Session Sensitive Data Backup Using Link Data Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data backup methods are inefficient as they duplicate physical data for hard linked files, consuming excessive space and processing resources, and do not allow users to select the desired version of data during restore operations, especially when modifications occur during the backup process.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a session-sensitive data backup and restore method that uses a link data structure to identify and backup primary data once, even if multiple hard links reference it, and to store session-specific versions of modified data, allowing users to choose between different versions during restore operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional backup methods backup each hard link reference separately, then all file references are backed up, but physical data is duplicated multiple times consuming excessive space and processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses symbolic copying where hard link references are represented as symbolic links in the backup rather than duplicating the actual physical data. The backup store maintains a mapping structure that maps hard link references to the single copied physical data, eliminating redundant storage while preserving all reference relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple hard link references pointing to the same physical data are merged into a single copy in the backup store. The system identifies that multiple references point to identical data and consolidates them, storing only one instance of the physical data while maintaining references to it through the mapping structure.
2Reliability
If conventional backup methods backup each hard link reference separately, then all file references are backed up, but processing time increases due to redundant operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs symbolic copying instead of physical duplication, where hard link references are represented as symbolic links. This approach maintains backup completeness by preserving all reference relationships while dramatically reducing processing time by avoiding redundant data copying operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of hard link relationships before backup operations. By detecting and mapping hard link references in advance, the system can consolidate backup operations and avoid redundant processing, thereby reducing overall backup processing time while ensuring completeness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional backup methods retain each file reference and copy during restore, then all versions are available, but users cannot select specific versions and data duplication occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The backup store uses symbolic copying where hard link references are represented as symbolic links rather than physical data copies. This enables the system to maintain multiple reference relationships in the backup metadata while storing only single instances of physical data, providing version selection capability without proportional space consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping structure acts as an intermediary between hard link references and physical data in the backup store. It enables users to select specific versions during restore by providing a layer of abstraction that maps references to the appropriate physical data instances without requiring actual duplication of data in the backup.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for the session sensitive data backups and restores are presented. Data having a plurality of hard linked file references are backed up and restored once during a backup operation. Any modifications to the backed up data are noted as session-specific versions and also backed up once. The hard linked file references are maintained in a data structure and managed during backups to define associations to the backed up data and to the session-specific versions of the data. The data structure is also used during restores to re-establish desired hard linked file reference associations to either the backed up data or to a particular session-specific versions of the data.