Proxy Backup Client Workload Balancing for Distributed Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Distributed data backup and restore processes face bottlenecks due to centralized management in networks with vast amounts of data, leading to inefficiencies and increased time requirements.

Innovation Solution

Intelligent and dynamic allocation of proxy backup clients based on criteria such as bandwidth, processing power, and geographic proximity to distribute workload effectively across the network, allowing parallel processing and dynamic re-allocation as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centralized management resources coordinate backup operations in a one-to-many configuration, then data protection is ensured, but backup and restore processes experience significant bottlenecks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protectionVSAvoidbackup and restore speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized backup process by introducing multiple proxy backup clients that operate in parallel. Each proxy client handles a subset of data nodes, dividing the monolithic backup operation into smaller concurrent tasks. This segmentation maintains data protection through coordinated management while eliminating the single-point bottleneck that limited backup and restore speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces proxy backup clients as intermediary components between the centralized management resource and data nodes. These proxies act as local coordination points that can independently manage backup operations for their assigned data subsets, reducing the communication and coordination overhead on the centralized resource while maintaining overall system coherence and data protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If distributed network architecture is used to store data across multiple computer systems, then data storage capacity and reliability are improved, but backup coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage reliabilityVSAvoidbackup coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the distributed network into manageable zones by assigning specific data nodes to specific proxy backup clients. This spatial segmentation transforms the complex coordination of numerous distributed nodes into simpler, localized coordination tasks handled by individual proxies, reducing overall system complexity while preserving the benefits of distributed storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the flat distributed architecture by introducing a tiered structure: centralized management resources at the top level, proxy backup clients at the intermediate level, and data nodes at the bottom level. This dimensional organization allows coordination complexity to be distributed across multiple hierarchical layers, with each layer handling appropriate subsets of coordination tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If more proxy backup clients are invoked to increase parallel processing, then backup speed improves, but system resource consumption and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackup speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic allocation of proxy backup clients based on real-time system conditions, data distribution patterns, and available resources. Rather than statically configuring a fixed number of proxies, the system dynamically adjusts the number and distribution of active proxies during backup operations, optimizing parallel processing throughput while adapting to changing resource availability and minimizing unnecessary system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key system parameters such as the number of active proxy clients, their assigned data node ranges, and their operational priorities based on measured system performance and resource availability. These parameter adjustments allow the system to optimize backup speed under different conditions without permanently increasing system complexity, as inactive or reduced-capacity proxies can be de-provisioned when not needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9690670B1Systems and methods for doing agentless backup in scale-out fashion
Publication Date: 2017.06.27 COHESITY INC
  • US9690670B1 patent drawing
  • US9690670B1 patent drawing
  • US9690670B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Various systems, methods and apparatuses for intelligently and dynamically allocating proxy backup clients to back up and restore vast amounts of data distributed across a network are presented. One method involves identify distributed data stored in a computer system, requesting the data, and performing a backup or restore operation on the data. Other aspects include intelligently dynamically allocating proxy backup clients to perform backup and restore operations on data distributed across a network, and intelligently and dynamically balancing, or re-balancing or otherwise managing the workload among the proxy backup clients.