Inode-to-Parent Mapping for Faster Incremental File System Backups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current incremental dump procedures in storage technology are time-consuming due to the need for two examinations of the tree structure to identify changed data containers and their associated directories, and the process of reading metadata and data from unchanged directories, which increases the time required for incremental backups.
Innovation Solution
A traversal engine that traverses metadata containers in a file system, records inode-to-parent mapping information, and saves modified data containers and their parents to reduce the time required for incremental dumps by eliminating the need for repeated tree structure examinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two examinations of the tree structure are performed to identify changed data containers and their associated directories, then complete backup accuracy is achieved, but the time required for incremental dumps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-recording inode-to-parent mapping information in a dedicated data structure during the first tree structure examination. This pre-recorded mapping allows the second examination to efficiently identify only the minimum necessary directories without re-traversing the entire tree structure, thus maintaining backup accuracy while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the backup process into two distinct phases: first, recording inode-to-parent mappings in a separate data structure; second, using this pre-recorded information to efficiently identify changed containers and their parent directories. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, improving overall efficiency while maintaining accuracy.
2Reliability
If metadata and data from unchanged directories are read during tree structure examination, then complete data integrity is ensured, but the time required for incremental backups increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential inode-to-parent mapping information from the directory structure and stores it in a separate dedicated data structure. This extraction allows the system to reference only necessary parent directory relationships without reading metadata and data from unchanged directories, ensuring data integrity through selective information capture while improving backup speed by avoiding unnecessary I/O operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the invention provides a traversal engine that traverses (walks) through metadata containers (e.g., inodes) in a file system and determines the metadata containers that have been modified (added, changed, deleted, or renamed) within a particular time interval. A modified metadata container corresponds to a data container (e.g., file or directory) that has been modified within the particular time interval. The traversal engine records, into a table, information about the modified metadata containers. The traversal engine also records, into the table, parent information corresponding to an immediate parent of a modified data container.