Database snapshot and backup management with recoverable chains

A data management system, comprising:

• one or more memories storing code;
• and
• one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and operable to execute the code to cause the data management system to:
• create, by the data management system, a first full image of a virtual machine or database via combining a second full image of the virtual machine or database with a forward incremental file that stores data changes to the virtual machine or database that occurred after the second full image, wherein the forward incremental file corresponds to a most recent restore point of the virtual machine or database;
• create, by the data management system, a first reverse incremental file based on the data changes stored in the forward incremental file, wherein the first reverse incremental file corresponds to a same restore point as the second full image;
• and
• create, by the data management system, a first recoverable chain comprising the first full image of the virtual machine or the database and a set of reverse incremental files comprising the first reverse incremental file, wherein the first full image and the set of reverse incremental files correspond to a first set of restore points for the virtual machine or database, and wherein each of the set of reverse incremental files stores data changes to the virtual machine or database relative to a respective immediately subsequent restore point of the first recoverable chain that occurred before the first full image was taken.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code that comprises instructions executable by one or more processors to:

• create, by a data management system, a first full image of a virtual machine or database via combining a second full image of the virtual machine or database with a forward incremental file that stores data changes to the virtual machine or database that occurred after the second full image, wherein the forward incremental file corresponds to a most recent restore point of the virtual machine or database;
• create, by the data management system, a first reverse incremental file based on the data changes stored in the forward incremental file, wherein the first reverse incremental file corresponds to a same restore point as the second full image;
• and
• create, by the data management system, a first recoverable chain comprising the first full image of the virtual machine or the database and a set of reverse incremental files comprising the first reverse incremental file, wherein the first full image and the set of reverse incremental files correspond to a first set of restore points for the virtual machine or database, and wherein each of the set of reverse incremental files stores data changes to the virtual machine or database relative to a respective immediately subsequent restore point of the first recoverable chain that occurred before the first full image was taken.