Extensible method for obtaining an historical record of data backup activity (and errors) and converting same into a canonical format

• US 20040054699A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bocada LLC
• Original Assignee: Bocada Incorporated
• Inventors: Bear, Cory, Scanlan, Liam
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

An extensible method and system for obtaining an historical record of data backup activity (and errors) from a plurality of data backup software devices, and converting the same into a canonical format, is disclosed. In the first aspect, a method comprises the steps of providing a late-binding mechanism that provides the invention with extensibility so that it can be made to inter-operate with an arbitrary variety of backup software devices. In the second aspect, an interface for requesting and returning a canonical backup activity log is disclosed. In the third aspect, an interface for requesting and returning a canonical backup error log is disclosed. In the fourth aspect, the use of a canonical format enables the data to be cross-referenced, consolidated and compared.

Claims

1. A method of representing historical records of data backup activity from a plurality of data backup products in a format that enables this information to be cross-referenced, consolidated, and compared comprising:

(a) providing a computer network with data backup activity performed by a plurality of data backup products each with its own clients and servers,

(b) providing a host computer interfaced to said network,

(c) providing said host computer is running a software device or program that includes said method as one of its software components,

(d) providing for each data backup product a backup engine plug-in that will obtain historical records of data backup activity from that data backup product,

(e) providing historical records of data backup activity expressed as a canonical backup log containing backup job records including;

i. a date and time that a data backup attempt or operation took place, and

ii. a proprietary name of the data backup client, and

iii. a fully qualified host name of the data backup client, and

iv. a number of bytes that were backed up or default value, and

v. a number of files or objects that were backed up or a default value, and

vi. a proprietary data backup level name or a default value, and

vii. a canonical data backup level name or a default value, and

viii. a description of where the information in the data backup job record was obtained, and

ix. a number of seconds that elapsed during the data backup operation or a default value, and

x. a number of errors or a default value, and

xi. a data and time the data backup will expire or default value, and

xii. a logical target name, and

xiii. a media label of the storage media the data backup was written to,

(f) providing a request for the said canonical backup activity log from a said software device or program, whereby said method will make available to said software device or program said canonical backup activity log in response to the asynchronous requests made by said software device or program.

2. A device for obtaining historical records of data backup activity from a plurality of data backup products in a format that enables this information to be cross-referenced, consolidated, and compared comprising:

(a) a computer network with data backup activity performed by a plurality of data backup products each with its own clients and servers,

(b) a host computer interfaced to said network,

(c) said host computer running a program that includes said device as one of its software components.

(d) a plurality of data backup products,

(e) a specific backup engine plug-in for each said backup product,

(f) historical records of data backup activity from each specific data backup product,

(g) canonical backup activity logs including;

i. a date and time that a data backup attempt or operation took place, and

ii. a proprietary name of the data backup client, and

iii. a fully qualified host name of the data backup client, and

iv. a number of bytes that were backed up or a default value, and

v. a number of files or objects that were backed up or a default value, and

vi. a proprietary data backup level name or a default value, and

vii. a canonical data backup level name or a default value, and

viii. a description of where the information in the data backup job record was obtained, and

ix. a number of seconds that elapsed during the data backup operation or a default value, and

x. a number of errors or default value or a default value, and

xi. a data and time the data backup will expire or a default value, and

xii. a logical target name, and

xiii. a media label of the storage media the data backup was written to,

(g) a request for the said canonical backup activity log from a said program, whereby said device will make available to said program said canonical backup activity log in response to the asynchronous requests made by said program. 3 A method for extending the use of the of said invention to obtain historical records of data backup activity from a previously unsupported backup product, comprising;

(a) providing a computer network with data backup activity performed by a said previously unsupported data backup product with its own clients and server,

(b) providing a host computer interfaced to said network,

(c) providing said host computer is running a software device or program that includes said method as one of its software components,

(d) providing for the said data backup product a backup engine plug-in that will obtain historical records of data backup activity from said data backup product,

(e) providing the said canonical backup activity log format described in claim 1 whereby said method will make available to said software device or program said canonical backup activity log in response to the asynchronous requests made by said software device or program.