Self-contained partial database backups
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsSteven R. Schmidt, Gregory Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and computer readable media for restoring a database. In a method, a backup of a subset of a database is created, where the subset includes a filegroup and database metadata describing the filegroup. The database is then restored using the database subset. In a computer-readable medium, a first data field contains data representing a database subset having at least one of a plurality of filegroups. A second data field contains data representing database metadata that describes the filegroup. In another method, archived database metadata and an archived filegroup that is one of a plurality of filegroups is accessed, and the filegroup is brought online using the database metadata.
Claims18
A computer system comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored thereon instructions that upon execution by the processor cause the computer system to:
- select, for backup, a subset of a database comprising a plurality of different filegroups, the selection of the subset being based on an amount of time for restoring the subset, the subset comprising at least two file groups and metadata describing the at least two file groups, the at least two filegroups comprising at least one filegroup operable to partially restore the database and at least one file group unnecessary to partially restore the database, the selection of the subset based upon user-specified criteria related to the at least two filegroups;
- create a backup of the subset of the database;
- restore the subset;
- operate the database with the subset in a partially-restored state;
- and
- restore additional subsets of the database after the database has been operating with the subset.
A computer storage device having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by a computer device, at least cause:
- selecting, for backup, a subset of a database comprising a plurality of different filegroups, the selection of the subset being based on an amount of time for restoring the subset, the subset comprising at least two file groups and metadata describing the at least two file groups, the at least two filegroups comprising at least one filegroup operable to partially restore the database and at least one file group unnecessary to partially restore the database, the selection of the subset based upon user-specified criteria related to the at least two filegroups;
- creating a backup of the subset of the database;
- restoring the subset;
- operating the database with the subset in a partially-restored state;
- and
- restoring additional subsets of the database after the database has been operating with the subset.
A method implemented by a computer comprising a processor, the method comprising:
- selecting, by the computer for backup, a subset of a database comprising a plurality of different filegroups, the selection of the subset being based on an amount of time for restoring the subset, the subset comprising at least two file groups and metadata describing the at least two file groups, the at least two filegroups comprising at least one filegroup operable to partially restore the database and at least one file group unnecessary to partially restore the database, the selection of the subset based upon user-specified criteria related to the at least two filegroups;
- creating, by the computer, a backup of the subset of the database;
- restoring, by the computer, the subset;
- operating, by the computer, the database with the subset in a partially-restored state;
- and
- restoring, by the computer, additional subsets of the database after the database has been operating with the subset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.