Removable portable data backup for a network storage system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a storage server, the method comprising:
- a) providing data storage and retrieval services via a network to a client;
b) on a first storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device, creating a first mirror volume of a primary volume;
c) on a second storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device, creating a second mirror volume of the primary volume;
d) quiescing the second storage set;
e) detecting a decoupling of the second storage set from the storage server;
f) creating an incremental backup of the primary volume on the first storage set while the second storage set is not coupled to the storage server;
g) detecting a re-coupling of the second storage set to the storage server; and
h) in response to detecting said re-coupling,h) (1) synchronizing the second mirror volume with the primary volume, andh) (2) swapping active-inactive statuses of the first and second storage sets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage server creates a first mirror of a primary volume of data on a first storage set that includes at least one disk and creates a second mirror of the primary volume, on a second storage set that also includes at least one disk. The server then quiesces the second storage set. A user then decouples the second storage set from the server and transports the second storage set off-site. The storage server then saves one or more incremental backups of the primary volume on the first storage set according to a specified backup schedule. According to a specified rotation schedule, a user subsequently recouples the second storage set to the server. The server detects the recoupling and, in response, automatically resynchronizes the second mirror with the primary volume, and swaps the active-inactive statuses of the first and second mirrors. The process repeats as needed.
73 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of operating a storage server, the method comprising:
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a) providing data storage and retrieval services via a network to a client; b) on a first storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device, creating a first mirror volume of a primary volume; c) on a second storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device, creating a second mirror volume of the primary volume; d) quiescing the second storage set; e) detecting a decoupling of the second storage set from the storage server; f) creating an incremental backup of the primary volume on the first storage set while the second storage set is not coupled to the storage server; g) detecting a re-coupling of the second storage set to the storage server; and h) in response to detecting said re-coupling, h) (1) synchronizing the second mirror volume with the primary volume, and h) (2) swapping active-inactive statuses of the first and second storage sets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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a) operating a storage server which provides data storage and retrieval services via a network to a plurality of clients, including causing the storage server to maintain a primary data volume; b) causing the storage server to create a first mirror volume of the primary volume, on a first storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device, a first mirror volume of a primary data volume; c) causing the storage server to create a second mirror volume of the primary volume, on a second storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device; d) causing the second storage set to be quiesced; e) decoupling the second storage set from the storage server and moving the second storage set to a remote location relative to a location of the first storage set; f) causing the storage server to create an incremental backup of the primary volume on the first storage set according to a backup schedule while the second storage set is not coupled to the storage server; g) at a user-selected time after the incremental backup has been created, re-coupling the second storage set to the storage server; h) synchronizing the second mirror volume with the primary volume; i) swapping active-inactive statuses of the first mirror volume and the second mirror volume; and j) repeating said d) through i), wherein roles of the first storage set and the second storage set are swapped at each repetition of said d) through i). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A storage server comprising:
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a communication interface through which to communicate with a plurality of clients via a network; logic to provide data storage and retrieval services to the plurality of clients; and logic to; create a first mirror data volume of a primary volume, on a first storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device; create a second mirror volume of the primary volume, on a second storage set that includes a non-volatile mass storage device; quiesce the second storage set; detect a decoupling of the second storage set from the storage server; create an incremental backup of the primary volume on the first storage set while the second storage set is not coupled to the storage server; detect a re-coupling of the second storage set to the storage server; and respond to detecting said re-coupling by synchronizing the second mirror volume with the primary volume, and swapping active-inactive statuses of the first mirror volume and the second mirror volume. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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operating a first storage server which provides data storage and retrieval services via a network to a client, including causing a mirror volume of a primary volume to be created on a storage set coupled to the first storage server, the storage set including a non-volatile mass storage device; and causing the storage set to be quiesced; decoupling the storage set from the first storage server; coupling the storage set to a second storage server; causing the storage set to be activated at the second storage server; and operating the second storage server, including servicing a client request directed to the mirror volume at the second storage server. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification