Universal Data Package for Cross-Platform Server Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems face challenges in efficiently backing up, restoring, and migrating server environments across different hardware platforms and configurations, often resulting in data loss and increased complexity due to platform-specific formats and configurations.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates a universal data package from a server environment, including configuration data, metadata, and data objects, which can be deployed on various platforms by converting the data into a standardized format, allowing for seamless backup, restoration, and migration across different hardware configurations and software versions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If server environments are backed up using platform-specific formats, then the backup process is simple for each individual platform, but the system cannot restore or migrate across different hardware platforms and configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform independenceVSAvoidbackup system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a universal intermediate format as a mediator between different server platforms. The backup system converts platform-specific server environment data into this universal format, which preserves all necessary configuration settings, dependencies, metadata, and other elements while being independent of any specific hardware platform or software configuration version. This intermediary format enables seamless restoration and migration across diverse platforms without requiring platform-specific backup procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports multiple hardware platforms and configurations, then platform versatility improves, but the complexity of managing different formats and configurations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware platform supportVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal backup format that can represent server environments from any hardware platform or software configuration. This single universal format performs the function of multiple platform-specific formats, eliminating the need to maintain separate backup systems for different platforms. The universal format preserves all platform-specific characteristics through structured metadata while presenting a unified interface for backup, restoration, and migration operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If manual conversion and configuration is required for each platform, then platform-specific precision is maintained, but the time and human input required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidbackup and restoration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated conversion processes that enable the backup system to self-configure when restoring or migrating to different platforms. The universal format includes embedded metadata and dependency information that automatically guide the restoration process, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps. The system automatically adapts the backed-up server environment to the target platform's specific requirements while maintaining configuration accuracy, significantly reducing both time and human input requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Manufacturing precision

If platform-specific formats are used, then data format precision for each platform is optimized, but data consistency across different platforms deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformat precisionVSAvoiddata consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a structured universal format that incorporates local quality principles by preserving platform-specific characteristics within a consistent overall structure. The universal format contains dedicated sections for platform-specific configuration settings, dependencies, and metadata, allowing each platform's unique properties to be maintained with precision while ensuring overall data consistency through a unified schema. This hierarchical structure enables both format precision and cross-platform consistency to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11507295B2Backup, restoration, and migration of computer systems
Publication Date: 2022.11.22 STRATEGY INC
  • US11507295B2 patent drawing
  • US11507295B2 patent drawing
  • US11507295B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for backup, restoration, and migration of computer systems. In some implementations, data from a first server environment is obtained. A data package is generated that includes configuration data, data objects, and/or metadata from the first server environment organized in a predetermined arrangement. Data indicating (i) a destination on which to deploy the archived data from the first server environment and (ii) one or more characteristics of the destination is received. Mapping data that specifies a mapping of elements in the predetermined arrangement to elements of server environments having the one or more characteristics is accessed. Server environment data derived from the data package is deployed, the server environment data being deployed to the destination and arranged at the destination in a manner specified by the mapping data.