External GPT Backup Partition for User Data Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPT backup mechanisms result in user data loss during the upgrade of a non-GPT system to a GPT system, as the backup GPT is stored within user partitions, overwriting valuable data.
Innovation Solution
A backup partition is specified outside user partitions in the storage medium to store the backup GPT, ensuring it does not overwrite user data during the upgrade, and a check mechanism is implemented to verify the integrity of this backup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the backup GPT is stored within user partitions, then the backup mechanism is simple, but user data is overwritten and data integrity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage medium into distinct partitions: user partitions for data storage and a separate backup partition for storing the backup GPT. This segmentation prevents the backup GPT from overwriting user data while maintaining a dedicated space for backup purposes, thus resolving the contradiction between simple backup mechanism and data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup GPT is extracted from the user partition and placed in a separate backup partition. This extraction ensures that the backup GPT does not occupy space within user partitions, preventing data overwriting while maintaining the backup functionality, thereby resolving the contradiction between backup simplicity and data integrity.
2Reliability
If a backup partition is created outside user partitions, then user data integrity is maintained, but the storage structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The backup partition serves multiple functions: it stores the backup GPT, contains variables pointing to the backup partition address, and includes check variables for integrity verification. This multi-functionality consolidates backup-related operations into a single structure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup partition is designed to be self-contained with all necessary information (address variables, check variables) to verify and restore the GPT without requiring external user partition space. This self-service capability simplifies the storage structure by making the backup partition independent and self-sufficient.
3Measurement precision
If integrity check variables are added to the backup partition, then backup verification capability is improved, but the backup partition size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The check variables are placed specifically at the tail of the variable pointing to the backup partition address, providing localized integrity verification only where needed. This targeted approach verifies backup integrity without adding unnecessary data throughout the entire backup partition, thus maintaining verification precision while minimizing size increase.
Data Source
AI summary
A globally unique identifier partition table (GPT) backup and recovery method and a related device are provided. The GPT backup method includes: specifying, in a storage medium, a backup partition for storing a backup GPT, where the backup partition is located outside a user partition in the storage medium; and writing the backup GPT to the backup partition during writing of a GPT to the storage medium. Through the technical solutions of the present invention, integrity of data of the user partition can be ensured when a non-GPT system is upgraded to a GPT system.