System and method for snapshot cleanup and report consolidation

1. A method for data consolidation and preservation during backups of data stored in a source device from the source device to a target device, the method being executed by the source device and comprising:

obtaining a first snapshot of the data and a second snapshot of the data;

generating, in response to obtaining the first snapshot and the second snapshot, a first snapshot difference report using the first snapshot and the second snapshot;

performing one action selected from a group of actions comprising generating a new snapshot difference report metadata file and updating an existing snapshot difference report metadata file;

transmitting, in response to generating the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot difference report to the target device to be stored with a backup copy of the data; and

deleting, in response to transmitting the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

multiple snapshots, including the first snapshot and the second snapshot, of the data are generated between a first backup of the data and a second backup of the data,

information from the multiple snapshots, including information from the first snapshot difference report, are consolidated into a single consolidated snapshot difference report.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

each of the multiple snapshots are generated at a first predetermined interval, and

among the multiple snapshots, all snapshots except for a most recent snapshot of the data are deleted from the source device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

each of the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data are executed at a second predetermined interval longer than the first predetermined interval,

each of the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data is a full synthetic backup of the data, and

the single consolidated snapshot difference report comprises all changes to the data between the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one action that is selected is generating the new snapshot difference report metadata file, and wherein obtaining the first snapshot and the second snapshot comprises:

making a determination that a second snapshot difference report associated with the backup copy of the data does not exist in the target device; and

obtaining, in response to the determination:

a snapshot, of the data, generated during a backup for generating the backup copy of the data as the first snapshot; and

a snapshot of a current state of the data as the second snapshot.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one action that is selected is updating the existing snapshot difference report metadata file, and wherein obtaining the first snapshot and the second snapshot comprises:

making a first determination that a second snapshot difference report associated with the backup copy of the data exists in the target device;

making a second determination, based on the first determination, that a snapshot used for generating the second snapshot difference report exists in the source device; and

obtaining, based on the second determination:

the snapshot used for generating the second snapshot difference report as the first snapshot; and

a snapshot of a current state of the data as the second snapshot.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein making the second determination comprises:

obtaining, from the target device, the existing snapshot difference report metadata file associated with the second snapshot difference report;

parsing, in response to obtaining the existing snapshot difference report metadata file, the existing snapshot difference report metadata file to identify a unique parameter associated with the snapshot used for generating the second snapshot difference report; and

determining, by the source device and based on identifying the unique parameter for the snapshot used for generating the second snapshot difference report, that the snapshot used for generating the second snapshot difference report exists in the source device.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the second snapshot difference report from the target device;

initiating, in response to obtaining the second snapshot difference report, a merging of the second snapshot difference report and the first snapshot difference report into a consolidated snapshot difference report; and

transmitting the consolidated snapshot difference report to the target device to be saved with the backup copy of the data.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein information included in the consolidated snapshot difference report, after merging of the second snapshot difference report and the first snapshot difference report, is based on a predetermined set of rules.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the first snapshot difference report comprises information associated with a first file directory,

the second snapshot difference report comprises information associated with changes to the first file directory including addition of a second file directory as a sub-directory of the first file directory and a renaming of the first file directory, and

the consolidated snapshot difference report includes only information reflecting the renaming of the first file directory.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing instructions that when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute a method for data consolidation and preservation during backups of data stored in a source device from the source device to a target device, the method comprising:

obtaining a first snapshot of the data and a second snapshot of the data;

generating, in response to obtaining the first snapshot and the second snapshot, a first snapshot difference report using the first snapshot and the second snapshot;

performing one action selected from a group of actions comprising generating a new snapshot difference report metadata file and updating an existing snapshot difference report metadata file;

transmitting, in response to generating the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot difference report to the target device to be stored with a backup copy of the data; and

deleting, in response to transmitting the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot.

12. The non-transitory CRM of claim 11 , wherein:

multiple snapshots, including the first snapshot and the second snapshot, of the data are generated between a first backup of the data and a second backup of the data,

information from the multiple snapshots, including information from the first snapshot difference report, are consolidated into a single consolidated snapshot difference report.

13. The non-transitory CRM of claim 12 , wherein:

each of the multiple snapshots are generated at a first predetermined interval, and

among the multiple snapshots, all snapshots except for a most recent snapshot of the data are deleted from the source device.

14. The non-transitory CRM of claim 13 , wherein:

each of the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data are executed at a second predetermined interval longer than the first predetermined interval,

each of the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data is a full synthetic backup of the data, and

the single consolidated snapshot difference report comprises all changes to the data between the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data.

15. The non-transitory CRM of claim 11 , wherein the one action that is selected is generating the new snapshot difference report metadata file, and wherein obtaining the first snapshot and the second snapshot comprises:

making a determination that a second snapshot difference report associated with the backup copy of the data does not exist in the target device; and

obtaining, in response to the determination:

a snapshot, of the data, generated during a backup for generating the backup copy of the data as the first snapshot; and

a snapshot of a current state of the data as the second snapshot.

16. A source device comprising:

a storage storing data to be backed up to a target device; and

a processor coupled to the storage, wherein the processor is configured to:

obtain a first snapshot of the data and a second snapshot of the data;

generate, in response to obtaining the first snapshot and the second snapshot, a first snapshot difference report using the first snapshot and the second snapshot;

perform one action selected from a group of actions comprising generate a new snapshot difference report metadata file and update an existing snapshot difference report metadata file

transmit, in response to generating the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot difference report to the target device to be stored with a backup copy of the data; and

delete, in response to transmitting the first snapshot difference report, the first snapshot.

17. The source device of claim 16 , wherein:

multiple snapshots, including the first snapshot and the second snapshot, of the data are generated between a first backup of the data and a second backup of the data,

information from the multiple snapshots, including information from the first snapshot difference report, are consolidated into a single consolidated snapshot difference report.

18. The source device of claim 17 , wherein:

each of the multiple snapshots are generated at a first predetermined interval, and

among the multiple snapshots, all snapshots except for a most recent snapshot of the data are deleted from the source device.

19. The source device of claim 18 , wherein:

each of the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data are executed at a second predetermined interval longer than the first predetermined interval,

each of the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data is a full synthetic backup of the data, and

the single consolidated snapshot difference report comprises all changes to the data between the first backup of the data and the second backup of the data.

20. The source device of claim 16 , wherein the one action that is selected is generate the new snapshot difference report metadata file, and wherein to obtain the first snapshot and the second snapshot, the processor is further configured to:

make a determination that a second snapshot difference report associated with the backup copy of the data does not exist in the target device; and

obtain, in response to the determination:

a snapshot, of the data, generated during a backup for generating the backup copy of the data as the first snapshot; and

a snapshot of a current state of the data as the second snapshot.