US 11,636,010 B2Granted

Enhancing file indexing of block-level backup copies of virtual machines and/or file systems by populating and tracking a cache storage area and a backup index

AssigneeCommvault Systems, Inc.

InventorsPratik S. Rana, Henry Wallace Dornemann, Amit Mitkar, Deepak Raghunath Attarde, Ashwin Gautamchand Sancheti

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Abstract

An illustrative approach accelerates file indexing operations for block-level backup copies in a data storage management system. A cache storage area is maintained for locally storing and serving key data blocks, thus relying less on retrieving data on demand from the backup copy. File indexing operations are used for populating the cache storage area for speedier retrieval during subsequent live browsing of the same backup copy, and vice versa. The key data blocks cached while file indexing and/or live browsing an earlier backup copy help to pre-fetch corresponding data blocks of later backup copies, thus producing a beneficial learning cycle. The approach is especially beneficial for cloud and tape backup media, and is available for a variety of data sources and backup copies, including block-level backup copies of virtual machines (VMs) and block-level backup copies of file systems, including UNIX-based and Windows-based operating systems and corresponding file systems.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for populating a cache storage area in a data storage management system, the method comprising:

by a media agent at a first computing device, populating a cache storage area at the media agent with data blocks read during a file indexing operation of a backup copy, wherein the backup copy was generated in a block-level backup operation of primary data, and wherein the populating comprises:
by the media agent, receiving an indication that the file indexing operation has been initiated by a second computing device,
receiving a first read request issued by the file indexing operation for a first data block of the backup copy,
(i) if the media agent determines that the first data block is in the cache storage area, retrieving the first data block from the cache storage area, and
(ii) if the media agent determines that the first data block is not in the cache storage area, retrieving the first data block from the backup copy stored on backup media, adding the first data block to the cache storage area, and updating a cache-index to indicate that the first data block is in the cache storage area;
wherein the first data block and other data blocks added to the cache storage area during the file indexing operation are available to be read from the cache storage area and not from the backup copy for subsequent live browse operations of the backup copy;
and
wherein the first computing device comprises one or more hardware processors and wherein the second computing device comprises one or more hardware processors.

5 more elements

A computer-implemented method for populating a cache storage area in a data storage management system, the method comprising:

by a media agent, populating a cache storage area with data blocks read during a first live browse operation of a backup copy, wherein the backup copy was generated in a block-level backup operation of primary data, and wherein the populating comprises:
by the media agent, receiving a first read request issued by the first live browse operation for a first data block of the backup copy, and
(i) if the media agent determines that the first data block is in the cache storage area, retrieving the first data block from the cache storage area, and
(ii) if the media agent determines that the first data block is not in the cache storage area, retrieving the first data block from the backup copy, adding the first data block to the cache storage area, and updating a cache-index to indicate that the first data block is in the cache storage area;
by the media agent during a subsequent incremental block-level backup operation of the primary data:
identifying that a changed version of the first data block is being backed up to a second backup copy,
determining that the first data block is in the cache storage area,
in a backup-index that tracks where data blocks are stored on backup media, flagging the changed version of the first data block as a data block suitable for the cache storage area,
adding the changed version of the first data block to the cache storage area, and
updating the cache-index to indicate that the changed version of the first data block is in the cache storage area;
wherein in a subsequent file indexing operation of the second backup copy, the changed version of the first data block is retrieved from the cache storage area and not from the second backup copy on the backup media;
and
wherein the media agent executes on a first computing device comprising one or more hardware processors.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/870,723Filed 8 May 2020 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 Aug 2019
Published: US 2021/0064485 A14 Mar 2021
Granted: 25 Apr 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G06F 9/45558
Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors: hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
G06F 11/1469
Management of the backup or restore process: backup restoration techniques
G06F 11/1451
Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore: by selection of backup contents
G06F 11/1464
Management of the backup or restore process: for networked environments