System and method for instant access of data in file based backups in a backup storage system using metadata files

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method for managing file based backups (FBBs), the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a FBB metadata file manager, a FBB mount request for a FBB mount of a FBB from an application, wherein the application is executing in a production host environment, and wherein the FBB comprises file system data comprising data tags and a FBB metadata file;
• in response to the FBB mount request, the FBB metadata file manager:
• identifies a FBB in a backup storage system;
• obtains the FBB metadata file corresponding to the FBB from the backup storage system;
• performs an attribute analysis to identify storage location attributes in the FBB metadata file;
• stores a FBB virtual file system in the production host environment using the storage location attributes;
• and
• enables access to the FBB virtual file system by the application;
• obtaining, from the application, a file request for at least a portion of the file system data stored in the FBB;
• in response to the file request:
• identifying a storage of the portion of the file system data in the backup storage system via the FBB virtual file system;
• initiating generation of a temporary storage device, separate from the backup storage system, that comprises a copy of the portion of the file system data from the backup storage system, wherein the copy does not include data tags;
• and
• initiating access to the temporary storage device by the application.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising:
• obtaining, by a FBB metadata file manager, a FBB mount request for a FBB mount of a FBB from an application, wherein the application is executing in a production host environment, and wherein the FBB comprises file system data comprising data tags and a FBB metadata file;
• in response to the FBB mount request, the FBB metadata file manager:
• identifies a FBB in a backup storage system;
• obtains the FBB metadata file corresponding to the FBB from the backup storage system;
• performs an attribute analysis to identify storage location attributes in the FBB metadata file;
• stores a FBB virtual file system in the production host environment using the storage location attributes;
• and
• enables access to the FBB virtual file system by the application;
• obtaining, from the application, a file request for at least a portion of the file system data stored in the FBB;
• in response to the file request:
• identifying a storage of the portion of the file system data in the backup storage system via the FBB virtual file system;
• initiating generation of a temporary storage device, separate from the backup storage system, that comprises a copy of the portion of the file system data from the backup storage system, wherein the copy does not include data tags;
• and
• initiating access to the temporary storage device by the application.