# US 2017/0286512 A1 · Replication between heterogeneous storage systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0286512 A1 - Document ID: US20170286512A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/086,361 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Veritas Technologies LLC - Applicants: Veritas Technologies LLC - Inventors: Xianbo Zhang; Weibao Wu; Timothy Stevens; Shuangmin Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170286512A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/273: {Asynchronous replication or reconciliation} - G06F 3/0623: {in relation to content} - G06F 3/065: {Replication mechanisms} - G06F 3/067: {Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]} - G06F 11/1464: {for networked environments} - G06F 11/2058: {using more than 2 mirrored copies} - G06F 11/2094: {Redundant storage or storage space (G06F11/2056 takes precedence)} - G06F 11/2097: {maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated (initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups)} - G06F 16/27: Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor - H04L 67/1095: Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes - G06F 11/1456: {Hardware arrangements for backup} - G06F 11/1458: {Management of the backup or restore process} - 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) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and processes to perform replication between heterogeneous storage systems. Information associated with a backup stream is recorded during a backup operation by a source server and includes instructions. The instructions include an include instruction to include existing data and a write instruction to write new data during a replication operation. A request to perform the replication operation is received. In response to the request, the information is sent to a target server as part of performing the replication operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: recording information during performance of a backup operation, wherein the information is associated with a backup stream, the information is recorded by a source server, the information comprises a plurality of instructions, and the plurality of instructions comprise an include instruction to include existing data and a write instruction to write new data, during performance of a replication operation; receiving a request to perform the replication operation; and in response to the request, sending the information to a target server as part of performing the replication operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the existing data is comprised in a replicated backup image, the replicated backup image is stored by the target server, the new data and the information are comprised in a source backup image, and the source backup image is stored by the source server as part of the backup operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: upon receiving the request to perform the replication operation, accessing the replicated backup image, comparing the replicated backup image and the information, generating a replication stream comprising the new data, and sending the replication stream to the target server. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the source server implements a source storage device, the source storage device stores the backup stream and the information, the target server implements a target storage device, the target storage device stores the replicated backup image, and the source storage device and the target storage device are heterogeneous. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the information further comprises: a first offset range associated with the existing data to be included from the replicated backup image, and a second offset range associated with the new data to be written to the replicated backup image from the source backup image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the replication stream and the backup stream share a common format. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the common format is facilitated by a plug-in implementing an Open Storage Technology (OST) Application Programming Interface (API). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: updating the information during performance of one or more subsequent backup operations. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions executable to: record information during performance of a backup operation, wherein the information is associated with a backup stream, the information is recorded by a source server, the information comprises a plurality of instructions, and the plurality of instructions comprise an include instruction to include existing data and a write instruction to write new data, during performance of a replication operation; receive a request to perform the replication operation; and in response to the request, send the information to a target server as part of performing the replication operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the existing data is comprised in a replicated backup image, the replicated backup image is stored by the target server, the new data and the information are comprised in a source backup image, and the source backup image is stored by the source server as part of the backup operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising: upon receiving the request to perform the replication operation, accessing the replicated backup image, comparing the replicated backup image and the information, generating a replication stream comprising the new data, and sending the replication stream to the target server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the source server implements a source storage device, the source storage device stores the backup stream and the information, the target server implements a target storage device, the target storage device stores the replicated backup image, the source storage device and the target storage device are heterogeneous, ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the information further comprises: a first offset range associated with the existing data to be included from the replicated backup image, and a second offset range associated with the new data to be written to the replicated backup image from the source backup image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the replication stream and the backup stream share a common format, and the common format is facilitated by a plug-in implementing an Open Storage Technology (OST) Application Programming Interface (API). ### Claim 15 A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the one or more processors to: record information during performance of a backup operation, wherein the information is associated with a backup stream, the information is recorded by a source server, the information comprises a plurality of instructions, and the plurality of instructions comprise an include instruction to include existing data and a write instruction to write new data, during performance of a replication operation; receive a request to perform the replication operation; and in response to the request, send the information to a target server as part of performing the replication operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the existing data is comprised in a replicated backup image, the replicated backup image is stored by the target server, the new data and the information are comprised in a source backup image, and the source backup image is stored by the source server as part of the backup operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising: upon receiving the request to perform the replication operation, accessing the replicated backup image, comparing the replicated backup image and the information, generating a replication stream comprising the new data, and sending the replication stream to the target server. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the source server implements a source storage device, the source storage device stores the backup stream and the information, the target server implements a target storage device, the target storage device stores the replicated backup image, the source storage device and the target storage device are heterogeneous, ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the information further comprises: a first offset range associated with the existing data to be included from the replicated backup image, and a second offset range associated with the new data to be written to the replicated backup image from the source backup image. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the replication stream and the backup stream share a common format, and the common format is facilitated by a plug-in implementing an Open Storage Technology (OST) Application Programming Interface (API).