Management of multiple generations of backup data

• US 20050149577A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Innovationlaunch Limited
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamada, Masahiro, Okada, Wataru, Emaru, Hironori, Ikeda, Hirokazu, Sato, Masahide
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A backup system is configured by interconnecting a backup management device and disk array device via a SAN. The backup management device allows an administrator to set backup cycle, number of backup generations, and save periods. On the basis of these settings, the backup management device performs an overwrite decision process, and executes backup processes in such a way that the administrator can manage the desired number of generations of backup data with a limited number of volumes. By so doing, the administrator is able to manage multiple generations of backup data, while being allowed to set the save period for each generation on an individual basis.

Claims

1. A backup management device that manage multiple generations of backup data by rotating a plurality of rewriteable backup media while recording backup data onto the backup media according to a predetermined backup cycle, the backup administration device comprising:

a save period input unit that receives save periods for which the backup data should be saved, the save period being individually set by the administrator for each of the multiple generations;

an overwrite-targeted backup medium selecting unit that selects an overwrite-targeted backup medium on the basis of the backup cycle and the save period; and

a backup executing unit that executes new generation backup by overwriting the selected overwrite-targeted backup medium, and when the decision result is that overwriting is not possible, prepares a new backup medium and executes first generation backup, or issues a warning to the user.

2. The backup management device according to claim 1, the backup management device further comprising:

a backup cycle receives unit that inputs the backup cycle set by the user.

3. The backup management device according to claim 1, the backup management device further comprising:

a save period storage unit that stores the save period; and

a medium information storage unit that stores in association with one another the backup medium and the time at which the backup data was stored in the backup medium; and

wherein the overwrite-targeted backup medium selecting unit comprises;

a decision unit that refers to the save period storage unit and the medium information storage unit, and when generation n (n is a natural number) backup data moves to a save period (m+1) one period older than a save period m to which the generation n belongs, decides whether first generation backup data is overwriteable onto the backup medium in which the backup data was stored.

4. The backup management device according to claim 3, wherein the decision unit compares a first predetermined time interval until generation (n−

1) backup data one newer than the generation n backup data moves to the save period (m+1) with a second predetermined time interval until the generation (n+1) backup data leaves the save period (m+1), and when the first predetermined time interval is equal to or shorter than the second predetermined time interval, decides that the backup medium storing the generation n backup data is overwriteable.

5. The backup management device according to claim 1, the backup management device further comprising:

a save period storage unit that stores the save period;

a medium information storage unit that stores in association with one another the backup medium and the time at which the backup data was stored in the backup medium; and

an output unit that refers to the save period storage unit and the medium information storage unit, and outputs in association with one another the save period, the backup medium in which the backup data was stored, and the time at which the backup data was stored in the backup medium.

6. The backup management device according to claim 1, wherein the save period input unit permits input of the save period under the following conditions:

Condition (1);

a plurality of the save periods are successive; and

Condition (2);

the save period of generation (n+1) (n is a natural number) is older than the save period of generation n, and a length of the save period (n+1) is equal to or greater than a length of the save period n.

7. The backup management device according to claim 6, wherein the conditions further include:

Condition (3);

a length of the save period is an integral multiple of the backup cycle.

8. An interface for use in a backup management device that administers multiple generations of backup data by rotating a plurality of rewriteable backup media while recording backup data onto the backup media according to a predetermined backup cycle, the interface having a period display area displayed together with a time axis, predetermined areas of length corresponding to period length and divided by means of divider lines into areas equal in number to the number of save periods for which the backup data should be saved, and the length of each area being displayed as the length of each save period,

wherein the period display area allows a the save period to be modified by means of moving a the divider line through operation of a pointing device by the user.

9. The interface according to claim 8, wherein the period display area displays so as to fulfill the conditions that a save period (n+1) (n is a natural number) is older than a save period n, and a length of the save period (n+1) is equal to or greater than a length of the save period n.

10. The interface according to claim 8, the interface having an management status display area that displays in association with one another the save period, the backup medium in which the backup data was stored, and the time at which the backup data was stored in the backup medium.

11. A control method for controlling a backup management device that manages multiple generations of backup data by rotating a plurality of rewriteable backup media while recording backup data onto the backup media according to a predetermined backup cycle, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting a save period for which the backup data should be saved, the save period being individually set by the user for each of the multiple generations; and

(b) executing backup by means of selecting a predetermined overwrite-targeted backup medium on the basis of the backup cycle and the save period.

12. A control method for controlling a backup management device that manages multiple generations of backup data by storing backup data onto any of a plurality of rewriteable backup media, according to a predetermined backup cycle, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting a save period for which the backup data should be saved, the save period being individually set by the user for each of the multiple generations;

(b) storing the save period;

(c) storing in association with one another a the backup medium and the time at which the backup data was stored on the backup medium;

(d) at each the backup cycle, referring to the save period storage unit and the medium information unit, and when generation n (n is a natural number) backup data moves to a save period (m+1) one period older than a save period m to which the generation n belongs, deciding whether first generation backup data is overwriteable onto the backup medium in which the backup data was stored; and

(e) when the decision result is that overwriting is possible, executes first generation backup by overwriting the backup medium, and when the decision result is that overwriting is not possible, prepares a new backup medium and executes first generation backup, or issues a warning to the user.

13. A computer program product for control of a backup management device that manages multiple generations of backup data by rotating a plurality of rewriteable backup media while recording backup data onto the backup media according to a predetermined backup cycle, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

a first program code unit that acquires a save period for which the backup data should be saved, the save period being individually set by the user for each of the multiple generations;

a second program code unit that selects a predetermined overwrite-targeted backup medium on the basis of the backup cycle and the save period; and

a third program code unit that executes first generation backup by overwriting the selected overwrite-targeted backup medium, and when the decision result is that overwriting is not possible, prepares a new backup medium and executes first generation backup, or issues a warning to the user,

wherein each of the program code units is stored on the computer readable medium.