System and method for managing environment metadata during data backups to a storage system

A method for managing environment metadata of a server system during a backup session with a storage system, the method comprising:

• identifying, by the server system, backup data and environment metadata;
• negotiating with the storage system after the backup session is initiated, one or more address locations for storing the environment metadata by the storage system;
• generating a metafile for relationship metadata that describes a relationship between the server system and the storage system for use in any restore operation that is based on the backup session, where the relationship metadata is part of the environment metadata;
• during the backup session, from the server system, sending a sequence of blocks comprising the relationship metadata, the backup data and the environment metadata to the storage system, the environment metadata describing one or more server metrics of the server system, a server metric relating to power consumption, data capacity, data throughput, or processor utilization of the server system from which the data is being transmitted, the server system being distinct from the storage system;
• at the storage system, receiving and storing the sequence of blocks comprising the relationship metadata, the backup data and the environment metadata at the negotiated location;
• at the storage system, producing a directory data structure for recording storage locations of the received backup data and environment metadata, a block type specifying a backup data or environment metadata type, and access permissions associated with the environment metadata wherein the access permissions and the negotiated one or more address locations are used for allowing or denying access to the environment metadata by the server system;
• at the storage system, receiving a request for restoring data of the server system;
• at the storage system, using the directory data structure for assembling the backup data for the server system by including blocks that comprise the backup data for the server system and excluding blocks that comprise environment metadata for the server system;
• and
• at the storage system, sending the assembled backup data to the server system.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon when executed by a processor, manage environment metadata of a server system during a backup session with a storage system, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising sets of instructions for:

• identifying, by the server system, backup data and environment metadata;
• negotiating with the storage system after the backup session is initiated, one or more address location for storing the environment metadata by the storage system;
• generating a metafile for relationship metadata that describes a relationship between the server system and the storage system for use in any restore operation that is based on the backup session, where the relationship metadata is part of the environment metadata;
• during the backup session, from the server system, sending a sequence of blocks comprising the relationship metadata, the backup data and environment metadata to the storage system, the environment metadata describing one or more server metrics of the server system, a server metric relating to power consumption, data capacity, data throughput, or processor utilization of the server system from which the data is being transmitted, the server system being distinct from the storage system;
• at the storage system, receiving and storing the sequence of blocks comprising the relationship metadata, the backup data and the environment metadata at the negotiated location;
• at the storage system, producing a directory data structure for recording storage locations of the received backup data and environment metadata, a block type specifying a backup data or environment metadata type, and access permissions associated with the environment metadata wherein the access permissions and the negotiated one or more address locations are used for allowing or denying access to the environment metadata by the server system;
• at the storage system, receiving a request for restoring data of the server system;
• at the storage system, using the directory data structure for assembling the backup data for the server system by including blocks that comprise backup data for the server system and excluding blocks that comprise the environment metadata for the server system;
• and
• at the storage system, sending the assembled backup data to the server system.

A method for managing environment metadata of a server system during a backup session with a storage system, the method comprising:

• identifying backup data and environment metadata;
• initiating the backup session for backing up data of the server system to the storage system;
• negotiating with the storage system after the backup session is initiated, one or more address location for storing the environment metadata by the storage system;
• generating a metafile for relationship metadata that describes a relationship between the server system and the storage system for use in any restore operation that is based on the backup session, where the relationship metadata is part of the environment metadata;
• sending a sequence of blocks comprising the relationship metadata, the backup data and environment metadata of the server system to the storage system, the environment metadata describing one or more server metrics of the server system, a server metric relating to power consumption, data capacity, data throughput, or processor utilization of the server system from which the data is being transmitted, the server system being distinct from the storage system;
• receiving and storing the sequence of blocks comprising the relationship metadata, the interleaved backup data and environment metadata at the negotiated location;
• producing a directory data structure for managing the backup data and environmental metadata and stores access permissions associated with the environment metadata;
• wherein the access permissions and the negotiated one or more address locations are used for allowing or denying access to the environment metadata by the server system;
• receiving a request for restoring data of the server system;
• using the directory data structure for assembling the backup data for the server system by including blocks that comprise backup data for the server system and excluding blocks that comprise the environment metadata for the server system;
• and
• sending the assembled backup data to the server system.