Backup by ID-suppressed instant virtual copy then physical backup copy with ID reintroduced

• US 6,557,089 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Reed, David Charles, Thompson, John Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Portka, Gary J
• Application Number:
  US09/724,129
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204, 711/161, 711/162, 714/5, 714/6, 714/15
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A backup copy of a source data volume is created by first performing an instant virtual copy with source volume identifier (ID) suspended, then creating a physical tape backup copy from the instant virtual copy with the source volume ID being reintroduced. This creates an exact duplicate of the source volume with minimal impact on access to the source volume. Moreover, the resultant backup copy is less costly and error prone because it is created by a machine-automated process rather than various commands issued by a system administrator. In addition, by differentiating the volume IDs during intermediate copy steps, the invention is more fault tolerant since failure of the storage subsystem will not result in source and a temporary copy having confusingly indistinguishable volume IDs.

Claims

1. A method of creating a backup copy of a source data object including a first object identifier, comprising operations of:

creating an instant virtual copy of the source object, the instant virtual copy including an object identifier different than the first object identifier and also including a hidden representation of the first object identifier; and

creating a physical backup copy from the instant virtual copy comprising;

utilizing the instant virtual copy as source to create a non-virtual backup copy;

reading the hidden representation of the first object identifier from at least one of the following;

the instant virtual copy, the backup copy; and

reintroducing the first object identifier as the object identifier for the backup copy.

2. The method of claim 1, where the backup copy is created upon magnetic tape.

3. The method of claim 1, the hidden representation residing in a storage site in the instant virtual copy not designated for containing an object identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, where:

the operation of creating the instant virtual copy includes generating Home Area Architecture bindings and instant virtual data copy relationships; and

the operations further include withdrawing the instant virtual copy relationships.

5. The method of claim 1, where:

the operations of creating the instant virtual copy and creating the physical backup copy are performed as an automated sequence responsive to a single input stimuli.

6. The method of claim 1, the source data object comprising a logical volume of data.

7. A backup process for use in a data storage system where data objects each include an object identifier, comprising operations of:

creating an instant virtual copy of a source object and differentiating identifiers of the source object and the instant virtual copy, the differentiating operation including storing the identifier of the source object in the instant virtual copy in a storage site not designated for object identifier storage;

creating a physical backup copy from the instant virtual copy, recalling the identifier of the source object from the storage site, and reintroducing the recalled identifier as identifier for the backup copy.

8. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for creating a backup copy of a source data object including a first object identifier, said method comprising operations of:

creating an instant virtual copy of the source object, the instant virtual copy including an object identifier different than the first object identifier and also including a hidden representation of the first object identifier; and

creating a physical backup copy from the instant virtual copy comprising;

utilizing the instant virtual copy as source to create a non-virtual backup copy;

reading the hidden representation of the first object identifier from at least one of the following;

the instant virtual copy, the backup copy; and

reintroducing the first object identifier as the object identifier for the backup copy.

9. The medium of claim 8, where the backup copy is created upon magnetic tape.

10. The medium of claim 8, the hidden representation residing in a storage site in the instant virtual copy not designated for containing an object identifier.

11. The medium of claim 8, where:

the operation of creating the instant virtual copy includes generating Home Area Architecture bindings and instant virtual data copy relationships; and

the operations further include withdrawing the instant virtual copy relationships.

12. The medium of claim 8, where:

the operations of creating the instant virtual copy and creating the physical backup copy are performed as an automated sequence responsive to a single input stimuli.

13. The medium of claim 8, the source data object comprising a logical volume of data.

14. A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations for creating a backup copy of a source data object including a first object identifier, said operations comprising:

creating an instant virtual copy of the source object, the instant virtual copy including an object identifier different than the first object identifier and also including a hidden representation of the first object identifier; and

creating a physical backup copy from the instant virtual copy comprising;

utilizing the instant virtual copy as source to create a non-virtual backup copy;

reading the hidden representation of the first object identifier from at least one of the following;

the instant virtual copy, the backup copy; and

reintroducing the first object identifier as the object identifier for the backup copy.

15. A storage system, comprising:

at least one digital data storage interconnected to at least one storage controller; and

a storage manager coupled to the storage controller, the storage manager being programmed to perform backup operations comprising;

directing the controller to create in the storage an instant virtual copy of a source object that includes a first object identifier, the instant virtual copy including an object identifier different than the first object identifier and also including a hidden representation of the first object identifier; and

directing the controller to create a physical backup copy from the instant virtual copy comprising;

utilizing the instant virtual copy as source to create a non-virtual backup copy;

reading the hidden representation of the first object identifier from at least one of the following;

the instant virtual copy, the backup copy; and

reintroducing the first object identifier as the object identifier for the backup copy.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, the digital data storage configured as Log Structured Array.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, the digital data storage configured as Home Area Architecture.

18. A storage system, comprising:

first means for storing digital data;

second means for controlling operation of the first means; and

third means for performing backup operations by;

directing the second means to create in the first means an instant virtual copy of a source object that includes a first object identifier, the instant virtual copy including an object identifier different than the first object identifier and also including a hidden representation of the first object identifier; and

directing the second means to create a physical backup copy from the instant virtual copy comprising;

utilizing the instant virtual copy as source to create a non-virtual backup copy;

reading the hidden representation of the first object identifier from at least one of the following;

the instant virtual copy, the backup copy; and

reintroducing the first object identifier as the object identifier for the backup copy.