Unified Backup Index for Archiving Data Objects
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data storage systems face inefficiencies in archiving data, as they often create additional secondary copies, leading to resource wastage and complexity, particularly in managing backup and archive operations, which can result in unnecessary data preservation and increased storage requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system that archives data objects using secondary copies by maintaining a data structure that tracks the locations of secondary copies and replaces data objects with stubs, thereby avoiding the creation of additional secondary copies and optimizing resource usage, while also reclaiming storage space by identifying deleted data objects and updating secondary copy locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional data storage systems create additional secondary copies for archiving, then data protection and compliance requirements are met, but storage capacity requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup and archive operations by using a single secondary copy structure that serves both purposes. The backup index is used to track both backup copies and archive copies, eliminating the need for separate tracking mechanisms. This consolidation reduces system complexity while maintaining data protection capabilities through the unified secondary copy system.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary copy system is designed with multi-functionality, where a single secondary copy can serve as both a backup copy and an archive copy. The backup index structure is universal enough to track different types of copies (full backups, incremental backups, and archive copies) using the same data structure, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If separate backup and archive operations are performed, then data protection and archiving requirements are met, but network bandwidth and processing capacity usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines backup and archive operations into a single process flow. When data is backed up to secondary storage, the system simultaneously tracks this copy in the backup index with the understanding that it can serve future archive requirements. This eliminates redundant data transfers and processing operations, reducing network bandwidth and processing capacity usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary tracking of backup copies in the backup index during the backup operation itself, so that when archiving is needed later, the data is already identified and located. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate scanning and identification processes during archiving operations.
3Measurement precision
If separate backup and archive indices are maintained, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup index and archive index into a single backup index structure. This unified index tracks all secondary copies (both backup and archive) using the same data structure and tracking mechanisms. The system maintains tracking accuracy by including appropriate metadata and identifiers that distinguish between different copy types while using a single index structure to reduce storage space requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary systems and methods for archiving data objects using secondary copies are disclosed. The system creates one or more secondary copies of primary data that contains multiple data objects. The system may maintain a first data structure that tracks the data objects for which the system has created secondary copies and the locations of the secondary copies. To archive data objects in the primary data, the system identifies data objects to be archived, verifies that previously-created secondary copies of the identified data objects exist, and replaces the identified data objects with stubs. The system may maintain a second data structure that both tracks the stubs and refers to the first data structure, thereby creating an association between the stubs and the locations of the secondary copies.