Method for determining execution of backup on a database

• US 7,421,460 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwata, Morihiro, Chigusa, Kentaro, Chadani, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US10/428,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold

Abstract

The amount of work processing (main processing amount) of a database is acquired and accumulated. A value (main processing index) indicating the transition of the amount of main processing amount available in a time frame that is presumed to be required for backup is calculated by using the amounts of main processing accumulated during the latest period of time. The main processing index is compared with the backup executability reference value which is a threshold value determining the backup executability. If the main processing index is smaller than the threshold value, backup is executed. If the main processing index is larger than the threshold value, backup is not executed but the amount of main processing is again acquired to calculate the main processing index, and the main processing index is compared with the backup executability reference value.

Claims

1. A method performed by computer instructions recorded on a computer readable medium for determining execution of backup of a database in a database management system comprising:

receiving a preset threshold value representing an acceptable condition for a processing amount for executing the backup;

calculating a predicted processing value representing an amount of processing in a time frame required for the backup, said predicted processing value based at least in part on a real-time approximate expression derived from received amounts of processing;

comparing said predicted processing value with said preset threshold value, and if said predicted processing value is smaller than said preset threshold value, judging that the backup is executable;

comparing said predicted processing value with said preset threshold value, and if said predicted processing value is not smaller than said preset threshold value, judging that the backup is not executable;

calculating a subsequent predicted processing value representing an amount of processing in a time frame required for the backup when the backup is judged to be not executable, said subsequent predicted processing value based at least in part on a real-time approximate expression derived from received amounts of processing; and

repeating comparison of said subsequent predicted processing value with said preset threshold value until the backup is judged to be executable.

2. The method for determining execution of backup of a database according to claim 1, wherein a time limit to execute the backup is received as an input condition and, if said time limit is reached before said predicted processing value is found to be smaller than said threshold value, performing backup of said amount of processing.

3. The method for determining execution of backup of a database according to claim 1, wherein a maximum processing value is determined by calculating an approximate expression derived from most recent amounts of processing acquired.

4. The method for determining execution of backup on a database according to claim 1, wherein said predicted processing value is determined based on a statistical computation including an average or a maximum value of most recent amounts of processing acquired.

5. The method for determining execution of backup on a database according to claim 1, wherein a busy rate of disk, which is a ratio of disk access time for reading/writing in a unit time, is used as said amount of processing.

6. The method for determining execution of backup on a database according to claim 1, wherein an amount of transaction with a database is used as said amount of processing.

7. The method for determining execution of backup on a database according to claim 1, wherein the amount of processing to backup is determined based on a time frame required for the backup.

8. The method for determining execution of backup on a database according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a result of backup executability determination.

9. The method for detennining execution of backup on a database according to claim 1, wherein a result of backup executability determination is displayed on an output means together with related information.

10. A computer readable storage medium which stores a program to execute a method for determining execution of backup of a database in a database management system, said method comprising:

receiving a preset threshold value representing an acceptable condition for a processing amount for executing the backup;

calculating a predicted processing value representing an amount of processing in a time frame required for the backup, said predicted processing value based at least in part on a real-time approximate expression derived from received amounts of processing;

comparing said predicted processing value with said preset threshold value, and if said predicted processing value is smaller than said preset threshold value, judging that the backup is executable;

comparing said predicted processing value with said preset threshold value, and if said predicted processing value is not smaller than said preset threshold value, judging that the backup is not executable;

calculating a subsequent predicted processing value representing an amount of processing in a time frame required for the backup when the backup is judged to be not executable, said subsequent predicted processing value based at least in part on a real-time approximate expression derived from received amounts of processing; and

repeating comparison of said subsequent predicted processing value with said preset threshold value until the backup is judged to be executable.