Snapshot Directory Extraction for File Restore
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snapshot-based data storage systems are inefficient for restoring individual files or folders, as they typically require recovering the entire snapshot and rely on metadata for file location, which is not provided by the snapshot itself.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an intermediate component to retrieve a directory file from snapshot images, allowing the identification of file locations without relying on metadata, and enables the restoration of desired data from snapshot images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire snapshot is recovered to restore individual files or folders, then complete data restoration is achieved, but the restoration time and computational resources are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary directory file from the snapshot image, rather than recovering the entire snapshot. This selective extraction approach allows the system to obtain file location information without processing unnecessary data, significantly reducing restoration time while maintaining the ability to restore individual files or folders completely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the snapshot recovery process into two independent parts: (1) extracting the directory file to obtain file location information, and (2) recovering only the specific files or folders needed. This segmentation allows the system to avoid the time-consuming process of recovering the entire snapshot while still achieving complete restoration of the required data
2Ease of operation
If metadata is used to locate files for restoration, then file location information can be obtained, but the system becomes dependent on external metadata that snapshots do not inherently provide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the snapshot image self-sufficient by extracting the directory file directly from it. The directory file contains the necessary file location information embedded within the snapshot itself, eliminating the need for external metadata or additional data structures. This self-service approach reduces system complexity by removing dependencies on external components while maintaining ease of file location identification
3Productivity
If snapshots are used for data backup, then fast copying is achieved, but the snapshots cannot serve as effective or reliable backup copies without additional metadata
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the directory file from the snapshot image to obtain file location information, enabling selective recovery of backed-up data. This extraction process transforms the snapshot from an incomplete backup representation into a functional backup system that can reliably restore individual files or folders without requiring external metadata, thus maintaining fast snapshot creation while improving backup reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing an image level restore of data is described. In some examples, the system receives a request to restore a file and transmits the request to an intermediate component. The intermediate component may then retrieve a directory file from an image of a secondary copy of a data set, identify a location of the file from the directory file, and provide the location to the requestor.