Database snapshot and backup management with recoverable chains

One or more storage devices containing processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for operating a data management system, the processor readable code comprising:

• processor readable code configured to acquire an instruction to restore a particular version of a database from a computing device;
• processor readable code configured to identify a first recoverable chain including a first set of snapshots and a second set of update files, the first set of snapshots includes a first snapshot corresponding with a first version of the database, the second set of update files includes one or more database transaction logs with a history of data changes made to the database subsequent to the first version of the database;
• processor readable code configured to identify a second recoverable chain including a third set of snapshots and a fourth set of update files;
• processor readable code configured to determine a first combined disk size for the first recoverable chain and determine a second combined disk size for the second recoverable chain;
• processor readable code configured to detect that the first combined disk size is less than the second combined disk size processor readable code configured to generate the first version of the database different from the particular version of the database using the first set of snapshots in response to detection that the first combined disk size is less than the second combined disk size;
• processor readable code configured to generate the particular version of the database using the first version of the database and the second set of update files;
• and
• processor readable code configured to transfer at least a portion of the particular version of the database to the computing device.