Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving multiple point-in-time consistent data sets
First Claim
1. A method of processing multiple point-in-time consistent data sets comprising:
- creating a first data set;
creating a second data set wherein the first data set and the second data set are associated with a backup appliance which is associated with backup storage;
transferring a first update from a primary storage controller to the backup appliance;
determining that the first update affects first data stored in the backup storage that has been unchanged following the creation of the first data set and the second data set;
reading the first data from the backup storage;
writing a copy of the first data to the first data set;
saving a pointer associated with the second data set and directed to the copy of the first data; and
applying the update to the first data on the backup storage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture containing instructions for processing multiple point-in-time consistent data sets. The method consists of creating multiple point-in-time data sets associated with a backup appliance which is associated with backup storage. Upon the transfer of a first update from a primary storage controller to the backup appliance, a determination is made whether the update affects data stored in the backup storage has been unchanged following the creation of the respective data sets. If the update does affect data which is unchanged following the creation of a data set, the current, non-updated data is read from the backup storage. A copy of the current, non-updated data thus read from the backup storage is stored in a storage location which can be one of the data sets or an independent memory location. In addition, pointers are associated with the remaining applicable data sets and directed to the copy at its storage location. Subsequently, the update is applied to the data on the backup storage device. In the event an update is subsequently transferred from the primary storage controller to the backup appliance which affects data stored in backup storage which has already been changed since the creation of an applicable data set, no further data is written to the applicable data set and the update is applied to the backup storage.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of processing multiple point-in-time consistent data sets comprising:
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creating a first data set;
creating a second data set wherein the first data set and the second data set are associated with a backup appliance which is associated with backup storage;
transferring a first update from a primary storage controller to the backup appliance;
determining that the first update affects first data stored in the backup storage that has been unchanged following the creation of the first data set and the second data set;
reading the first data from the backup storage;
writing a copy of the first data to the first data set;
saving a pointer associated with the second data set and directed to the copy of the first data; and
applying the update to the first data on the backup storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of processing multiple point-in-time consistent data sets comprising:
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creating a first data set;
creating a second data set wherein the first data set and the second data set are associated with a backup appliance having memory and which is associated with backup storage;
transferring a first update from a primary storage controller to the backup appliance;
determining that the first update affects first data stored in the backup storage that has been unchanged since following the creation of the first data set and the second data set;
reading the first data from the backup storage;
storing a copy of the first data to a memory location independent of the first and second data sets;
saving a pointer associated with each of the first data set and the second data set and directed to the copy of the first data; and
applying the update to the first data on the backup storage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A backup appliance associated with backup storage, the backup appliance having the capability to receive data updates from a primary storage controller and the backup appliance comprising:
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means for creating a first data set;
means for creating a second data set;
means for determining whether a data update affects data that has been unchanged following the creation of the first data set and the second data set;
means for reading the first data from the backup storage;
means for writing a copy of the first data to a storage location associated with one of the first data set, the second data set and a memory location independent of the first and second data sets;
means for saving a pointer associated with one of the first data set and the second data set and directed to the copy of the first data; and
means for applying the update to the first data on the backup storage. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An article of manufacture for use in programming a backup device to process multiple point-in-time consistent data sets, the article of manufacture comprising instructions for:
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creating a first data set;
creating a second data set wherein the first data set and the second data set are associated with a backup appliance which is associated with backup storage;
transferring a first update from a primary storage controller to the backup appliance;
determining that the first update affects first data stored in the backup storage that has been unchanged following the creation of the first data set and the second data set;
reading the first data from the backup storage;
writing a copy of the first data to the first data set;
saving a pointer associated with the second data set and directed to the copy of the first data; and
applying the update to the first data on the backup storage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An article of manufacture for use in programming a backup device to process multiple point-in-time consistent data sets, the article of manufacture comprising instructions for:
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creating a first data set;
creating a second data set wherein the first data set and the second data set are associated with a backup appliance having memory and which is associated with backup storage;
transferring a first update from a primary storage controller to the backup appliance;
determining that the first update affects first data stored in the backup storage that has been unchanged since following the creation of the first data set and the second data set;
reading the first data from the backup storage;
storing a copy of the first data to a memory location independent of the first and second data sets;
saving a pointer associated with each of the first data set and the second data set and directed to the copy of the first data; and
applying the update to the first data on the backup storage. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification