Inode-Based Backup System for File System Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data backup methods require significant memory and processing resources to parse and organize data objects by their path addresses, leading to a slow and resource-straining backup process, especially for large file systems.
Innovation Solution
The method involves referencing data objects by their inode numbers instead of names, grouping them by inode number during the backup process, and using inode directories to minimize memory usage and processing requirements, allowing for efficient streaming and storage without creating a hierarchical directory structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data objects are organized by path addresses during backup, then the directory hierarchy is created for easier browsing and recovery, but the memory and processing resources required are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential path address information needed for recovery from the complete directory hierarchy structure. Instead of storing and processing full path information for every data object, the system extracts minimal necessary metadata (inode numbers and basic path information) to enable recovery operations, thereby reducing memory consumption while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not creating a complete in-memory directory hierarchy before backup. Instead, it streams data objects directly to backup storage while maintaining a minimal mapping structure that maps inode numbers to path information only when needed for recovery operations, rather than pre-organizing everything in memory
2Ease of operation
If data objects are organized by path addresses during backup, then the directory hierarchy is created for easier browsing and recovery, but the backup process time is greatly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by collecting and storing minimal path information (inode number to path mapping) during the backup process itself, rather than requiring time-consuming post-backup processing to create directory hierarchies. This allows the backup to proceed efficiently while still establishing the necessary structure for future recovery operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the time-consuming step of fully parsing and organizing every data object's complete path information during the backup process. Instead, it rushes through the backup by maintaining only essential mappings, deferring the creation of complete directory structures to when they are actually needed for recovery operations
3Ease of operation
If data objects are organized by path addresses during backup, then the directory hierarchy is created for easier browsing and recovery, but the network resources are strained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the minimal necessary path information (inode numbers and basic path identifiers) during the backup stream, rather than transmitting and processing complete path hierarchies. This extraction approach reduces the amount of data that needs to be processed and stored in memory, thereby reducing network resource strain while maintaining the ability to perform recovery operations
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is describes a system and method for organizing and storing backup data by inode number. Data objects on a file system may be streamed to a backup client that identifies the inode numbers for each streamed data object before streaming the objects to storage. The inode numbers are parsed to create one or more inode directories that can be browsed during a recovery process. In this fashion, the file system can be quickly backed up without requiring the backup client to determine the file system's directory hierarchy.