Tag-Based File Backup and Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data protection solutions require significant administrative effort, time, and storage resources, as they often back up and restore all files or changed files, even when only a subset is needed for recovery, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary overhead.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a tag-based file system backup and recovery method, where files or groups of files can be selectively tagged and processed, allowing for targeted backup and recovery operations without requiring fully qualified pathnames, and enabling the use of both tag-aware and non-tag-aware backup utilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional backup solutions back up all files or changed files, then data protection coverage is improved, but storage space consumption and administrative overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file system into tagged groups, allowing selective backup of only those files marked with specific tags. This divides the monolithic backup approach into granular, tag-based segments, reducing storage consumption while maintaining protection for critical files.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different backup qualities to different files based on their tags. Files with specific tags receive targeted backup protection, while untagged or differently tagged files are excluded or handled differently, optimizing storage space by allocating backup resources only where needed.
2Reliability
If conventional backup solutions back up all files or changed files, then data protection coverage is improved, but administrative effort and time allocation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service backup management through tag-based automation. Files are automatically selected for backup based on their tags without requiring administrators to manually configure each file or review backup lists, significantly reducing administrative effort while maintaining comprehensive protection for tagged files.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary tagging of files before backup operations. By pre-marking files with tags that indicate their backup priority or category, the system automates the selection process, eliminating the need for administrators to manually identify which files need protection during backup execution.
3Ease of operation
If conventional solutions require exacting individual configuration and manipulation, then precise file control is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tags as an intermediary between the administrator and the file system. Instead of directly configuring individual files through complex pathnames and permissions, administrators simply apply tags to files or groups of files, and the backup system automatically handles the precise configuration based on those tags, simplifying operation while maintaining control precision.
4Quantity of substance
If tag based snapshots are used to backup only selected files, then storage space savings are improved, but processing overhead for tag management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copy-on-write snapshot technology to efficiently store tagged files. When a tagged file changes, only the changed blocks are copied to the snapshot, rather than duplicating entire files. This minimizes processing overhead while achieving significant storage savings by avoiding redundant data copying.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with selective tag-based file backup and recovery are described. One example method includes selectively tagging a file for inclusion in a snapshot-based backup image by associating a tag with the file. The associating may include encoding file metadata with a tag. The method may include selectively adding a file to the backup image upon determining that the file has experienced a write event and that the file is associated with a tag. The method may also include receiving a request to provide a recovery file from the backup image and selectively providing the recovery file upon determining that the recovery file is associated with a recovery tag specified in the request.