Opaque Backup Stream Restoration via Virtual Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional backup systems are limited in allowing only full restorations and often store data in opaque formats that cannot be read by other applications, making it difficult to perform partial or differential restorations from opaque data backup streams.
Innovation Solution
The method involves performing a virtual restore and creating a mapping between obfuscated data blocks in opaque backup streams and their original versions, enabling full or partial restoration without using the data backup application that created the opaque data backup stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup data is stored in opaque formats to ensure data security and integrity, then data protection is improved, but the ability to perform partial restorations and snapshots by other applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that translates between opaque backup formats and formats accessible to other applications. This mediator enables partial restorations and snapshots without compromising the original opaque storage format, thus maintaining data protection while enabling restoration flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the backup data in an accessible format alongside the original opaque storage. This copy allows other applications to perform partial restorations and snapshots without affecting the integrity or security of the original opaque backup data.
2Ease of operation
If full restoration is performed to access backup data, then data accessibility is improved, but storage and computational resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the specific portions of backup data that are needed for restoration, rather than performing full restorations. This extraction capability allows selective access to data blocks, reducing the computational and storage resources required while maintaining ease of operation for needed data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides backup data into discrete blocks with metadata that enables independent access to individual blocks or groups of blocks. This segmentation allows partial restorations where only specific data segments are restored, avoiding the resource consumption of full restorations while maintaining data accessibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple complete backups are maintained for different purposes, then data availability for various uses is improved, but storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal backup system where a single opaque backup storage can serve multiple purposes through partial restoration capabilities. Different applications can perform snapshots, differentials, and partial restorations from the same backup data, eliminating the need for multiple complete backup copies while maintaining data availability for various uses.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method for restoring data from opaque data backup streams may include (1) initiating a virtual restore of an opaque data backup stream that is designed to be parsed exclusively by a data backup application that created the stream, (2) determining, for each block of data, an original header and tail of the block based on a restored version of the block on the client, (3) sending the original header and tail of the block to a server, (4) creating, at the server, a mapping between a location of the block of data in the stream on the server and the original header and tail of the block, and (5) restoring, without using the data backup application, data in the stream by using the mapping to restore the original headers and tails of the blocks. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.