Apparatus, system, and method for emergency backup

• US 7,536,593 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AirBNB Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, YuCheng, Kahler, David Ray, Benhase, Michael Thomas, Nielsen, Karl Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Riad; Amine
• Application Number:
  US10/794,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 714/20
• US Class Current: 714/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method quickly backs up data in an emergency situation and reduces battery backup dependence. The apparatus may include a backup module and a dedicated computer readable storage device. The backup module interfaces with system memory and selectively transmits modified data to the storage device in response to a detected system failure. The dedicated storage device stores the modified data around the outer edge of a hard disk in order to increase write performance. The system may include the backup module, the storage device, a plurality of client devices, and a plurality of storage devices. The method includes storing modified and unmodified data, detecting a system failure, and transmitting modified data stored in a memory module to a dedicated computer readable backup device. Upon rebooting the device, the method may include restoring the modified data to the system memory and destaging the modified data to the plurality of storage devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for efficient data backup, the apparatus comprising:

a memory module embodied in a control module and storing modified and unmodified data; and

a backup module detecting a system failure and in response to detecting the system failure closing a host interface and concurrently selectively transmitting modified data stored in the memory module to a dedicated computer readable backup device and shutting down the control module and memory module, wherein the dedicated computer readable backup device comprises a hard disk drive formatted into sectors of a standard size, the hard disk storing the modified data in a plurality of the sectors located at three outermost tracks of the hard disk.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backup module transmits the modified data directly to the computer readable backup device without passing through a system processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dedicated computer readable backup device further comprises a data module maintaining a time stamp and a version number of data stored on the dedicated computer readable backup device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the backup module further updates the data module in response to a detected system failure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a restore module interfaceing with the data module and transmitting data from the dedicated computer readable backup device to the memory module in response to a detected system failure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the restore module further updates the data module in response to a detected system failure.

7. A system for efficient data backup, the system comprising:

a communications network;

a data storage controller coupled to the communications network and processing input/output data requests for a plurality of storage devices, the data storage controller having a memory module, a central processing unit, and a bootable storage device; and

a backup module detecting a system failure and in response to detecting the system failure closing a host interface to the communications network and concurrently selectively transmitting modified data stored in the memory module to a dedicated computer readable backup device and shutting down the data storage controller, wherein the dedicated computer readable backup device comprises a hard disk drive formatted into sectors, each sector having a data field having a standard size, the hard disk storing the modified data in a plurality of sectors at three outermost tracks of the hard disk.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the dedicated computer readable backup device further comprises a data module maintaining a time stamp and a version number of data stored on the dedicated computer readable backup device.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a restore module interfaceing with the data module and transmitting data from the dedicated computer readable backup device to the memory module in response to a detected system failure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the restore module further updates the data module in response to a detected system failure.

11. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code that carries out a method for efficient data backup, the method comprising:

storing modified and unmodified data;

detecting a system failure; and

closing a host interface, concurrently selectively transmitting modified data stored in a memory module to a dedicated computer readable backup device, and shutting down a data storage controller in response to detecting the system failure, wherein the dedicated computer readable backup device comprises a hard disk drive formatted into sectors of a standard size, the hard disk storing the data in a plurality of sectors located at three outermost tracks of the hard disk.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises initializing the dedicated computer readable backup device.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises maintaining a time stamp and a version number of data stored on the dedicated computer readable backup device.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises updating the data module in response to a detected system failure.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises restoring data from the dedicated computer readable backup device to the memory module in response to a detected system failure.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises transmitting restored data from the memory module to a plurality of home locations.