Virtual Volume Recovery for Real-Time File Access From Object Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-POSIX storage formats are difficult to access and do not support both read and write functionality, leading to lengthy download times when restoring system backups, especially in cloud environments.
Innovation Solution
A system that converts non-POSIX formatted backups to POSIX formats during recovery, allowing real-time access and write requests by presenting a partially-downloaded backup as a virtual volume to a virtual machine, enabling immediate system restoration and functionality while the full backup is downloaded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored in non-POSIX format for scalability and reliability, then storage capacity and reliability are improved, but data accessibility and retrieval speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a POSIX-compatible file system layer as an intermediary between the non-POSIX object storage and the user applications. This file system layer translates POSIX file operations into object storage operations, allowing users to access data in familiar file formats while the underlying storage maintains its non-POSIX structure for scalability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the data format parameter by converting data between non-POSIX object format for storage and POSIX file format for access. This parameter transformation allows the same data to benefit from both the scalability of non-POSIX storage and the accessibility of POSIX file systems.
2Reliability
If entire backup is downloaded before access, then data integrity is ensured, but recovery time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-rendering video frames and preparing data structures in advance during the backup process. This allows the backup data to be organized in a way that enables incremental recovery, where essential data can be accessed before the entire backup is complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup data is segmented into manageable chunks or blocks that can be independently accessed. Instead of requiring the entire backup to be downloaded, the system allows recovery operations to proceed with available segments while continuing to download remaining portions in the background.
3Productivity
If non-POSIX storage is used for large data amounts, then storage scalability is improved, but read-write functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal interface layer that provides both read and write functionality for non-POSIX object storage. The POSIX file system layer handles write operations by translating them into object storage operations, enabling the scalable non-POSIX storage to support full read-write functionality while maintaining its scalability advantages.
Data Source
AI summary
The retrieval of files can be facilitated in real-time in the general context of backup and recovery. A processor can receive a request to retrieve a particular volume of data from an object storage database. A virtual volume can be presented to an emulator for creation of a virtual machine representing the particular volume of data. A request can be received to access a particular file from the particular volume of data at a specific point in time. In response to the request to access the file, the data stream can be paused, the particular file can be fetched, and the particular file can be transmitted to the emulator.