Storage management system and method

• US 9,990,256 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Natanzon, Assaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehne, Charles
• Application Number:
  US15/084,790
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1448 Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/82 Solving problems relating to consistency ensuring consistency in mirrored systems G06F11/2064

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and computing system for identifying a storage target that has become corrupt within a data array. The storage target includes one or more corrupt data portions. A relevant backup copy of the storage target is identified. A “broken” mirror is established between the storage target and the relevant backup copy that identifies one or more differences between the storage target and the relevant backup copy. The storage target is rebuilt by overwriting the corrupt data portions within the storage target with corresponding non-corrupt data obtained from the relevant backup copy.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, executed on a computing device, comprising:

identifying a storage target that has become corrupt within a data array, wherein the storage target includes one or more corrupt data portions;

identifying a relevant backup copy of the storage target;

establishing a broken mirror between the storage target and the relevant backup copy that identifies one or more differences between the storage target and the relevant backup copy;

rebuilding the storage target by overwriting the corrupt data portions within the storage target with corresponding non-corrupt data obtained from the relevant backup copy;

receiving a read request for the storage target during the rebuilding of the storage target; and

determining if the read request concerns the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the read request concerns the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy, obtaining the data requested in the read request from the relevant backup copy.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the read request does not concern the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy, obtaining the data requested in the read request from the storage target.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein identifying a relevant backup copy of the storage target includes:

identifying a backup copy of the storage target, chosen from a plurality of backup copies of the storage target, that predates a corruption date/time of the storage target.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the relevant backup copy is a snapshot of the storage target.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a write request for the storage target; and

writing the data to the storage target and the relevant backup copy.

7. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a storage target that has become corrupt within a data array, wherein the storage target includes one or more corrupt data portions;

identifying a relevant backup copy of the storage target;

establishing a broken mirror between the storage target and the relevant backup copy that identifies one or more differences between the storage target and the relevant backup copy;

rebuilding the storage target by overwriting the corrupt data portions within the storage target with corresponding non-corrupt data obtained from the relevant backup copy;

receiving a read request for the storage target during the rebuilding of the storage target; and

determining if the read request concerns the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for:

if the read request concerns the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy, obtaining the data requested in the read request from the relevant backup copy.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for:

if the read request does not concern the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy, obtaining the data requested in the read request from the storage target.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein identifying a relevant backup copy of the storage target includes:

identifying a backup copy of the storage target, chosen from a plurality of backup copies of the storage target, that predates a corruption date/time of the storage target.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the relevant backup copy is a snapshot of the storage target.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for:

receiving a write request for the storage target; and

writing the data to the storage target and the relevant backup copy.

13. A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:

identifying a storage target that has become corrupt within a data array, wherein the storage target includes one or more corrupt data portions;

identifying a relevant backup copy of the storage target;

establishing a broken mirror between the storage target and the relevant backup copy that identifies one or more differences between the storage target and the relevant backup copy;

rebuilding the storage target by overwriting the corrupt data portions within the storage target with corresponding non-corrupt data obtained from the relevant backup copy;

receiving a read request for the storage target during the rebuilding of the storage target; and

determining if the read request concerns the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy.

14. The computing system of claim 13 further configured to perform operations comprising:

if the read request concerns the one or more corrupt data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy, obtaining the data requested in the read request from the relevant backup copy.

15. The computing system of claim 13 further configured to perform operations comprising:

if the read request does not concern the corrupt one or more data portions included within the storage target that have not yet been recovered from the relevant backup copy, obtaining the data requested in the read request from the storage target.

16. The computing system of claim 13 wherein identifying a relevant backup copy of the storage target includes:

identifying a backup copy of the storage target, chosen from a plurality of backup copies of the storage target, that predates a corruption date/time of the storage target.

17. The computing system of claim 13 wherein the relevant backup copy is a snapshot of the storage target.

18. The computing system of claim 13 further configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving a write request for the storage target; and

writing the data to the storage target and the relevant backup copy.