Individual file restore from block-level incremental backups by using client-server backup protocol
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving at a network storage server, from a backup client, a request identifying a particular file to be restored from a block-level backup set of a data set that contains a plurality of files; and
restoring the file from the block-level backup set at the network storage server by using a client-server backup protocol, without restoring the entire data set from the backup set, wherein restoring the file from the backup set includesusing a first backup image in the backup set, at the network storage server; and
in response to a determination at the network storage server that a second backup image in the backup set is needed to continue restoration of the file, automatically suspending restoration of the file and sending a request for the backup client to change from the first backup image to the second backup image, from the storage server to the backup client.
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Abstract
A network storage server restores a selected file or files from a block-level backup of a data set that contains multiple files, by using a client-server backup protocol, without restoring the entire data set. The backup can include at least one incremental backup image, in which case the file can be restored at least partially from the incremental backup image. A particular version of a file can also be restored, from a block-level backup image that includes multiple snapshots, by automatically selecting a particular snapshot associated with that version of the file, from the backup image, and using the selected snapshot to restore the file.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving at a network storage server, from a backup client, a request identifying a particular file to be restored from a block-level backup set of a data set that contains a plurality of files; and restoring the file from the block-level backup set at the network storage server by using a client-server backup protocol, without restoring the entire data set from the backup set, wherein restoring the file from the backup set includes using a first backup image in the backup set, at the network storage server; and in response to a determination at the network storage server that a second backup image in the backup set is needed to continue restoration of the file, automatically suspending restoration of the file and sending a request for the backup client to change from the first backup image to the second backup image, from the storage server to the backup client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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creating, at a storage server, a block-level backup set of a data set that contains a plurality of files, wherein the backup set includes a plurality of backup images, including a baseline backup image and an incremental backup image, each of the plurality of backup images representing at least one snapshot of the data set, wherein there is no duplication of data blocks among the snapshots represented in the plurality of backup images, each of the plurality of backup images of the data set including a first portion containing data blocks of at least one snapshot of the data set, and a separate second portion for each snapshot represented in the backup image, each said second portion containing metadata for the corresponding snapshot; receiving at the network storage server, from a backup client, a request to restore a particular file from the block-level backup set; and restoring the particular file from the block-level backup set, at the network storage server, including using a client-server backup protocol, without restoring the entire data set, wherein restoring the file from the backup set includes using a first backup image in the backup set, at the network storage server; in response to a determination at the network storage server that a second backup image in the backup set is needed to continue restoration of the file, automatically suspending restoration of the file and sending a request for the backup client to change from the first backup image to the second backup image, from the storage server to the backup client; receiving at the network storage server, from the backup client, a continue command, after the backup client has accessed a backup storage facility which contains the backup set and changed from the first backup image to the second backup image; and continuing restoration of the file using the second backup image in response to receipt of the continue command. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A storage server comprising:
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a processor; a network interface through which to communicate with a backup client over a network; a storage interface through which to access a backup storage facility; and a memory storing code, execution of which by the processor causes the storage server to perform a process which includes creating, in the backup storage facility, a block-level backup set of a data set that contains a plurality of files, wherein the backup set includes a plurality of backup images, including a baseline backup image and an incremental backup image; receiving from the backup client a request identifying a particular file to be restored from the backup set; and restoring the file from the backup set, including using a client-server backup protocol, without restoring the entire data set, wherein restoring the file from the backup set further includes using a first backup image in the backup set, at the network storage server; and in response to a determination at the network storage server that a second backup image in the backup set is needed to continue restoration of the file, automatically suspending restoration of the file and sending a request for the backup client to change from the first backup image to the second backup image, from the storage server to the backup client. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification