Method to allow multi-read access for exclusive access of virtual disks by using a virtualized copy of the disk
First Claim
1. A backup system comprising:
- a backup server comprising circuitry; and
a backup storage medium;
in response to receiving a request for access to a backup image stored on the backup medium, wherein the request for access corresponds to an open session granting exclusive access to the backup image, the backup server is configured to;
in response to determining a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session identified by a session identifier does not exist;
create a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session; and
create a lock file that is associated with the virtual copy and not the unlocked backup image, wherein the lock file provides exclusive single-session access to the virtual copy while the backup image is unlocked and provides concurrent access by a plurality of sessions; and
store data associated with the request in the virtual copy without modifying the backup image while the session is open, in response to determining the request is a write request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for efficient dynamic browsing of virtualized backup images. A client computer sends to a backup server a request to open a browse session for a given backup image stored on a backup medium which may be a virtual disk file. The virtual disk file is typically locked by a hypervisor for protection against consistency problems. A backup application creates a virtual copy for the given backup image if it doesn'"'"'t already exist. The backup application directs each of a virtual file filter and the hypervisor to open the virtual copy in order to obtain information for later redirections and to create a lock file for the virtual copy. The backup application and the virtual file filter route access requests to the given backup image and the virtual copy based on the of access request.
158 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A backup system comprising:
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a backup server comprising circuitry; and a backup storage medium; in response to receiving a request for access to a backup image stored on the backup medium, wherein the request for access corresponds to an open session granting exclusive access to the backup image, the backup server is configured to; in response to determining a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session identified by a session identifier does not exist; create a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session; and create a lock file that is associated with the virtual copy and not the unlocked backup image, wherein the lock file provides exclusive single-session access to the virtual copy while the backup image is unlocked and provides concurrent access by a plurality of sessions; and store data associated with the request in the virtual copy without modifying the backup image while the session is open, in response to determining the request is a write request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
in response to receiving, by a backup server comprising circuitry, a request for access to a backup image stored on a backup storage medium, wherein the request for access corresponds to an open session granting exclusive access to the backup image; in response to determining, by the backup server, a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session identified by a session identifier identified by a session identifier does not exist; creating, by the backup server, a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session; and creating, by the backup server, a lock file that is associated with the virtual copy and not the unlocked backup image, wherein the lock file provides exclusive single-session access to the virtual copy while the backup image is unlocked and provides concurrent access by a plurality of sessions; and storing data associated with the request in the virtual copy without modifying the backup image while the session is open, if in response to determining the request is a write request. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that are executable by a backup server comprising circuitry to:
in response to receiving a request for access to a backup image stored on the backup medium, wherein the request for access corresponds to an open session granting exclusive access to the backup image; in response to determining a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session identified by a session identifier does not exist; create a virtual copy of the backup image associated with the open session; and create a lock file that is associated with the virtual copy and not the unlocked backup image, wherein the lock file provides exclusive single-session access to the virtual copy while the backup image is unlocked and provides concurrent access by a plurality of sessions; and store data associated with the request in the virtual copy without modifying the backup image while the session is open, if in response to determining the request is a write request. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
Specification