Backup using instinctive preferred server order list (PSOL)

• US 9,672,116 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chopra, Shelesh, Chandrakandi, Shoukathali, Raghunathan, Gajendran, Gonugunta, Sainath
• Primary Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US14/326,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 707770, 707640, 707769, 707704, 707649, 707650, 707652, 707653, 709203, 709226, 709222, 714 41, 714 473
• 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 11/2035 without idle spare hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/128 Details of file system snapshots on the file-level, e.g. snapshot creation, administration, deletion use of snapshots for error detection or correction G06F11/14, G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques

Abstract

In one example, a method for data backup includes surveying an environment, that has a plurality of nodes which are each associated with one or more databases, to determine a distribution of the databases across the nodes. A database profile is then created based on the survey and identifies a node with maximum ownership of databases. Next, a preferred server order list (PSOL) is generated that is based on the database profile, a last activation preference for one of the databases, and a failover preference for one of the databases. Using the PSOL, a backup workload is balanced across the nodes, and the databases are then backed up using the results of the backup workload balancing.

Claims

1. A method for backing up data, the method comprising:

surveying an environment, the environment including a plurality of nodes which are each associated with one or more databases, to determine a distribution of the databases across the nodes;

creating a database profile based on the survey, wherein the database profile includes an identification of a node with maximum ownership of databases;

generating a preferred server order list (PSOL) that is based on the database profile, a last activation preference for one of the databases, and a failover preference for one of the databases;

balancing a backup workload among the nodes using the PSOL; and

backing up one of the databases using results of the backup workload balancing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the backed up database is a passive database.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the environment comprises a database availability group (DAG).

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the PSOL is generated without manual intervention by a user.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the backed up database is associated with a node that comprises an email server.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification of a change affecting one or more nodes and/or databases; and

automatically updating the PSOL based upon the occurrence of the change.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the change comprises one of a failover event, a change in the PSOL, a change in the last activation preference for one of the databases, and a change in a failover preference for one of the databases.

8. A non-transitory storage medium having stored therein computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, implement data backup in an environment, wherein the implementation of data backup comprises:

surveying an environment, the environment including a plurality of nodes which are each associated with one or more databases, to determine a distribution of the databases across the nodes;

creating a database profile based on the survey, wherein the database profile includes an identification of a node with maximum ownership of databases;

generating a preferred server order list (PSOL) that is based on the database profile, a last activation preference for one of the databases, and a failover preference for one of the databases;

balancing a backup workload among the nodes using the PSOL; and

backing up one of the databases using results of the backup workload balancing.

9. The non-transitory storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the backed up database is a passive database.

10. The non-transitory storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the environment comprises a database availability group (DAG).

11. The non-transitory storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the PSOL is generated without manual intervention by a user.

12. The non-transitory storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the backed up database is associated with a node that comprises an email server.

13. The non-transitory storage medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a notification of a change affecting one or more nodes and/or databases; and

automatically updating the PSOL based upon the occurrence of the change.

14. The non-transitory storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the change comprises one of a failover event, a change in the PSOL, a change in the last activation preference for one of the databases, and a change in a failover preference for one of the databases.

15. A physical backup server, wherein the physical backup server comprises:

one or more hardware processors;

non-transitory computer readable media; and

computer-executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable media and which, when executed by one or more of the hardware processors, implement data backup in an environment, wherein the implementation of data backup comprises;

surveying an environment, the environment including a plurality of nodes which are each associated with one or more databases, to determine a distribution of the databases across the nodes;

creating a database profile based on the survey, wherein the database profile includes an identification of a node with maximum ownership of databases;

generating a preferred server order list (PSOL) that is based on the database profile, a last activation preference for one of the databases, and a failover preference for one of the databases;

balancing a backup workload among the nodes using the PSOL; and

backing up one of the databases using results of the backup workload balancing.

16. The physical backup server as recited in claim 15, wherein the backed up database is a passive database.

17. The physical backup server as recited in claim 15, wherein the environment comprises a database availability group (DAG).

18. The physical backup server as recited in claim 15, wherein the PSOL is generated without manual intervention by a user.

19. The physical backup server as recited in claim 15, wherein the backed up database is associated with a node that comprises an email server.

20. The physical backup server as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a notification of a change affecting one or more nodes and/or databases, wherein the change comprises one of a failover event, a change in the PSOL, a change in the last activation preference for one of the databases, and a change in a failover preference for one of the databases; and

automatically updating the PSOL based upon the occurrence of the change.