Method and system for application aware access of metadata based backups

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 performing data protection of file system data on a host, the method comprising:

• identifying a backup access event associated with a backup of a virtual machine (VM) stored on a backup storage, wherein the VM comprises a plurality of applications;
• in response to identifying the backup access event:
• generating a virtual hard disk file, wherein the virtual hard disk file is mounted to the host;
• obtaining backup metadata associated with the backup from a data protection manager, wherein the data protection manager perform data protection management services;
• generating a placeholder file structure using the backup metadata and storing the placeholder file in the virtual hard disk file, wherein the placeholder file structure comprises placeholder files arranged in a hierarchy based on the backup metadata, wherein a logical block address (LBA) is associated with each placeholder file in the placeholder file structure, wherein a key value map is used to locate the placeholder file;
• loading the virtual hard disk file on a host associated with the VM;
• instantiating single application instances of the VM on the host;
• performing application aware backup access services using the placeholder file structure, the backup metadata, and the single application instances of the VM, wherein the single application instances of the VM have limited access to placeholder file structure portions associated with the application included in the single application instances of the VM;
• and
• prior to identifying the backup access event associated with the backup of the file system stored on the backup storage:
• identifying a backup generation event associated with the application;
• in response to identifying the backup generation event:
• obtaining file system metadata associated with the application;
• generating the backup metadata based on the file system metadata and the backup;
• storing the backup of the file system data associated with the application in the backup storage;
• and
• providing the backup metadata to the data protection manager.

A system for performing data protection of file system data on a host, comprising:

• a backup storage for storing backups;
• and
• a host comprising a data protection agent programmed to:
• identify a backup access event associated with a backup of a virtual machine (VM) stored on the backup storage, wherein the VM comprises a plurality of applications;
• in response to identifying the backup access event:
• generate a virtual hard disk file, wherein the virtual hard disk file is mounted to the host;
• obtain backup metadata associated with the backup from a data protection manager, wherein the data protection manager performs data protection management services;
• generate a placeholder file structure using the backup metadata and storing the placeholder file in the virtual hard disk file, wherein the placeholder file structure comprises placeholder files arranged in a hierarchy based on the backup metadata, wherein a logical block address (LBA) is associated with each placeholder file in the placeholder file structure, wherein a key value map is used to locate the placeholder file;
• load the virtual hard disk file on a host associated with the VM;
• instantiate single application instances of the VM on the host;
• perform application aware backup access services using the placeholder file structure, the backup metadata, and the single application instances of the VM, wherein the single application instances of the VM have limited access to placeholder file structure portions associated with the application included in the single application instances of the VM;
• and
• prior to identifying the backup access event associated with the backup of the file system stored on the backup storage:
• identify a backup generation event associated with the application;
• in response to identifying the backup generation event:
• obtain file system metadata associated with the application;
• generate the backup metadata based on the file system metadata and the backup;
• store the backup of the file system data associated with the application in the backup storage;
• and
• provide the backup metadata to the data protection manager.