Apparatus and methods for copying, backing up and restoring logical objects in a computer storage system by transferring blocks out of order or in parallel
First Claim
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1. A method of copying a logical object, the logical object including logical data blocks stored in a plurality of storage segments of a first computer storage device, the logical data blocks being arranged in a logical order within the logical object, the method comprising steps of:
- identifying a set of the storage segments that includes the logical data blocks;
copying to a second computer storage device the logical data blocks stored in the identified storage segments, a plurality of the logical data blocks stored in the storage segments being copied in parallel; and
providing metadata to the second computer storage device identifying the logical order of the logical data blocks in the logical object.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for copying and backing up logical objects in a computer storage system. The logical objects are comprised of data blocks. The data blocks may be copied in any order. The data blocks may be copied or written from a storage media, such as a tape, in parallel.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of copying a logical object, the logical object including logical data blocks stored in a plurality of storage segments of a first computer storage device, the logical data blocks being arranged in a logical order within the logical object, the method comprising steps of:
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identifying a set of the storage segments that includes the logical data blocks;
copying to a second computer storage device the logical data blocks stored in the identified storage segments, a plurality of the logical data blocks stored in the storage segments being copied in parallel; and
providing metadata to the second computer storage device identifying the logical order of the logical data blocks in the logical object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of backing up a logical object including a plurality of logical blocks having a logical order in the logical object, comprising steps of:
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providing a first backup media;
providing a second backup media;
writing the logical blocks to the first backup media and the second backup media in parallel; and
writing information relating to the logical order of the logical blocks in the logical object to at least one of the first and second backup media. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. The method of clalm 6, wherein the metadata comprises:
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a plurality of labels, each label associated with one or more of the data blocks; and
a table associating the labels with a relative position in the logical object.
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- 9. The method of clalm 6, wherein the metadata comprises physical memory addresses corresponding to the location of logical data blocks of the logical object stored in a primary storage device.
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11. A secondary storage device, comprising:
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a plurality of storage components; and
means for writing an abstract block set to a plurality of the storage components, in parallel, the abstract block set including information relating to an order of logical data blocks in a logical object. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A secondary storage device, comprising:
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means for reading data from a plurality of storage components in parallel; and
means for providing the read data to another device as an abstract block set, the abstract block set including information relating to an order of logical data blocks in a logical object.
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Specification