SERVER, BACKUP SYSTEM AND BACKUP METHOD

• US 20140244589A1
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: EGAMI, KENICHI, CHIBA, TAKESHI
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/654
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2048 where the redundant components share neither address space nor persistent storage
• 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

Abstract

A server includes: a first data storage device that stores therein data for use in service provided by the server; a backup data storage device that stores therein backup data for data stored in a second data storage device of another server; a service provision unit that provides the service by using the data stored in the first data storage device and by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage device; an update information creation unit that creates update information representing a content of the updating of the first data storage device; an update information transmission unit that transmits the created update information to the another server; and an update information reception unit that receives update information which is transmitted from the another server, and reflects the content of updating of the second data storage device on the backup data stored in the backup data storage device.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

a first data storage device that stores therein data for use in service provided by the server;

a backup data storage device that stores therein backup data for data stored in a second data storage device included in another server;

a service provision unit that provides the service by using the data stored in the first data storage device, and in response to a request from a client terminal utilizing service provided by the another server, provides the client terminal with the service by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage device;

an update information creation unit that, when a content of the first data storage device is updated by the service provision unit, creates update information representing a content of the updating having been performed on the content of the first data storage device;

an update information transmission unit that transmits the created update information to the another server; and

an update information reception unit that receives update information which is transmitted from the another server and which represents a content of updating having been performed on a content of the second data storage device, and reflects the content of the updating having been performed on the content of the second data storage device on the backup data stored in the backup data storage device on the basis of the received update information.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein, when providing the client terminal with the service by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage device, the service provision unit causes the backup data to be in a read-only mode.

3. The server according to claim 1, wherein, in the case where the service is an e-mail service,

the first data storage device stores mail data therein;

the backup data storage device stores therein backup data for mail data for use in the e-mail service provided by the another server;

the service provision unit provides the e-mail service by using the data stored in the first data storage device, and, in response to a request from a client terminal utilizing the e-mail service provided by the another server, provides the client terminal with the e-mail service by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage device.

4. The server according to claim 1, wherein the update information creation unit creates and accumulates the update information, and the update information transmission unit detects the accumulation of the update information and serially transmits the accumulated update information.

5. A backup system comprising a plurality of the servers each according to claim 1.

6. A backup method for a server including a first data storage device that stores therein data for use in service provided by the server, and a backup data storage device that stores therein backup data for a second data storage device of another server, the backup method comprising:

providing service by using the data stored in the first data storage device;

when a content of the first data storage device is updated in conjunction with the provision of the service, creating update information representing a content of the updating having been performed on the content of the first data storage device;

transmitting the created update information to the another server;

when receiving update information which is transmitted from the another server and which represents a content of updating having been performed on a content of the second data storage device, reflecting the content of the updating having been performed on the content of the second data storage device on the backup data stored in the backup data storage device on the basis of the received update information; and

in response to a request from a client terminal utilizing service provided by the another server, providing the client terminal with the service by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage device.

7. The backup method according to claim 6, wherein, when the service is provided to the client terminal by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage device, the backup data storage device is caused to be in a read-only mode.

8. A server comprising:

a first data storage means for storing therein data for use in service provided by the server;

a backup data storage means for storing therein backup data for data stored in a second data storage means included in another server;

a service provision means for providing the service by using the data stored in the first data storage means, and in response to a request from a client terminal utilizing service provided by the another server, provides the client terminal with the service by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage means;

an update information creation means, when a content of the first data storage means is updated by the service provision means, for creating update information representing a content of the updating having been performed on the content of the first data storage means;

an update information transmission means for transmitting the created update information to the another server; and

an update information reception means for receiving update information which is transmitted from the another server and which represents a content of updating having been performed on a content of the second data storage means, and reflects the content of the updating having been performed on the content of the second data storage means on the backup data stored in the backup data storage means on the basis of the received update information.

9. The server according to claim 8, wherein, when providing the client terminal with the service by using the backup data stored in the backup data storage means, the service provision means causes the backup data to be in a read-only mode.