System and method for backing up a computer system
A backup computer storage system that protects and/or recovers data on a primary computer storage system is disclosed. The backup computer system may be used to backup databases, files, and/or applications. The backup system may be used to backup an image of the primary computer system. The backup system may also be used to backup one or more databases. The backup system may replicate an image of data that is on a primary computer system. The backup system may also be used to restore data from the backup system to the primary computer system. The backup system may restore data to a database while non-affected portions of the database are available and can be used. The backup system may record all transactions in real time without overwriting any previously stored backup data. The backup system may maintain historical and/or chronological information related to the backed up data.
1. A method for restoring data on a data storage system from data on a backup storage system, the backup storage system including a plurality of transactions, each transaction corresponding to a plurality of data writes to the data storage system, the method comprising:
receiving an estimated transaction location based on a first instance of an application;
identifying a transaction associated with the estimated transaction location;
applying an individual data write subsequent to the identified transaction to an image of data on the backup storage system, thereby recreating data on the data storage system at the time of the individual data write;
mounting, using at least one computer processor, a second instance of an application over the image of data; and
selecting an object from the second instance of the application to be restored to the live open first instance of the application, wherein the first instance of the application remains open and live during restoration of the selected object to the first instance, wherein restoration of the selected object comprises restoring the selected object to an active production image of the first instance.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual data write is a first data write, the method further comprising:
applying a second individual data write to the image of data, thereby recreating data on the data storage system at the time of the second individual data write, the second individual data write being located immediately subsequent to the first individual data write.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each transaction includes a backward increment between data on the data storage system at a second time and data on the data storage system at a first time based on the plurality of data writes, and a forward increment between data on the data storage system at the first time and data on the data storage system at the second time based on the plurality of data writes.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the identified transaction corresponds to the first time, and said applying an individual data write includes applying the individual data write that is subsequent to the first time.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
exporting the selected object from the second instance of the application; and
importing the selected object into the first instance of the application.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first instance comprises a production instance that remains active during a restoration.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected object comprises a table and a system administrator can identify a particular table to restore to the active production image of the first instance.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected object comprises a record and a system administrator identifies a particular table to restore to the active production image of the first instance.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the restoration of the selected object is accomplished using copying and pasting techniques within an application.
10. An article of manufacture for restoring data on a data storage system from data on a backup storage system, the backup storage system including a plurality of transactions, each transaction corresponding to a plurality of data writes to the data storage system, the article of manufacture comprising:
at least one non-transitory processor readable storage medium; and
instructions stored on the at least one medium;
wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one medium by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to:
receive an estimated transaction location based on a first instance of an application;
identify a transaction associated with the estimated transaction location;
apply an individual data write subsequent to the identified transaction to an image of data on the backup storage system, thereby recreating data on the data storage system at the time of the individual data write;
mount a second instance of an application over the image of data; and
select an object from the second instance of the application to be restored to the live open first instance of the application, wherein the first instance of the application remains live and open during restoration of the selected object to the first instance, wherein restoration of the selected object comprises restoring the selected object to an active production image of the first instance.
11. A computer system comprising:
a backup storage system;
a data storage system; and
one or more processors communicatively coupled to a network; wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
receive an estimated transaction location based on a first instance of an application;
identify a transaction associated with the estimated transaction location;
apply an individual data write subsequent to the identified transaction to an image of data on the backup storage system, thereby recreating data on the data storage system at the time of the individual data write;
mount a second instance of an application over the image of data; and
select an object from the second instance of the application to be restored to the live open first instance of the application, wherein the first instance of the application remains live and open during restoration of the selected object to the first instance, wherein restoration of the selected object comprises restoring the selected object to an active production image of the first instance.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the individual data write is a first data write and wherein the processors are further configured to:
apply a second individual data write to the image of data, thereby recreating data on the data storage system at the time of the second individual data write, the second individual data write being located immediately subsequent to the first individual data write.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein each transaction includes a backward increment between data on the data storage system at a second time and data on the data storage system at a first time based on the plurality of data writes, and a forward increment between data on the data storage system at the first time and data on the data storage system at the second time based on the plurality of data writes.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the identified transaction corresponds to the first time, and said applying an individual data write includes applying the individual data write that is subsequent to the first time.
15. The system of claim 11 , and wherein the processors are further configured to:
export the selected object from the second instance of the application; and
import the selected object into the first instance of the application.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first instance comprises a production instance that remains active during a restoration.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the selected object comprises a table and a system administrator can identify a particular table to restore to the active production image of the first instance.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the selected object comprises a record and a system administrator identifies a particular table to restore to the active production image of the first instance.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the restoration of the selected object is accomplished using copying and pasting techniques within an application.