Granted Patent B2

US 8,635,187 · App. 12/986,666 · Granted Jan 21, 2014

Inventors: Louis J. Beatty (Ormond Beach, FL); Michael A. Payne (Archer, FL); Steven R. Devos (Kirkland, WA); Deepak Saraf (Windermere, FL)

Assignee: Symantec Corporation

Abstract

Claims (71)

1. A method for performing an incremental backup of a database, the method comprising:

initiating the incremental backup by conveying a request to a database server to perform a full backup of the database;

in response to said request to perform the full backup:

retrieving one or more maps associated with the database, said one or more maps including an identification of data which has changed since a prior backup, wherein the one or more maps include a differential change map (DCM) comprising a bitmap which indicates all data that has changed since the prior backup;

resetting the DCM associated with the database as if a full backup were performed in response to said request such that the DCM indicates no changes have occurred since a most recent full backup;

retrieving the changed data;

storing the changed data as an incremental backup file in a storage device; and

storing said one or more maps in association with the incremental backup file;

wherein a schema of the database is automatically generated by querying the database when the prior backup is performed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising taking a snapshot of the database, in response to the request to perform the full backup.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more maps include a global allocation map (GAM) comprising information about data extents that have been allocated, a shared global allocation map (SGAM) comprising information about mixed extents that have at least one unused page, and/or an index allocation map (IAM) comprising information about extents that a table or index uses, and wherein prior to retrieving the changed data, the method further comprising:

reading the one or more maps to determine if the changed extents are allocated; and

retrieving the changed extents only if they are allocated.

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

detecting a request corresponding to said incremental backup file to perform a restore operation;

identifying a full database backup file associated with the incremental backup file;

creating a restored database by performing a restore operation using the incremental backup file and the full database backup file associated with the incremental backup file; and

notifying a database server of the restored database.

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

identifying a previously stored full backup;

retrieving a map associated with the previously stored full backup;

utilizing said map to identify particular data which has changed since a backup performed prior to the previously stored full backup;

storing the particular data as part of a compressed version of the previously stored full backup; and

discarding data of the previously stored full backup which has not changed since the backup performed prior to the previously stored full backup.

6. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions to perform an incremental backup of a database, wherein when executed the program instructions are configured to:

initiate the incremental backup by conveying a request to perform a full backup of the database;

in response to said request to perform the full backup:

retrieve one or more maps associated with the database, said one or more maps including an identification of data which has changed since a prior backup, wherein the one or more maps include a differential change map (DCM) comprising a bitmap which indicates all data that has changed since the prior backup;

reset the DCM associated with the database as if a full backup were performed in response to said request such that the DCM indicates no changes have occurred since a most recent full backup;

retrieve the changed data;

store the changed data as an incremental backup file in a storage device; and

store said one or more maps in association with the incremental backup file;

wherein a schema of the database is automatically generated by querying the database when the prior backup is performed.

7. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to take a snapshot of the database, in response to the request to perform the full backup.

8. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the one or more maps include a global allocation map (GAM) comprising information about data extents that have been allocated, a shared global allocation map (SGAM) comprising information about mixed extents that have at least one unused page, and/or an index allocation map (IAM) comprising information about extents that a table or index uses, and wherein prior to retrieving the changed data, the instructions are configured to:

read the one or more maps to determine if the changed extents are allocated; and

retrieve the changed extents only if they are allocated.

9. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to:

detect a request corresponding to said incremental backup file to perform a restore operation;

identify a full database backup file associated with the incremental backup file;

create a restored database by performing a restore operation using the incremental backup file and the full database backup file associated with the incremental backup file; and

notify a database server of the restored database.

10. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to:

identify a previously stored full backup;

retrieve a map associated with the previously stored full backup;

utilize said map to identify particular data which has changed since a backup performed prior to the previously stored full backup;

store the particular data as part of a compressed version of the previously stored full backup; and

discard data of the previously stored full backup which has not changed since the backup performed prior to the previously stored full backup.

11. A system for performing an incremental backup of a database, the system comprising:

a database server;

a media server;

a database; and

one or more storage devices;

wherein in response to a request to perform a full backup, the database server is configured to:

initiate the incremental backup using a request to initiate a full backup; and

wherein the media server is configured to:

retrieve one or more maps associated with the database, said one or more maps including an identification of data which has changed since a prior backup, wherein the one or more maps include a differential change map (DCM) comprising a bitmap which indicates all data that has changed since the prior backup;

reset the DCM associated with the database as if a full backup were performed in response to said request such that the DCM indicates no changes have occurred since a most recent full backup;

retrieve the changed data;

store the changed data as an incremental backup file in a storage device; and

store said one or more maps in association with the incremental backup file;

wherein a schema of the database is automatically generated by querying the database when the prior backup is performed.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the system is configured to take a snapshot of the database, in response to the request to perform the full backup.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the one or more maps include a global allocation map (GAM) comprising information about data extents that have been allocated, a shared global allocation map (SGAM) comprising information about mixed extents that have at least one unused page, and/or an index allocation map (IAM) comprising information about extents that a table or index uses, and wherein prior to retrieving the changed data, the system is configured to:

read the one or more maps to determine if the changed extents are allocated; and

retrieve the changed extents only if they are allocated.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the media server is further configured to:

detect a request corresponding to said incremental backup file to perform a restore operation;

identify a full database backup file associated with the incremental backup file;

create a restored database by performing a restore operation using the incremental backup file and the full database backup file associated with the incremental backup file; and

notify a database server of the restored database.

Assignments (13)

Continuity (1)