Multi-session no query restore

• US 20030172130A1
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fruchtman, Barry, Vargas, Omar Bond, Edwards, Robert Clair Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0644 Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method of restoring data in a computer network system wherein a plurality of client systems have access to a storage pool coupled to an associated storage area network (SAN) includes: requesting a restore wherein each of the plurality of client systems may participate in the restore; and coordinating access to the data stored in the storage pool by tracking a plurality of data portions of the data to be restored and by blocking access to each of the plurality of data portions that have been restored by one of the plurality of client systems to avoid duplicative restoration efforts. A master restore table may also be constructed to assist with coordinating access to the stored data. A computer network system configured to coordinate a restore request where a plurality of client systems may participate in the restore is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of restoring data in a computer network system wherein a plurality of client systems have access to a storage pool coupled to an associated storage area network (SAN) comprising the steps of:

requesting a restore wherein each of said plurality of client systems may participate in said restore; and

coordinating access to said data stored in said storage pool by tracking a plurality of data portions of said data to be restored and by blocking access to each of said plurality of data portions that have been restored by one of said plurality of client systems to avoid duplicative restoration efforts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said coordinating access step occurs during a plurality of sessions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said coordinating access step is interruptible.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said coordinating access step comprises the step of:

constructing a master restore table comprising said plurality of data portions to be restored and an associated location of said plurality of data portions in said storage pool.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said storage pool comprises a plurality of storage devices and said associated location of said data portions includes a location in one of said storage devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said data portions are provided concurrently from said plurality of storage devices to a target restoration device accessible by said plurality of client systems.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said master restore table further comprises data representative of a LAN-free path or a server-free path from a client to said storage pool.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said master restore table is identified by an associated token and a client system participating in a restore gains access to said master restore table by use of said token.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of deleting said master restore table after restoration of a target restoration device is complete and returning said token to said client system.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said constructing step further comprises automatically partitioning said plurality of data portions in said master restore table based on said associated location of said plurality of data portions in said storage pool.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said coordinating access step occurs before said master restore table is fully constructed.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein said master restore table is saved in a storage management server, said storage management server coupled to said SAN.

13. A computer network system for restoring data comprising:

a plurality of client systems;

a storage pool coupled to said plurality of client systems through a storage area network (SAN); and

a storage management server coupled to said plurality of client systems through said SAN, wherein said storage management server is configured to coordinate access to said data stored in said storage pool by tracking a plurality of data portions of said data to be restored and by blocking access to each of said plurality of data portions that have been restored by one of said plurality of client systems to avoid duplicative restoration efforts.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said storage management server is further configured to construct a master restore table comprising said plurality of data portions to be restored and an associated location of said plurality of data portions in said storage pool.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said storage pool comprises a plurality of storage devices and said associated location of said data portions includes a location in one of said plurality of storage devices.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said data portions are provided concurrently from said plurality of storage devices to a target restoration device accessible by said plurality of client systems.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said master restore table further comprises data representative of a LAN-free path or a server-free path from a client to said storage pool.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said master restore table is identified by an associated token and a client system participating in a restore gains access to said master restore table by use of said token.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein an initiating client instructs deletion of said master restore table after restoration of a target restoration device is complete.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said master restore table is configured to automatically partition said plurality of data portions based on said associated location of said plurality of data portions in said storage pool.