NAS Backup Slice Grouping by Change Rate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional systems for managing network-attached storage (NAS) file systems lack the ability to prioritize data slice distribution during backups, leading to inefficient backup operations and inflexible handling of file system changes over time, which negatively impacts overall system performance.
Innovation Solution
A system that performs pre-backup tasks by generating snapshots and updating slice groups based on change rates, allowing for user-configurable priority assignment and dynamic adjustment of slice distribution to available proxy hosts, thereby improving backup efficiency and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional systems manage NAS file system backups without slice grouping, then the backup process is simpler to implement, but backup operation efficiency deteriorates due to inability to prioritize data slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file system into multiple data slices and groups them by change rate characteristics. This segmentation allows the backup system to process different slices differently based on their priority, improving backup efficiency by focusing resources on high-change-rate slices while maintaining manageable complexity through automated grouping algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces change rate as a new parameter for characterizing data slices and uses this parameter to dynamically group slices into priority levels. By changing from a uniform backup approach to a parameter-based prioritization approach, the system improves productivity while the automated parameter calculation keeps complexity manageable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses fixed slice distribution without change rate consideration, then the system is easier to manage, but adaptability to file system changes over time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic slice grouping that automatically adjusts to file system changes by calculating change rates for each slice. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying data modification patterns over time, improving versatility while the automated nature of the system keeps management complexity acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses change rate calculation as a feedback mechanism to continuously monitor and adjust slice priorities based on actual file system activity. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to changing conditions automatically, improving adaptability while the automated feedback processing maintains manageable complexity.
3Loss of time
If the system processes all data slices equally during backup, then the processing logic is simpler, but backup time increases due to inability to prioritize critical changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification of data slices into priority groups based on change rates before the actual backup process. This preliminary action allows the backup system to process high-priority slices first, reducing overall backup time for critical changes while the automated classification keeps the additional complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous backup operations by processing slices in priority order without idle waiting time. High-priority slices are processed immediately when identified, ensuring continuous useful action and reducing total backup time, while the automated priority management keeps complexity acceptable.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques described herein relate to a method for performing pre-backup tasks. The method includes obtaining, by a proxy host, a snapshot request associated with an incremental backup of a file system stored in a network attached storage (NAS) from a backup manager; in response to obtaining the snapshot request: instantiating a NAS container to obtain a snapshot of the file system; providing the snapshot to the NAS container; after providing the snapshot to the NAS container: retrieving a previously generated slice list associated with the file system; identifying, using the slice list, changed data include in the file system; generating change rates associated with each slice; grouping the slices based on the change rates and group criteria to generate slice groups; generating an updated slice list specifying the slices and the slice groups; and providing the updated slice list to the backup manager.