User interface for viewing logical representation of a database backed up by a database recovery manager

• US 7,634,511 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Operating Corporation (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaikh, Mohammed Eliyas N. A., Freiheit, Kirk Hartmann, Desai, Milin, Shah, Sunil, Sivaramakrishnan, Sujatha, Tsaur, Ynn-Pyng Anker
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moser; Bruce M
• Application Number:
  US11/541,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 707/202, 707/204, 707/102, 711/102, 715/968
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Various methods and systems for presenting a logical view of a database backup are disclosed. One method involves querying a database recovery manager for logical identifiers that correspond to physical backup pieces generated during a backup. The method uses the logical identifiers to display a backup view to a user. The backup view identifies logical database components that are available to be restored.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating commands to query a database recovery manager;

issuing the commands from a backup module to the database recovery manager wherein

the commands request logical identifiers corresponding to one or more physical backup pieces generated during a backup of a database,

each of the logical identifiers identifies a respective one of a plurality of logical database components, and

the logical database components comprise at least one of a table space and a database control file;

receiving the logical identifiers from the database recovery manager in response to the commands;

generating a backup view based upon the logical identifiers, wherein the backup view identifies logical database components that are available to be restored from one or more backups generated during a backup period;

receiving user input selecting one or more of the logical database components identified in the backup view and a time; and

providing one or more of the logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager, wherein

the one or more of the logical identifiers identify the selected one or more of the logical database components.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing a first database query to the database requesting the backup period; and

issuing a second database query to the database requesting a current database schema, wherein

the backup period is a current backup period supported by the database recovery manager,

the backup view is generated based upon the backup period and the current database schema, and

the logical database components identified by the backup view comprise one or more components that were backed up during the current backup period and are part of the current database schema.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein

the logical database components identified by the backup view further comprise one or more components that are part of the current database schema but have not yet been backed up.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein

the logical database components identified by the backup view further comprise one or more components that were backed up during the current backup period but have been deleted from the current database schema.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing information associated with a backed-up control file, wherein the information identifies the backup period.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

initiating restoration of the backed-up control file; and

subsequent to restoration of the backed-up control file, performing the providing the one or more logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein both the initiating and the providing are performed automatically in response to the receiving user input selecting the one or more of the logical database components and the time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

the backup view displayed to the user identifies a first logical component whose backup is stored on a first storage device and a second logical component whose backup is stored on a second storage device, and

the backup view does not include physical location information identifying the first storage device and the second storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the database recovery manager is initiating a new backup of the database; and

creating one or more logical backup sets corresponding to the new backup, wherein the creating the one or more logical backup sets comprises;

generating second commands to query the database recovery manager;

issuing the second commands to the database recovery manager, wherein

the second commands request one or more second logical identifiers corresponding to one or more second physical backup pieces generated in the new backup; and

storing the one or more second logical identifiers in the one or more logical backup sets.

10. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium storing program instructions executable to;

generate commands to query a database recovery manager;

issue the commands from a backup module to the database recovery manager, wherein

the commands request logical identifiers corresponding to one or more physical backup pieces generated during a backup of a database,

each of the logical identifiers identifies a respective one of a plurality of logical database components, and

the logical database components comprise at least one of a table space and a database control file;

receiving the logical identifiers from the database recovery manager in response to the commands; and

generate a backup view for display to a user, based upon the logical identifiers, wherein

the backup view identifies logical database components that are available to be restored from one or more backups generated during a backup period;

receive user input selecting one or more of the logical database components identified in the backup view and a time; and

provide one or more of the logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager, wherein

the one or more of the logical identifiers identify the selected one or more of the logical database components.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

issue a first database query to the database requesting the backup period; and

issue a second database query to the database requesting a current database schema, wherein

the backup period is a current backup period supported by the database recovery manager,

the backup view is generated based upon the backup period and the current database schema, and

the logical database components identified by the backup view comprise one or more components that were backed up during the current backup period and are part of the current database schema.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

access information associated with a backed-up control file, wherein the information identifies the backup period;

initiate restoration of the backed-up control file; and

subsequent to restoration of the backed-up control file, provide the one or more of the logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

detect that the database recovery manager is initiating a new backup of the database; and

create one or more logical backup sets corresponding to the new backup, wherein creating the logical backup set comprises;

generating second commands to query the database recovery manager;

issuing the second commands to the database recovery manager, wherein

the second commands request one or more second logical identifiers corresponding to one or more second physical backup pieces generated in the new backup; and

storing the one or more second logical identifiers in the one or more logical backup sets.

14. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to;

generate commands to query a database recovery manager;

issue the commands from a backup module to the database recovery manager, wherein

the commands request logical identifiers corresponding to one or more physical backup pieces generated during a backup of a database,

each of the logical identifiers identifies a respective one of a plurality of logical database components, and

the logical database components comprise at least one of a table space and a database control file;

receive the logical identifiers from the database recovery manager in response to the commands; and

generate a backup view for display to a user, based upon the logical identifiers, wherein

the backup view identifies logical database components that are available to be restored from one or more backups generated during a backup period;

receive user input selecting one or more of the logical database components identified in the backup view and a time; and

provide one or more of the logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager, wherein

the one or more of the logical identifiers identify the selected one or more of the logical database components.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

issue a first database query to the database requesting the backup period; and

issue a second database query to the database requesting a current database schema, wherein

the backup period is a current backup period supported by the database recovery manager,

the backup view is generated based upon the backup period and the current database schema, and

the logical database components identified by the backup view comprise one or more components that were backed up during the current backup period and are part of the current database schema.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

access information associated with a backed-up control file, wherein the information identifies the backup period;

initiate restoration of the backed-up control file; and

subsequent to restoration of the backed-up control file, provide the one or more of the logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager.

17. The computing device of claim 14, further program instructions executable to:

detect that the database recovery manager is initiating a new backup of the database; and

create one or more logical backup sets corresponding to the new backup, wherein creating the logical backup set comprises;

generating second commands to query the database recovery manager;

issuing the second commands to the database recovery manager, wherein

the second commands request one or more second logical identifiers corresponding to one or more second physical backup pieces generated in the new backup; and

storing the one or more second logical identifiers in the one or more logical backup sets.

18. A system comprising:

means for generating commands to query a database recovery manager;

means for issuing the commands from a backup module to the database recovery manager, wherein

the commands request logical identifiers corresponding to one or more physical backup pieces generated during a backup of a database, and

each of the logical identifiers identifies a respective one of a plurality of logical database components, and

the logical database components comprise at least one of a table space and a database control file;

means for receiving the logical identifiers from the database recovery manager in response to the commands;

means for generating a backup view based upon the logical identifiers, wherein

the backup view identifies logical database components that are available to be restored from one or more backups generated during a backup period;

means for storing the generated backup view;

means for displaying the generated backup view to a user;

means for receiving user input selecting one or more of the logical database components identified in the backup view and a time; and

means for providing one or more of the logical identifiers and the time to the database recovery manager, wherein

the one or more of the logical identifiers identify the selected one or more of the logical database components.