Virtual Backup Filesystem for Legacy Data Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backup data migration systems require physical data transfer and integration with legacy backup software, leading to increased complexity, licensing, and support costs, especially when dealing with proprietary formats.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that builds a storage map using marker patterns to intercept and mimic restore operations, allowing data migration without physical transfer, and exposes data through a virtual filesystem, reducing the need for integration with legacy systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical data transfer is used to migrate backup data from legacy systems, then data can be moved to new systems, but complexity and costs increase due to integration requirements with legacy backup software
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the backup data structure through a virtual file system that maps to the physical backup storage. Instead of physically transferring data, the system creates a virtual representation that can be accessed and migrated without direct physical data movement, thereby reducing integration complexity while maintaining data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual file system as an intermediary layer between the legacy backup storage and the new system. This intermediary translates and maps the proprietary backup format to a standard filesystem interface, eliminating the need for direct integration with legacy backup software while ensuring complete data migration
2Productivity
If proprietary backup formats are used in legacy systems, then data can be stored efficiently, but migration to new systems requires integration with legacy software increasing licensing and support costs
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual file system acts as an intermediary that translates the proprietary backup format into a standard filesystem interface. This allows the new system to access and migrate data without requiring integration with legacy backup software, eliminating licensing and support costs while preserving the efficient storage format in the background
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the backup data structure that presents a standard interface to the new system while the actual data remains in the efficient proprietary format on the legacy storage. This copying approach maintains storage efficiency while simplifying migration operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If restore operations are performed on existing backups, then data can be accessed and migrated, but the process requires integration with legacy backup software
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual file system serves as an intermediary that provides data access without requiring restore operations through legacy software. It maps the backup storage directly to a filesystem interface, allowing the new system to read and migrate data without invoking legacy backup software, thereby maintaining data accessibility while eliminating integration complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments build an inventory of existing backups in a legacy system, initiate a restore for the existing backups in the legacy system, intercept a plurality of operations of the legacy system, send data which comprises a specific marker pattern in response to intercepting the plurality of operations, and build a storage map using the data which comprises the specific marker pattern.