Retrieving point-in-time copies of a source database for creating virtual databases
First Claim
1. A method for storing copies of databases in a database storage system, the method comprising:
- maintaining, by the database storage system, a plurality of copies of a source database on a storage system, each copy including a plurality of database blocks, wherein a database block is a unit of data used by a database, wherein a portion of the database block stores metadata associated with the database block, wherein one or more database blocks are associated with at least two copies of the source database stored on the database storage system, the maintaining comprising, iteratively;
receiving, by the database storage system, from a backup server maintaining backups of the source database, a full backup of the source database;
restoring the full backup of the source database to obtain a first copy of the source database;
creating, by the database storage system, one or more intermediate copies of the source database, comprising;
receiving transaction logs from the backup server; and
creating an intermediate copy by updating the first copy or a previously created intermediate copy of the source database by applying the received transaction logs;
determining whether a recent copy of the source database can be successfully updated using transaction logs received from the backup server;
responsive to detecting a failure in updating the recent copy using the received transaction logs, receiving, from the backup server, another full backup of the source database;
restoring the other full backup of the source database to obtain a plurality of database blocks; and
determining, by the database storage system, a subset of the plurality of database blocks, the determining comprising, excluding database blocks that match corresponding database blocks of a previously stored copy of the source database;
storing the determined subset of database blocks as a new copy of the source database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage system maintains copies of a source database to allow virtual databases to be provisioned. Transaction logs received from the source database are applied to database blocks stored in the storage system to update the database blocks. The storage system checks if there are defect in the transaction logs of the source database. If a defect in transaction logs is detected, the storage system obtains a latest copy of the source database. The storage system matches database blocks of the received copy with database blocks already available in the storage system to determine whether a corresponding database block is already available in the storage system. If a received database block is different from database blocks already available at the storage system, the received database block is stored in the storage system. The database blocks may be matched using a hash value of the database blocks.
62 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for storing copies of databases in a database storage system, the method comprising:
maintaining, by the database storage system, a plurality of copies of a source database on a storage system, each copy including a plurality of database blocks, wherein a database block is a unit of data used by a database, wherein a portion of the database block stores metadata associated with the database block, wherein one or more database blocks are associated with at least two copies of the source database stored on the database storage system, the maintaining comprising, iteratively; receiving, by the database storage system, from a backup server maintaining backups of the source database, a full backup of the source database; restoring the full backup of the source database to obtain a first copy of the source database; creating, by the database storage system, one or more intermediate copies of the source database, comprising; receiving transaction logs from the backup server; and creating an intermediate copy by updating the first copy or a previously created intermediate copy of the source database by applying the received transaction logs; determining whether a recent copy of the source database can be successfully updated using transaction logs received from the backup server; responsive to detecting a failure in updating the recent copy using the received transaction logs, receiving, from the backup server, another full backup of the source database; restoring the other full backup of the source database to obtain a plurality of database blocks; and determining, by the database storage system, a subset of the plurality of database blocks, the determining comprising, excluding database blocks that match corresponding database blocks of a previously stored copy of the source database; storing the determined subset of database blocks as a new copy of the source database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21)
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8. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program modules configured to execute on a computer processor, the computer program modules comprising:
a database storage system configured to maintain a plurality of copies of a source database on a database storage system, each copy including a plurality of database blocks, wherein a database block is a unit of data used by a database, wherein a portion of the database block stores metadata associated with the database block, wherein one or more database blocks are associated with at least two copies of the source database stored on the database storage system, the database storage system comprising instructions to; receive, from a backup server maintaining backups of the source database, a full backup of the source database; send a request to restore the full backup of the source database to obtain a first copy of the source database; create one or more intermediate copies of the source database by receiving transaction logs from the backup server and creating an intermediate copy by updating the first copy or a previously created intermediate copy of the source database by applying the received transaction logs; determine whether a recent copy of the source database can be successfully updated using transaction logs received from the backup server; responsive to detecting a failure in updating the recent copy using the received information, receive, from the backup server, another full backup of the source database; send a request to restore the other full backup of the source database to obtain a plurality of database blocks; and determine a subset of the plurality of database blocks by excluding, the database blocks that match corresponding database blocks of a previously stored copy of the source database; store the determined subset of database blocks as a new copy of the source database. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented system for storing copies of databases in a database storage system, the system comprising:
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a computer processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program modules configured to execute on the computer processor, the computer program modules comprising; a database storage system configured to maintain a plurality of copies of a source database on a storage system, each copy including a plurality of database blocks, wherein a database block is a unit of data used by a database, wherein a portion of the database block stores metadata associated with the database block, wherein one or more database blocks are associated with at least two copies of the source database stored on the database storage system, the database storage system comprising instructions to; receive, from a backup server maintaining backups of the source database, a full backup of the source database; send a request to restore the full backup of the source database to obtain a first copy of the source database; create one or more intermediate copies of the source database by receiving transaction logs from the backup server and creating an intermediate copy by updating the first copy or a previously created intermediate copy of the source database by applying the received transaction logs; determine whether a recent copy of the source database can be successfully updated using transaction logs received from the backup server; responsive to detecting a failure in updating the recent copy using the received information, receive, from the backup server, another full backup of the source database; send a request to restore the other full backup of the source database to obtain a plurality of database blocks; and determine a subset of the plurality of database blocks by excluding, the database blocks that match corresponding database blocks of a previously stored copy of the source database; store the determined subset of database blocks as a new copy of the source database. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification