Data backup using metadata mapping

A method for an information processing apparatus to back up files stored in a storage device, the method comprising:

• managing metadata of a file stored in the storage device, wherein managing metadata of the file comprises generating a respective file size, a respective last update time, a respective identification value, and a respective data block address for the file;
• generating an inode bitmap which indicates whether the metadata associated with an identification value uniquely identifying a file in the storage device is present or absent;
• scanning the metadata on each run of a backup process to detect files that have been created, modified, or deleted since a last backup;
• storing at least a data block and the metadata for a detected file in a backup storage device as backup information in association with the identification value, wherein the data block comprises differential data for the detected file, and wherein the metadata for the detected file comprises inode information for the detected file;
• and
• restoring data by restoring at least the inode information for the detected file and the differential data for the detected file based on a bit set to 1 for the detected file in the inode bitmap.

A computer program product for implementing a method for an information processing apparatus to back up files stored in a storage device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• managing metadata of a file stored in the storage device, wherein managing metadata of the file comprises generating a respective file size, a respective last update time, a respective identification value, and a respective data block address for the file;
• generating an inode bitmap which indicates whether the metadata associated with an identification value uniquely identifying a file in the storage device is present or absent;
• scanning the metadata on each run of a backup process to detect files that have been created, modified, or deleted since a last backup;
• storing at least a data block and the metadata for a detected file in a backup storage device as backup information in association with the identification value, wherein the data block comprises differential data for the detected file, and wherein the metadata for the detected file comprises inode information for the detected file;
• and
• restoring data by restoring at least the inode information for the detected file and the differential data for the detected file based on a bit set to 1 for the detected file in the inode bitmap.