Systems and methods for restoring data
In a network that includes a first database located on a first client and a second database located on a second client, a user or administrator initiates a restore operation. A dynamic mirror relationship existing between the first and second clients is terminated and a backup version of a database which the user or administrator wishes to recreate is identified. One of the first or second clients receives information concerning the location of the backup version of the database, as well as the role designation of the database at the time the backup operation was performed, from a restore server. The backup version of the database is retrieved from the storage location and recreated on each of the first and second clients, and the dynamic mirror relationship is reestablished between the first and second clients.
1. In a network that includes a first database residing on a first client, and a second database residing on a second client, a method for restoring backed-up data comprising:
initiating a request for a restore operation;
terminating a dynamic mirror relationship between the first database and the second database;
identifying target data to be restored;
generating a request for location information for the target data;
receiving location information concerning the location of the target data;
transmitting a request for the target data;
receiving the target data;
recreating the target data in the first and second databases located on the first and second clients; and
reestablishing the dynamic mirror relationship between the first database and the second database, wherein the dynamic mirror relationship is reestablished by writing role designation information in system databases located on the first client and the second client respectively.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the target data is identified by locating information contained in a file index and a media database located on a restore server.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving role designation information from a file index; and
writing the role designation information in system databases located on the first and second clients.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the role designation information references the role designations of the first and second databases at the time of the backup of the target data.
5. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein a live entry in the file index indicates that first or second database listed in the live entry was designated as the live database at the time the backup of the target data was performed.
6. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein an alias entry in the file index indicates that the first or second database listed in the alias entry was designated as the mirror database at the time the backup of the target data was performed.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a witness client arbitrates the dynamic mirror relationship.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mirror relationship is reestablished by writing role designation information in system databases located on the first client, the second client, and a witness client.
9. In a network that includes at least two clients, a method for facilitating restoration of backed-up databases comprising:
receiving a request for a backed-up database;
allowing one of the at least two clients access to entries in a file index containing information concerning a dynamic mirror relationship;
identifying a location of the backed-up database;
retrieving the backed-up database; and
transmitting the backed-up database to one of the at least two clients, wherein entries in the file index record the role designation of a database at the time a backup of the database is performed.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein a live entry in the file index indicates a database referenced in the entry was designated as the live database at the time a backup of the database was performed.
11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein an alias entry in the file index indicates a database referenced in the entry was designated as the mirror database at the time a backup of the database was performed.
12. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the location of the backed-up database is a remote storage location.
13. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein retrieving the backed-up database further comprises:
accessing a storage location; and
obtaining a copy of the backed-up database from the storage location.
14. A computer program product for implementing a method for restoring data in a network that includes a first database located on a first client and a second database located on a second client, the computer program comprising:
a computer readable medium carrying executable instructions for performing a method, wherein the method comprises:
initiating a request for a restore operation;
terminating a dynamic mirror relationship between the first database and the second database;
identifying target data to be restored;
generating a request for location information for the target data;
receiving location information concerning the location of the target data;
transmitting a request for the target data;
receiving the target data;
recreating the target data in the first and second databases located on the first and second clients; and
reestablishing the dynamic mirror relationship between the first database and the second database, wherein the dynamic mirror relationship is reestablished by writing role designation information in system databases located on the first client and the second client respectively.
15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , wherein the target data is identified by locating information contained in a file index and a media database located on a restore server.
16. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
retrieving role designation information from a file index; and
writing the role designation information in system databases located on the first and second clients.
17. The computer program product as recited in claim 16 , wherein the role designation information references the role designations of the first and second databases at the time of the backup of the target data.
18. The computer program product as recited in claim 16 , wherein a live entry in the file index indicates that first or second database listed in the live entry was designated as the live database at the time the backup of the target data was performed.
19. The computer program product as recited in claim 16 , wherein an alias entry in the file index indicates that the first or second database listed in the alias entry was designated as the mirror database at the time the backup of the target data was performed.
20. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , wherein a witness client arbitrates the dynamic mirror relationship.
21. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , wherein the mirror relationship is reestablished by writing role designation information in system databases located on the first client, the second client, and a witness client.