Fragmentation mitigation in synthetic full backups

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• generating a backup stream, comprising
• receiving one or more new extents of data,
• identifying a new extent of data of the one or more new extents of data,
• determining whether the new extent of data meets a first threshold, and
• in response to a determination that the new extent of data does not meet the first threshold,
• determining whether an existing extent of data meets a second threshold, wherein
• the existing extent of data is contiguous to the new extent of data in the backup stream, and
• in response to a determination that the existing extent of data meets a second threshold, including the new extent of data and the existing extent of data in the backup stream.

A computer program product comprising:

• a plurality of instructions, comprising
• a first set of instructions, executable by a processor of a computer system, configured to generate a backup stream, wherein
• the first set of instructions comprises
• a first subset of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to receive one or more new extents of data,
• a second subset of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to identify a new extent of data of the one or more new extents of data,
• a third subset of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to determine whether the new extent of data meets a first threshold, and
• a fourth subset of instructions, executable by the processor, configured to, in response to a determination that the new extent of data does not meet the first threshold,
• determine whether an existing extent of data meets a second threshold, wherein
• the existing extent of data is contiguous to the new extent of data in the backup stream, and
• in response to a determination that the existing extent of data meets a second threshold, include the new extent of data and the existing extent of data in the backup stream;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions are encoded in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

A computer system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors;
• and
• a plurality of instructions, encoded in the computer-readable storage medium and configured to cause the one or more processors to
• generate a backup stream by virtue of being configured to receive one or more new extents of data,
• identify a new extent of data of the one or more new extents of data,
• determine whether the new extent of data meets a first threshold, and
• in response to a determination that the new extent of data does not meet the first threshold,
• determine whether an existing extent of data meets a second threshold, wherein
• the existing extent of data is contiguous to the new extent of data in the backup stream, and
• in response to a determination that the existing extent of data meets a second threshold, include the new extent of data and the existing extent of data in the backup stream.