Timestamp Synchronization for Data Protection Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inconsistent time synchronization between a computing environment and a remote data storage site leads to inaccuracies in data recovery, as a skewed time can result in missing data not being restored during disaster recovery processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for synchronizing time within a data protection system by processing input/output activity information, modifying local client timestamps with server timestamps, and calculating a time skew to ensure accurate storage state recreation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time is not synchronized between computing environment and remote storage site, then data recovery accuracy deteriorates, but implementing time synchronization increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces timestamps as an intermediary mechanism to track and synchronize time between the computing environment and remote storage site. Each data block is associated with a timestamp indicating when it was last modified, allowing the system to determine which blocks need updating without requiring continuous time synchronization protocols. This intermediary timestamp mechanism resolves the time synchronization problem while avoiding the complexity of implementing full time synchronization infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing timestamps of local data blocks with timestamps of backup copies. When a timestamp comparison reveals that a local block is older than its backup counterpart, the system triggers a selective update operation. This feedback mechanism ensures data recovery accuracy by automatically detecting and correcting time-related inconsistencies without requiring manual time synchronization.
2Reliability
If time skew exists between systems, then data restoration completeness deteriorates, but implementing timestamp processing increases processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time synchronization problem from the overall data protection system by handling timestamps independently for each data block. Instead of synchronizing system-wide time, the solution processes timestamps individually during backup and restoration operations. This extraction approach ensures data restoration completeness by tracking modification times for each block separately, while minimizing processing overhead by avoiding global time synchronization operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by embedding timestamps with data blocks during the initial backup process. Each data block is tagged with a timestamp indicating when it was created or last modified. This preliminary timestamp assignment enables accurate time-based comparisons during restoration without requiring real-time processing, thereby ensuring data restoration completeness while reducing processing overhead during critical recovery operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for synchronizing time within a data protection system is described. In one embodiment, the method includes processing input/output activity information associated with at least one client computer, wherein the input/output activity information comprises at least one local client timestamp, determining at least one server timestamp for the at least one local client timestamp and modifying the input/output activity information with the at least one server timestamp.