Snapshot Copy Testing for Application Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data protection methods in storage devices often require frequent backups, which increase storage space needs and may result in data loss due to long backup intervals, and restoration processes can be disruptive to applications.
Innovation Solution
The system creates and tests multiple snapshot copies of logical volumes to identify and restore uncorrupted data points in real-time, allowing applications to access data during restoration without significant storage overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If backups are performed more frequently, then data loss is reduced, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the backup process into two types: full backups (copying all data) and incremental backups (copying only changed data since last backup). This segmentation allows frequent backups without requiring storage space for every possible backup version, resolving the contradiction between backup frequency and storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a list of files that have changed since the last backup. This preliminary tracking allows the system to perform rapid incremental backups without copying entire datasets, enabling frequent backups with minimal storage overhead.
2Reliability
If restoration is performed from backup data, then data corruption is fixed, but application availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary testing of backup data integrity before restoration is needed. By periodically checking backup files for corruption and maintaining a list of valid backups, the system can quickly identify suitable restoration points without disrupting application operations, thus maintaining both reliability and availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the backup index and testing metadata rather than copying entire backup datasets. This allows the system to test backup integrity and plan restorations without transferring large amounts of data, enabling rapid restoration decisions that minimize application downtime.
Data Source
AI summary
Providing protection of point-in-time application data includes obtaining a plurality of original snapshot copies of an original logical volume containing the application data, causing the original snapshot copies to be tested for data corruption, and restoring data corresponding to one of the original snapshot copies. Application data is accessible by an application prior to completion of the restoration. One of the original snapshot copies may be restored to the original logical volume and/or to a new logical volume different from the original logical volume. Prior to completion of the restoration, particular data may be restored to the original logical volume or to the new logical volume prior to an operation to access the particular data. The original snapshot copies may be provided as virtual devices.