System and method of imaging a memory module while in functional operation
View Patent ↗A memory module (e.g. a hard drive, an optical drive, a flash drive, etc.) associated with a computer system may be imaged without substantial interruption to the operation of the overall system. The imaging may include applying an image to the memory module while execution of one or more operations and/or algorithms that require at least intermittent access to information stored initially in the memory module is ongoing. This may enable a system associated with the memory module to continue with normal, or substantially normal, operation while the image is being applied to the memory module. The image applied to the memory module may, for example, update the system, restore the system to a previous state (e.g., to its state at a previous point in time), or otherwise modify the system with which it is associated.
1. A system comprising:
a processor configured to execute one or more operations and/or algorithms;
a primary memory module that is accessible to the processor at a primary mount point in a file system directory associated with the system, the primary memory module storing information that the processor accesses in order to execute the one or more operations and/or algorithms;
a secondary memory module that is mounted to the file system directory associated with the system at a secondary mount point;
a synchronization module configured to synchronize the secondary memory module to the primary memory module while the processor executes the one or more operations and/or algorithms;
a directory management module configured to cause the primary mount point in the file system directory to point to the secondary memory module while the processor executes the one or more operations and/or algorithms; and
an imaging module configured to apply an image to the primary memory module while the primary mount point in the file system directory points to the secondary memory module;
the directory management module being further configured to remount the primary memory module to the file system directory after imaging by causing the primary mount point to once again point to the primary memory module.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization module synchronizes the secondary memory module to the primary memory module by causing a copy of the information that is stored in the primary memory module and used by the processor to execute the one or more operations and/or algorithms to be stored in the secondary memory module.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the information that is stored in the secondary memory module comprises one or more of a software kernel module, a driver, or a configuration file.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging module applies the image to the primary memory module by recording information associated with the image over information already stored in the primary memory module module.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the primary memory module comprises a hard drive.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary memory module comprises RAM.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging module is further configured to take an image of the primary memory module.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the image applied to the primary memory module comprises an image of the primary memory module taken by the imaging module at a previous point in time.
9. A method of applying an image to a primary memory module, the method comprising:
executing one or more operations and/or algorithms, wherein executing one or more operations and/or algorithms comprises at least intermittently accessing information at a primary mount point in a file system, and wherein the primary memory module is initially mounted in the file system at the primary mount point information and initially stores the information to be accessed; and
imaging the primary memory module while the execution of the one or more operations and/or algorithms is ongoing, wherein imaging the primary memory module comprises:
synchronizing a secondary memory module to the primary memory module while the one or more operations and/or algorithms are being executed;
adjusting the file system such that the primary mount point points to the secondary module so that the ongoing execution of the one or more operations and/or algorithms will access the information stored in the secondary memory module during the synchronization of the secondary memory module;
applying an image to the primary memory module while the primary mount point points to the secondary module; and
adjusting the file system, subsequent to the application of the image to the primary memory module, such that the primary mount point points to the primary memory module so that the ongoing execution of the one or more operations and/or algorithms will access the information in the primary memory module during the application of the image to the primary memory module.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein synchronizing the secondary memory module to the primary memory module comprises causing a copy of the information that is stored in the primary memory module and used in the ongoing execution of the one or more operations and/or algorithms to be stored in the secondary memory module.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the invention that is stored in the secondary memory module comprises one or more of a software kernel module, a driver, or a configuration file.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises mounting a secondary memory module to the file system at a secondary mount point prior to imaging the primary memory module.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein applying an image to the primary memory module comprises recording information associated with the image over information already stored in the primary memory module module.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising taking an image of the primary memory module at a previous point in time.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein applying the image to the primary memory module comprises applying the image of the primary memory module that was taken at the previous point in time.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying the image to the primary memory module comprises storing the image of the primary memory module that was taken at the previous point in time over information currently stored in the primary memory module.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the primary memory module comprises a hard drive.
18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the secondary memory module comprises RAM.