File archival

• US 20020152194A1
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sathyanarayan, Ramaprakash H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/113 Details of archiving lifecycle management in storage systems G06F3/0649; backup systems G06F11/1446
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Archival in a computer is performed by creating a process if an item to be copied is a directory, and alternatively by copying the item if the item is a file. The created process in turn recursively performs the just-described acts, e.g. the act of creating or copying, with another item located in the just-described directory. Therefore, depending on the number of directories to be copied, a corresponding number of processes may be created, which speeds up copying. A default limit on a resource available to a copy process may be set to a maximum limit for the resource, for speedy copying. Archival may be speeded up by transferring data from the file into a temporary buffer, locking the temporary buffer, and invoking a direct memory access (DMA) process. Archival may be speeded up also by checking for and eliminating the copying of circular links (such as a symbolic link that points to itself). Such a created process may send an email message if a resource at a destination is full, and wait to be restarted subsequent to sending the email message. A user that receives the email message makes appropriate arrangements (e.g. deletes files in a destination disk or loads a new disk), and therafter restarts the stopped process. On being restarted, the process recopies a file if it was in the middle of copying the file when it was stopped.

Claims

1. A method of copying items implemented in a computer, the method comprising

creating a process if an item to be copied is a directory;

and

copying the item if the item is a file.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the process performing the act of creating or copying with another item in the directory.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the copying:

repeating the act of creating or copying with another item.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the creating:

comparing a current number of processes started for copying with a limit; and

waiting if the current number is greater than or equal to the limit.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the copying:

increasing from a default limit on a resource to a maximum limit for the resource.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the resource is number of open files.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the resource is file size.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the resource is memory.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the memory is organized as a stack.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the memory is organized as a heap.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the copying comprises:

transferring data from the file into a temporary buffer;

locking the temporary buffer; and

invoking a direct memory access (DMA) process for making a copy from the temporary buffer.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the copying:

checking if the item is a link to itself, and

performing said copying only if the item is not a link to itself.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the checking includes a string comparison operation.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising, during the copying:

sending an email message if a resource at a destination is full.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, during the copying:

waiting to be restarted subsequent to sending the email message.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said waiting comprises:

sending a signal to self to suspend execution.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising, during the copying:

recopying said file from beginning, on being restarted.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

identifying an email address from a password file based on an identity of a user that started the process of performing the creating or copying.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said creating is performed only if said directory is not a current directory and not a parent directory.

20. A method of copying files implemented in a computer, the method comprising:

increasing from a default limit on a resource to a maximum limit for the resource; and

copying a file.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein:

said resource is one of (number of open files, file size, and memory).

22. A method of copying files implemented in a computer, the method comprising:

transferring data from the file into a temporary buffer;

locking the temporary buffer; and

invoking a direct memory access (DMA) process for making a copy from the temporary buffer.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising, prior to the transferring:

checking if the file is a link to itself; and

performing said copying only if the file is not a link to itself.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

waiting to be restarted subsequent to sending the email message.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

identifying an email address from a password file based on an identity of a user that started the copying.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

changing the resources at the destination in response to the email message; and

restarting the process.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

means for sending an email message if a destination disk is full.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

means for increasing a limit on a resource to maximum.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said means for copying comprises:

means for using a temporary buffer; and

means for using direct memory access (DMA).

33. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

means for checking if the item is a link to itself.

24. A method of copying files implemented in a computer, the method comprising:

copying a file; and

sending an email message if a resource at a destination is full.

27. A method of copying files, the method comprising:

starting a process for copying a file; and

receiving an email message if a resource at a destination is full.

29. An apparatus for copying items, the apparatus comprising

means for creating a process if an item to be copied is a directory;

and

means for copying the item if the item is a file.