Snapshot Data Recovery Using Metadata Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data recovery methods are inefficient in reducing storage costs and data recovery time, as they often require extensive storage space for metadata and can lead to issues with data state inconsistencies during recovery processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize metadata to differentiate between true and false snapshots, allowing for efficient data recovery by generating a false snapshot of recovered data, which only stores metadata, thereby reducing storage needs and facilitating rapid backup and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional data recovery methods store complete backup data for every recovery point, then data recovery reliability is improved, but storage costs and storage space increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments backup data into two distinct types: full snapshots (complete backup data) and incremental snapshots (only metadata changes). This segmentation allows the system to maintain recovery reliability by keeping periodic full snapshots while using lightweight incremental snapshots for frequent recovery points, thereby reducing overall storage space requirements while preserving the ability to recover to any point in time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses metadata copies instead of complete data copies for incremental snapshots. Each incremental snapshot stores only the metadata header and change information, creating a lightweight reference to the actual data locations in previous full snapshots. This copying approach maintains recovery capability while dramatically reducing storage consumption.
2Reliability
If complete backup data is stored for every recovery point, then data recovery completeness is improved, but data recovery time increases due to larger data processing volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements metadata copying where incremental snapshots store only metadata headers and change information rather than complete data. During recovery, the system copies and applies only the necessary metadata changes to reconstruct the target state, significantly reducing the amount of data processing required and thus decreasing recovery time while maintaining complete data recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of metadata during the backup process, structuring change information in advance. This preliminary action allows the recovery process to directly apply pre-organized metadata changes without needing to process large volumes of raw backup data, thereby reducing recovery time while ensuring data completeness.
3Measurement precision
If metadata for every snapshot is stored in detail, then snapshot identification accuracy is improved, but storage overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments metadata into hierarchical levels: full snapshots contain complete metadata, while incremental snapshots contain only metadata headers and change information. This segmentation maintains precise snapshot identification by preserving essential metadata in full snapshots while using simplified metadata structures in incremental snapshots, thereby reducing overall storage overhead and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential metadata elements needed for identification and recovery into incremental snapshots, leaving detailed metadata in full snapshots. This extraction approach maintains snapshot identification accuracy by preserving key identifiers while removing redundant detailed information from incremental snapshots, reducing storage overhead and simplifying the system.
Data Source
AI summary
A data recovery method and apparatus are provided. The method retrieving metadata according to a request for data recovery, where the metadata corresponds to a snapshot. A snapshot type of the snapshot is determined according to the metadata, and data recovery is performed according to the snapshot type, to generate recovered data. A false snapshot of the recovered data is generated, and metadata corresponding to the false snapshot is stored.