Backup technique for data stored on multiple storage devices

• US 7,085,900 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Norie, Inagaki, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bataille, Pierre
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsai, Sheng-Jen
• Application Number:
  US10/448,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 711/162, 711/114, 707/202, 707/204
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2074 Asynchronous techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Provided is a backup device, etc., that updates copy data appropriately. A backup device 300, which records as copy data a copy of original data stored in multiple storage devices 110A to 110D, comprises: a write data storage unit 132, for receiving and storing write data to be written to the original data; and an updating unit 134, for using the write data to update the copy data when update permission data, which permit the use of the write data to update the copy data, are externally received.

Claims

1. A backup system, comprising:

a storage device;

a write data temporary storage unit coupled to the storage device;

an acquisition unit coupled to the write data temporary storage unit;

a halting unit coupled to the acquisition unit;

a compression unit coupled to the acquisition unit;

a write data storage unit coupled to the compression unit;

an updating unit coupled to the write data storage unit;

a copy data temporary storage unit coupled to the write data storage unit; and

a copy data storage unit coupled to the copy data temporary storage unit;

wherein the halting unit is configured to perform the following operations;

determining if update permission data is received;

and if so;

stopping the accessing of original data stored in the storage device;

removing the stop imposed on the accessing of the original data stored in the storage device, responsive to the acquisition unit completing obtaining write data;

transmitting the update permission data to the acquisition unit;

transmitting a write data shift instruction to the write data temporary storage unit; and

transmitting confirmation data indicating that the shifting of the write data from the storage device to the acquisition unit has been successful;

wherein the operation of stopping the accessing of original data stored in the storage device comprises;

 

inhibiting the writing of data to the storage device; and

 

transmitting an instruction inhibiting the accessing of the storage device;

wherein the acquisition unit is configured to perform the following operations;

obtaining write data from the write data temporary storage unit,

storing the write data in the acquisition unit; and

transmitting the write data and the update permission data from the acquisition unit;

wherein the write data storage unit is configured to perform the following operations;

receiving the write data; and

storing the write data in the order in which it is received;

and wherein the updating unit is configured to perform the following operations;

analyzing the data stored in the write data storage unit to determine whether the update permission data has been received;

and if so;

outputting the write data in the write data storage unit; and

updating the copy data using the write data.

2. The backup system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second storage device;

a second write data temporary storage unit coupled to the second storage device and to the acquisition unit;

a second copy data storage unit; and

a second copy data temporary storage unit coupled to the second copy data storage unit and to the write data storage unit.

3. A backup system comprising:

a plurality of storage devices;

a plurality of write data temporary storage units, wherein each write data temporary storage unit is coupled to a respective storage device in the plurality of storage devices;

an acquisition unit coupled to each write data temporary storage unit;

a halting unit coupled to the acquisition unit;

a write data storage unit coupled to the acquisition unit;

an updating unit coupled to the write data storage unit;

a plurality of copy data temporary storage units coupled to the write data storage unit; and

a plurality of copy data storage units, wherein each copy data storage unit is coupled to a respective copy data temporary storage unit in the plurality of copy data temporary storage units;

and wherein the halting unit is configured to perform the following operations;

determining if update permission data is received;

and if so;

stopping the accessing of original data stored in the plurality of storage devices;

removing the stop imposed on the accessing of the original data stored in the plurality of storage devices, responsive to the acquisition unit completing obtaining write data; and

transmitting the update permission data to the acquisition unit;

and wherein the acquisition unit is configured to perform the following operations;

obtaining write data from the plurality of write data temporary storage units,

storing the write data in the acquisition unit; and

sequentially transmitting the write data from the acquisition unit;

and wherein the write data storage unit is configured to perform the following operations;

receiving the write data; and

storing the write data in the order in which it is received;

and wherein the updating unit is configured to perform the following operations;

analyzing the data stored in the write data storage unit to determine whether the update permission data has been received;

and if so;

outputting the write data in the write data storage unit; and

updating the copy data using the write data.

4. A backup system comprising:

first means for receiving, storing, and transmitting write data;

second means for receiving the write data from the first means, and for storing the write data, and for receiving a write data shift instruction, and for, responsive to receiving the write data shift instruction, transmitting write data;

means for determining if update permission data is received;

means for stopping the accessing of original data stored in a plurality of storage devices;

means for removing the stop imposed on the accessing of the original data stored in the plurality of storage devices, responsive to an acquisition unit completing obtaining write data;

means for transmitting the update permission data to the acquisition unit;

means for obtaining write data from a plurality of write data temporary storage units,

means for storing the write data in the acquisition unit;

means for sequentially transmitting the write data from the acquisition unit;

means for transmitting the update permission data from the acquisition unit;

means for compressing the write data and the update permission data;

means for transmitting the compressed update permission data and update permission data;

means for storing the write data in the order in which it is received;

means for analyzing data stored in a write data storage unit to determine whether the update permission data has been received;

means for outputting write data in the write data storage unit;

means for temporarily storing the write data after the write data in the write data storage unit is outputted;

means for transmitting the temporarily stored write data;

means for updating copy data using the write data; and

means for storing the updated copy data.

5. A method for backing up data, the method comprising the following operations:

transmitting update permission data from an application program to an operating system;

transmiting the update permission data from the operating system to a halting unit;

writing original data from a server to a plurality of storage devices, prior to the operation of transmitting the update permission data from the operating system to the halting unit;

receiving at a plurality of storage devices, from the operating system, write data to be written to original data;

storing the write data in the plurality of storage devices;

transmitting the write data to a plurality of write data temporary storage units;

storing the write data in the plurality of write data temporary storage units;

responsive to the halting unit receiving the update permission data from the operating system, transmitting a write data shift instruction from the halting unit to the plurality of write data temporary storage units;

transmitting the stored write data from the plurality of write data temporary storage units to an acquisition unit;

stopping permitting the operating system to access the original data stored in the plurality of storage devices;

transmitting the update permission data from the halting unit to the acquisition unit;

sequentially receiving at the acquisition unit, write data from the plurality of write data temporary storage units;

storing the write data in the acquisition unit in the order in which it is received;

storing the update permission data in the acquisition unit;

receiving confirmation at the operating system, that transmitting of the stored write data from the write data temporary storage unit to the acquisition unit has been completed;

after the operation of stopping permitting the operating system to access the original data stored in the plurality of storage devices, and after the operation of transmitting the stored write data from the plurality of write data temporary storage units to the acquisition unit, performing the operation of resuming information processing using the plurality of storage devices;

transmitting write data and update permission data from the acquisition unit, wherein the write data and update permission data transmitted from the acquisition unit are transmitted to a compression umt;

compressing the write data for each data unit for which writing is permitted, in accordance with the update permission data, and compressing the update permission data;

transmitting the compressed write data and the compressed update permission data from the compression unit to a backup device;

receiving at a write data storage unit, the write data and the update permission data;

sequentially storing the write data and the update permission data in the write data storage unit;

receiving the update permission data at an updating unit;

transmitting to a plurality of copy data temporary storage units, the write data that was stored in the write data storage unit before the update permission data was stored in the write data storage unit;

storing in the plurality of copy data temporary storage units, the write data that was stored in the write data storage unit before the update permission data was stored in the write data storage unit;

sequentially transmitting from the plurality of copy data temporary storage units to a plurality of copy data storage units, the write data that was stored in the write data storage unit before the update permission data was stored in the write data storage unit; and

using the write data to update the copy data in the plurality of copy data storage units.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise adding information to the plurality of write data temporary storage units, indicating that the write data has been transmitted from the plurality of write data temporary storage units.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating system transmits the update permission data to the halting unit when the operating system has not accepted an access of the original data for a predetermined period of time.

8. A backup system, comprising:

a storage device;

a write data temporary storage unit coupled to the storage device; and

an acquisition unit coupled to the write data temporary storage unit; and

wherein the storage device is configured to;

receive write data and store the write data in the storage device, and

transmit the write data to the write data temporary storage unit;

wherein the write data temporary storage unit is configured to;

receive the write data from the storage device;

store the write data in the write data temporary storage unit;

receive a write data shift instruction; and

responsive to receiving the write data shift instruction, transmit the write data stored in the write data temporary storage unit to the acquisition unit;

wherein the acquisition unit is configured to;

receive the write data from the write data temporary storage unit;

store the write data in the acquisition unit;

receive update permission data;

store the update permission data in the acquisition unit; and

transmit the write data and update permission data;

a halting unit coupled to the acquisition unit and to the storage device, wherein the halting unit is conflaured to;

receive the update permission data; and

responsive to receiving the update permission data;

inhibit the writing of data to the storage device;

and after inhibiting the writing of data to the storage device, transmit the write data shift instruction to the write data temporary storage unit to instruct the write data temporary storage unit to transmit the write data stored in the write data temporary storage unit to the acquisition unit;

and after the acquisition unit has received the write data from the write data temporary storage unit, remove the inhibition of the writing of data to the storage device;

and after removing the inhibition of the writing of data to the storage device, transmit the update permission data to the acquisition urut;

wherein the update permission data is transmitted to the halting unit at a predetermined interval.

9. A backup system, comprising:

a storage device;

a write data temporary storage unit coupled to the storage device; and

an acquisition unit coupled to the write data temporary storage unit; and

wherein the storage device is configured to;

receive write data and store the write data in the storage device, and

transmit the write data to the write data temporary storage unit;

wherein the write data temporary storage unit is configured to;

receive the write data from the storage device;

store the write data in the write data temporary storage unit;

receive a write data shift instruction; and

responsive to receiving the write data shift instruction, transmit the write data stored in the write data temporarv storage unit to the acquisition unit;

wherein the acquisition unit is configured to;

receive the write data from the write data temporary storage unit;

store the write data in the acquisition unit;

receive update permission data;

store the update permission data in the acquisition unit; and

transmit the write data and update permission data;

a halting unit coupled to the acquisition unit and to the storage device, wherein the halting unit is configured to;

receive the update permission data; and

responsive to receiving the update permission data;

inhibit the writing of data to the storage device;

and after inhibiting the writing of data to the storage device, transmit the write data shift instruction to the write data temporary storage unit to instruct the write data temporary storage unit to transmit the write data stored in the write data temporary storage unit to the acquisition unit;

and after the acquisition unit has received the write data from the write data temporary storage unit, remove the inhibition of the writing of data to the storage device;

and after removing the inhibition of the writing of data to the storage device, transmit the update permission data to the acquisition unit;

a plurality of additional storage devices coupled to the halting unit; and

a plurality of additional write data temporary storage units, wherein each additional write data temporary storage unit is coupled to a corresponding one of the additional storage devices; and

wherein each of the additional storage devices is configured to;

receive write data and store the received write data; and

to transmit the stored write data to the corresponding one of the additional write data temporary storage units;

wherein each of the additional write data temporary storage units is configured to;

receive and store the write data transmitted from the corresponding one of the additional storage devices;

receive the write data shift instruction; and

responsive to receiving the write data shift instruction, transmit the respective stored write data to the acquisition unit;

wherein the acquisition unit is further configured to;

receive and store the write data transmitted respectively from each of the additional write data temporary storage units; and

transmit the write data received from each of the additional write data temporary storage units; and

wherein the halting unit is further configured to;

responsive to receiving the update permission data;

inhibit the writing of data to the storage device and to each of the additional storage devices;

and after inhibiting the writing of data to the storage device and to each of the additional storage devices, transmit the write data shift instruction to the write data temporary storage unit and to each of the additional write data temporary storage units to instruct the write data temporary storage unit and each additional write data temporary storage unit to transmit the write data stored in the respective write data temporary storage unit to the acquisition unit;

and after the acquisition unit has received the write data from the write data temporary storage unit and from each additional write data temporary storage unit, remove the inhibition of the writing of data to the storage device and each additional storage device;

and after removing the inhibition of the writing of data to the storage device and to each additional storage device, transmit the update permission data to the acquisition unit.

10. The backup system of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of additional copy data temporary storage units, wherein each additional copy data temporary storage unit is coupled to the write data storage unit; and

a plurality of additional copy data storage units, wherein each additional copy data storage unit is coupled to a corresponding one of the additional copy data temporary storage units, and

wherein the write data storage unit is further configured to;

transmit to each of the additional copy data temporary storage units, respective write data stored in the write data storage unit before the update permission data were stored in the write data storage unit;

wherein each additional copy data temporary storage unit is configured to;

receive and store the respective write data from the write data storage unit; and

transmit the respective write data received from the write data storage unit to the corresponding additional copy data storage unit; and

wherein each additional copy data storage unit is configured to;

receive the respective write data from the corresponding one of the copy data temporary storage units; and

store the respective write data to update respective copy data.