data blocks (deleted objects, unallocated space, unused space) during the backup process. These discarded blocks are identified through file system metadata analysis and are intentionally excluded from the backup image, reducing storage consumption while preserving the ability to recover actual file data when needed.
3Reliability
If conventional image level backups process all data blocks, then complete backup is achieved, but backup performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and excludes unnecessary data blocks from the backup image, specifically deleted file system objects, objects marked for deletion, unallocated space, and unused space. This selective extraction maintains backup completeness for valid data while improving performance by skipping irrelevant blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of the file system metadata before the actual backup process to identify unnecessary data blocks. By pre-identifying deleted objects, marked-for-deletion objects, unallocated space, and unused space, the system can skip these blocks during backup, improving performance without compromising the completeness of valid data backup.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for selective processing of file system objects for an image level backup. An example method receives backup parameters for an image level backup. The backup parameters include a selection of at least one file system object to include. The method attaches to a source disk as a block device. The source disk corresponds to the selected at least one file system object, and a file system includes a file allocation table (FAT). The method determines file system objects of the source disk to be excluded from the image level backup. The method issues file deletion API calls to initiate deletion of the determined file system objects. The method stores FAT content change caused by the issued file deletion API calls. The method creates a reconstructed disk image from the source disk based on the stored FAT content change.