Efficient tape backup using deduplicated data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9448739-B1
Application number	US-96512310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2010
Priority date	Dec 10, 2010
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

Various systems and methods can be used to perform backup to tape. For example, one method involves detecting an amount of storage in a tape drive that is available for concurrent access. The method then compares the size of a plurality of backup images to the amount of storage prior to initiating an archive operation. The method then involves adding information identifying a backup image to a list of backup images to be included in an archive operation and performing the archive operation, which involves writing the backup images to tape drive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
in response to a request to perform an archive operation, detecting an amount of storage in a set of storage devices, wherein
the set of storage devices comprises a tape drive, and
the amount of storage is available for access at one time;

selecting a backup image of a plurality of backup images to be included in the archive operation;
prior to initiating the archive operation, comparing a size of the backup image to the amount of storage,
adding information identifying the backup image to a list, wherein
the list identifies the plurality of backup images, and
the plurality of backup images are to be included in the archive operation;

performing the archive operation, wherein
the performing the archive operation comprises writing the plurality of backup images to the set of storage devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the list comprises a plurality of fingerprint values, and
each fingerprint value of the plurality of fingerprint values identifies a storage location for a block, a disk value, and an offset value.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
sorting the plurality of fingerprint values.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
modifying a fingerprint of the plurality of fingerprint values.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of backup images comprises backup images of an object, and
the plurality of backup images comprises deduplicated data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the writing is performed in an order specified by the list.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a map that identifies a plurality of storage locations for each backup image written to the set of storage devices.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
restoring an object using a selected backup image of the plurality of backup images stored on the set of storage devices.

9. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
in response to a request to perform an archive operation, detect an amount of storage in a set of storage devices, wherein
the set of storage devices comprises a tape drive, and
the amount of storage is available for access at one time;

select a backup image of a plurality of backup images to be included in the archive operation;
prior to initiating the archive operation,
compare a size of the backup image to the amount of storage,
add information identifying the backup image to a list, wherein
the list identifies the plurality of backup images, and

the plurality of backup images are to be included in the archive operation; and

perform the archive operation, wherein
performance of the archive operation comprises writing the plurality of backup images to the set of storage devices.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein
the list comprises a plurality of fingerprint values, and
each fingerprint value of the plurality of fingerprint values identifies a storage location for a block, a disk value, and an offset value.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to sort the plurality of fingerprint values.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein
the plurality of backup images comprises backup images of an object, and
the plurality of backup images comprises deduplicated data.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein
the writing is performed in an order specified by the list.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to create a map that identifies a plurality of storage locations for each backup image written to the set of storage devices.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to restore an object using a selected backup image of the plurality of backup images stored on the set of storage devices.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions executable to:
in response to a request to perform an archive operation, detect an amount of storage in a set of storage devices, wherein
the set of storage devices comprises a tape drive, and
the amount of storage is available for access at one time;

select a backup image of a plurality of backup images to be included in the archive operation;
prior to initiating the archive operation, compare a size of the backup image to the amount of storage,
add information identifying the backup image to a list, wherein
the list identifies the plurality of backup images, and
the plurality of images are to be included in the archive operation; and

perform the archive operation, wherein
performance of the archive operation comprises writing the plurality of backup images to the set of storage devices.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein
the list comprises a plurality of fingerprint values, and
each fingerprint value of the plurality of fingerprint values identifies a storage location for a block, a disk value, and an offset value.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein
the plurality of backup images comprises backup images of an object, and
the plurality of backup images comprises deduplicated data.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to create a map that identifies a plurality of storage locations for each backup image written to the set of storage devices.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to restore an object using a selected backup image of the plurality of backup images stored on the set of storage devices.

Assignees

• Nagarkar Kuldeep S
• Khurange Ashish Govind
• Veritas Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Nagarkar Kuldeep S
• Khurange Ashish Govind

Classifications

• G06F11/1448 Primary

  Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore · CPC title

• G06F3/0641 Primary

  De-duplication techniques · CPC title

• G06F11/1453

  using de-duplication of the data · CPC title