# US 11,442,815 B2 · Coordinating backup configurations for a data protection environment implementing multiple types of replication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,815 B2 - Document ID: US11442815B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/832,298 - Filed: 2020-03-27 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27 - Assignees: EMC IP Holding Company LLC - Applicants: EMC IP Holding Company LLC - Inventors: Rintu Kanp; Razi Syed; Sanjeev Lohchab; Upanshu Singhal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442815B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/1458: {Management of the backup or restore process} - G06F 11/1451: {by selection of backup contents} - G06F 11/1464: {for networked environments} - G06F 16/2365: {Ensuring data consistency and integrity} - G06F 16/27: Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor - G06F 11/1469: {Backup restoration techniques} - G06F 2201/82: Solving problems relating to consistency - G06F 2201/84: Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Described is a system for coordinating backup configurations for a data protection environment that implements multiple types of replication. The system may provide an efficient coordination tool that discovers the types of replication implemented by storage arrays within a data protection environment and then processes backup data according to the types of replication. For example, as part of a data protection policy, a backup facility may continuously create point-in-time copies (e.g. snapshots) of storage resources by leveraging consistency groups. Accordingly, the system may categorize such consistency groups based on the type of replication implemented by associated storage arrays. Based on the categorization, the system coordinate a backup process for all storage arrays associated with the backup facility without requiring specialized hardware. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed, cause the one or more processors to: identify storage resources of a backup facility that maintains a database, the backup facility associated with one or more storage arrays that provide the storage resources for the database; identify a set of consistency groups defined amongst the storage resources; determine, for each of the consistency groups, a type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group; add, for each of the consistency groups, the consistency group to a first group set or a second group set based on the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group; create a set of sequential bookmarks associated with the first group set, the set of sequential bookmarks identifying a sequence of point-in-time copies of data stored within the storage resources of the first group set; create a parallel bookmark associated with the second group set, the parallel bookmark identifying a particular point-in-time copy of data stored within storage resources of the second group set; and initiate a data protection operation associated with the database based on the set of sequential bookmarks or the parallel bookmark. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein adding the consistency group to a first group set or a second group set includes: adding the consistency group to the first group set, in response to determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group does not support parallel bookmarks; and adding the consistency group to the second group set, in response to determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group supports parallel bookmarks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array does not support parallel bookmarks is based on the storage array implementing snap-based replication. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array supports parallel bookmarks is based on the storage array implementing a non-snap-based replication. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to: initiate a quiesce operation for the database prior to creating the set of sequential bookmarks and the parallel bookmark; and initiate an unquiesce operation for the database after creating the set of sequential bookmarks and the parallel bookmark. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the parallel bookmark associated with the second group set comprises a single bookmark. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein identifying storage resources of the backup facility that maintains the database includes: identifying, using a command associated with the backup facility, a world wide name (WWN) of the storage resources associated with the backup facility. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: identifying storage resources of a backup facility that maintains a database, the backup facility associated with one or more storage arrays that provide the storage resources for the database; identifying a set of consistency groups defined amongst the storage resources; determining, for each of the consistency groups, a type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group; adding, for each of the consistency groups, the consistency group to a first group set or a second group set based on the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group; creating a set of sequential bookmarks associated with the first group set, the set of sequential bookmarks identifying a sequence of point-in-time copies of data stored within the storage resources of the first group set; creating a parallel bookmark associated with the second group set, the parallel bookmark identifying a particular point-in-time copy of data stored within storage resources of the second group set; and initiating a data protection operation associated with the database based on the set of sequential bookmarks or the parallel bookmark. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein adding the consistency group to a first group set or a second group set includes: adding the consistency group to the first group set, in response to determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group does not support parallel bookmarks; and adding the consistency group to the second group set, in response to determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group supports parallel bookmarks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array does not support parallel bookmarks is based on the storage array implementing snap-based replication. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array supports parallel bookmarks is based on the storage array implementing a non-snap-based replication. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: initiating a quiesce operation for the database prior to creating the set of sequential bookmarks and the parallel bookmark; and initiating an unquiesce operation for the database after creating the set of sequential bookmarks and the parallel bookmark. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the parallel bookmark associated with the second group set comprises a single bookmark. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein identifying storage resources of the backup facility that maintains the database includes: identifying, using a command associated with the backup facility, a world wide name (WWN) of the storage resources associated with the backup facility. ### Claim 15 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein to be executed by one or more processors, the program code including instructions to: identify storage resources of a backup facility that maintains a database, the backup facility associated with one or more storage arrays that provide the storage resources for the database; identify a set of consistency groups defined amongst the storage resources; determine, for each of the consistency groups, a type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group; add, for each of the consistency groups, the consistency group to a first group set or a second group set based on the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group; create a set of sequential bookmarks associated with the first group set, the set of sequential bookmarks identifying a sequence of point-in-time copies of data stored within the storage resources of the first group set; create a parallel bookmark associated with the second group set, the parallel bookmark identifying a particular point-in-time copy of data stored within storage resources of the second group set; and initiate a data protection operation associated with the database based on the set of sequential bookmarks or the parallel bookmark. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein adding the consistency group to a first group set or a second group set includes: adding the consistency group to the first group set, in response to determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group does not support parallel bookmarks; and adding the consistency group to the second group set, in response to determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array providing the storage resources of the consistency group supports parallel bookmarks. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array does not support parallel bookmarks is based on the storage array implementing snap-based replication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein determining the type of replication implemented by the storage array supports parallel bookmarks is based on the storage array implementing a non-snap-based replication. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code includes further instructions to: initiate a quiesce operation for the database prior to creating the set of sequential bookmarks and the parallel bookmark; and initiate an unquiesce operation for the database after creating the set of sequential bookmarks and the parallel bookmark. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the parallel bookmark associated with the second group set comprises a single bookmark.