Efficient backup replication

• US 9,465,695 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, DUC T
• Application Number:
  US14/604,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20150193310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 626 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1453 using de-duplication of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/83 the solution involving signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/84 Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data

Abstract

A system for backup replication comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine data present in a most recent backup not present in a previous backup; transmit an extent specification; and transmit data segment fingerprints of the one or more data segments. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Claims

1. A system for backup replication, comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine data present in a most recent backup not present in a previous backup, wherein the data comprises one or more data segments;

transmit an extent specification to a replica backup system, wherein the extent specification comprises a description of regions of unchanged data from the previous backup to the most recent backup;

transmit a checksum for the most recent backup to the replica backup system;

transmit data segment fingerprints of the one or more data segments to the replica backup system;

receive one or more data segment requests from the replica backup system, wherein a data segment request of the one or more data segment requests comprises an indication that a data segment from the transmitted data fingerprints is not previously stored on the replica backup system and is requested of the data storage system; and

transmit the requested data segment from the data storage system to the replica backup system, wherein the transmitted data segment is combined with data segments previously stored on the replica backup system into a replica backup file using the transmitted extent specification; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the most recent backup.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the previous backup.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the data segment fingerprints comprise a data segment identifying information.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the data segment fingerprints are calculated using a hash function.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine meta information enabling reconstruction of the data using the one or more data segments.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the meta information to the replica backup system.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the extent specification.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the extent specification comprises a difference data location.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a checksum response.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to retransmit data segment fingerprints and meta information in the event that the checksum response indicates that the checksum failed.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit meta information to the replica backup system.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the meta information comprises information for reconstructing files using data segments.

14. A method for backup replication comprising:

determining, using a processor, data present in a most recent backup not present in a previous backup, wherein the data comprises one or more data segments;

transmitting an extent specification; and

specification to a replica backup system, wherein the extent specification comprises a description of regions of unchanged data from the previous backup to the most recent backup;

transmitting a checksum for the most recent backup to the replica backup system;

transmitting data segment fingerprints of the one or more data segments to the replica backup system;

receiving one or more data segment requests from the replica backup system, wherein a data segment request of the one or more data segment requests comprises an indication that a data segment from the transmitted data fingerprints is not previously stored on the replica backup system and is requested of the data storage system; and

transmitting the requested data segment from the data storage system to the replica backup system, wherein the transmitted data segment is combined with data segments previously stored on the replica backup system into a replica backup file using the transmitted extent specification.

15. A computer program product for backup replication, the computer program product being embedded in a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

determining data present in a most recent backup not present in a previous backup, wherein the data comprises one or more data segments;

transmitting an extent specification to a replica backup system, wherein the extent specification comprises a description of regions of unchanged data from the previous backup to the most recent backup;

transmitting a checksum for the most recent backup to the replica backup system;

transmitting data segment fingerprints of the one or more data segments to the replica backup system;

receiving one or more data segment requests from the replica backup system, wherein a data segment request of the one or more data segment requests comprises an indication that a data segment from the transmitted data fingerprints is not previously stored on the replica backup system and is requested of the data storage system; and

transmitting the requested data segment from the data storage system to the replica backup system, wherein the transmitted data segment is combined with data segments previously stored on the replica backup system into a replica backup file using the transmitted extent specification.