SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONFIRM REPLICATION DATA ACCURACY FOR DATA BACKUP IN DATA STORAGE SYSTEMS

• US 20140181031A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kumarasamy, Paramasivam, Vallabhaneni, Brahmaiah, Thati, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 9,256,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/640
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2097 maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/184 implemented as replicated file system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A data storage system, according to certain aspects, automatically determines the accuracy of replication data when performing data backup operations. For instance, the system performs data backup using replication data rather than source data to reduce the processing load on the source system. The backup data is then associated with the source data as if the backup had been performed on the source data. If the replication system fails, then backing up replication data results in backup data that does not accurately reflect the source data. The system automatically determines the accuracy of replication data during data backup.

Claims

1. A method of performing data backup in a data storage system, the method comprising:

receiving instructions to back up source data stored in one or more primary storage devices associated with a client computing device;

automatically determining with one or more processors whether replication data stored in one or more replication storage devices is an accurate replication of the source data;

automatically copying with one or more processors the replication data to one or more secondary storage devices to create a secondary copy when the replication data is accurate; and

associating the secondary copy with the source data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises comparing one or more entries in a replication log with one or more corresponding entries in a source log.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the replication data is accurate when the one or more entries in the replication log and the one or more corresponding entries in the source log are the same.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the comparing is performed by a replication agent.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the comparing is performed by a storage manager.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises comparing at least a portion of the source data with at least a corresponding portion of the replication data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the replication data is accurate when the at least a portion of the source data and the at least a corresponding portion of the replication data are the same.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the comparing is performed by a replication agent.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the comparing is performed by a storage manager.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises determining whether a replication operation was successful based at least in part on a length of time to process source log to replication log transactions.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the replication data is accurate when the length of time is less than a processing time limit.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein a replication agent queries a storage manager whether the replication operation was successful.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the storage manager determines whether the replication operation was successful.

14. A system to create secondary copies of data associated with user computing devices, the system comprising:

computer hardware including one or more computer processors; and

computer-readable storage comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer hardware to perform operations defined by the computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions configured to;

receive instructions to back up source data stored in one or more primary storage devices associated with a client computing device;

automatically determine whether replication data stored in one or more replication storage devices is an accurate replication of the source data;

copy the replication data to one or more secondary storage devices to create a secondary copy when the replication data is accurate; and

associate the secondary copy with the source data.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises comparing one or more entries in a replication log with one or more corresponding entries in a source log.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the replication data is accurate when the one or more entries in the replication log and the one or more corresponding entries in the source log are the same.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises comparing at least a portion of the source data with at least a corresponding portion of the replication data.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the replication data is accurate when the at least a portion of the source data and the at least a corresponding portion of the replication data are the same.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein determining whether the replication data is comprises determining whether a replication operation was successful based at least in part on a length of time to process source log to replication log transactions.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the replication data is accurate when the length of time is less than a processing time limit.