Uninterrupted file level backup operation using a virtual object file queue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11853267-B2
Application number	US-202016734277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2020
Priority date	Jan 3, 2020
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments are described for performing an uninterrupted backup in a storage system responsive to an abort event. A backup agent receives a plurality of file objects to be backed up on a target device during a first backup session. The backup agent initiates a parent interrupt service routine (ISR), which generates a plurality of child ISRs. Each of the plurality of child ISRs monitors a backup state of a corresponding file object. The parent ISR generates a virtual file object queue (VFOQ) to store a current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects. When an abort occurs, the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects is saved in a respective child ISR of that file object. During a subsequent backup session, backup of the plurality of file objects commences based on the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of file objects to be backed up on a target device during a first backup session;
starting a parent interrupt service routine (ISR), wherein the parent ISR generates a plurality of child ISRs, each of the plurality of child ISRs to monitor a backup state of a corresponding file object among the plurality of file objects;
generating a virtual file object queue (VFOQ) to store a current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects;
in response to detecting an abort of the first backup session, saving a current state of the VFOQ as a whole and using the VFOQ to track the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects, and saving the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects in a respective child ISR of that file object; and
during a subsequent backup session, resuming backup of the plurality of file objects based on the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects as indicated by the VFOQ.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein resuming backup of the plurality of file objects comprises:
identifying, based on the VFOQ, one or more file objects that were not completely backed up during the first backup session; and
instructing the child ISR for each of the one or more file objects to enforce their saved current backup state on the corresponding file object.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving an acknowledgement that a file object was received by the target device; and
in response to receiving the acknowledgement, updating a current backup state of the file object in the VFOQ to indicate that the file object has been successfully backed up.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
in response to updating a current backup state of the file object in the VFOQ to indicate that the file object has been successfully backed up, terminating a child ISR corresponding to the file object.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
in response to determining that all child ISRs have been terminated, terminating the parent ISR.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current backup state of a file object corresponds to a backup process the file object is currently undergoing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VFOQ is generated and monitored by the parent ISR.

8. A system comprising:
a memory to store a plurality of objects to be backed up on a target device during a first backup session; and
a processor to:
receive a plurality of file objects to be backed up on a target device during a first backup session;
start a parent interrupt service routine (ISR), wherein the parent ISR generates a plurality of child ISRs, each of the plurality of child ISRs to monitor a backup state of a corresponding file object among the plurality of file objects;
generate a virtual file object queue (VFOQ) to store a current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects;
in response to detecting an abort of the first backup session, save a current state of the VFOQ as a whole and use the VFOQ to track the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects, and save the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects in a respective child ISR of that file object; and
during a subsequent backup session, resume backup of the plurality of file objects based on the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects as indicated by the VFOQ.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein to resume backup of the plurality of file objects, the processor is to:
identify, based on the VFOQ, one or more file objects that were not completely backed up during the first backup session; and
instruct the child ISR for each of the one or more file objects to enforce their saved current backup state on the corresponding file object.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further to:
receive an acknowledgement that a file object was received by the target device; and
in response to receiving the acknowledgement, update a current backup state of the file object in the VFOQ to indicate that the file object has been successfully backed up.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further to:
in response to updating a current backup state of the file object in the VFOQ to indicate that the file object has been successfully backed up, terminate a child ISR corresponding to the file object.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further to:
in response to determining that all child ISRs have been terminated, terminate the parent ISR.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the current backup state of a file object corresponds to a backup process the file object is currently undergoing.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor generates and monitors the VFOQ using the parent ISR.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive a plurality of file objects to be backed up on a target device during a first backup session;
start a parent interrupt service routine (ISR), wherein the parent ISR generates a plurality of child ISRs, each of the plurality of child ISRs to monitor a backup state of a corresponding file object among the plurality of file objects;
generate a virtual file object queue (VFOQ) to store a current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects;
in response to detecting an abort of the first backup session, save a current state of the VFOQ as a whole and use the VFOQ to track the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects, and save the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects in a respective child ISR of that file object; and
during a subsequent backup session, resume backup of the plurality of file objects based on the current backup state of each of the plurality of file objects as indicated by the VFOQ.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein to resume backup of the plurality of file objects, the processor is to:
identify, based on the VFOQ, one or more file objects that were not completely backed up during the first backup session; and
instruct the child ISR for each of the one or more file objects to enforce their saved current backup state on the corresponding file object.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further to:
receive an acknowledgement that a file object was received by the target device; and
in response to receiving the acknowledgement, update a current backup state of the file object in the VFOQ to indicate that the file object has been successfully backed up.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further to:
in response to updating a current backup state of the file object in the VFOQ to indicate that the file object has been successfully backed up, terminate a child ISR corresponding to the file object.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further to:
in response to determining that all child ISRs have been terminated, terminate the parent ISR.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the current backup state of a file object corresponds to a backup process the file object is currently undergoing.

Assignees

• Emc Ip Holding Co Llc

Inventors

• Appireddygari Venkataramana Mahesh Reddy
• Battal Chetan
• Ambaljeri Mahantesh
• Shankar Dh Swaroop

Classifications

• G06F16/188 Primary

  Virtual file systems · CPC title

• G06F11/1464

  for networked environments · CPC title

• G06F2201/815

  Virtual · CPC title

• G06F11/1451

  by selection of backup contents · CPC title

• G06F11/1466

  to make the backup process non-disruptive · CPC title