Abstract: Techniques for accelerating data movement from a source storage system to a target storage system are described herein. According to one embodiment, a first data stream is received to be transmitted to a remote storage system over a network, the first data stream having multiple data objects, each identified by a data object identifier (ID). A difference is determined between the first data stream and a second data stream that has been previously transmitted to the remote storage system, including identifying one or more data objects that are added, deleted, and/or modified. Differential object information is transmitted to the target storage representing the difference between the first data stream and the second data stream, as well as one or more data objects that are missing in the second data stream without having to transmit all data objects of the first data stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for restoring files and metadata records associated with files are provided herein. Some of the methods include identifying a version of the file, evaluating one or more reverse incremental delta increments, and restoring an arbitrary version of the file based on an arbitrary time reference by assembling the arbitrary version of the file based on the one or more reverse incremental delta increments.

Abstract: A computer system in which restoration of a system state of the computer system can be carried out efficiently and a management method for the same are proposed.

Abstract: The recovery of one or more transactions in a computing system in which one or more persistent systems are coupled via a bus to one or more processors. As an example, the persistent system may serve as at least part of the main memory of the computing system. The transaction might implement multi-versioning in which a record is not updated in place. Rather, each record is represented as a sequence of one or more record versions, each version having a valid interval during which the record version is considered to properly represent the record.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing file sizes for files delivered over a network are disclosed. A method comprises receiving a first file comprising sequences of data; creating a hash table having entries corresponding to overlapping sequences of data; receiving a second file comprising sequences of data; comparing each of the sequences of data in the second file to the sequences of data in the hash table to determine sequences of data present in both the first and second files; and creating a third file comprising sequences of data from the second file and representations of locations and lengths of said sequences of data present in both the first and second files.

Abstract: A backup and restore system may present recovered backup data as local resources and in a read and write manner so that the recovered backup data may be accessed using an application that created the data. In some embodiments, the recovered data may be read only data, but a differencing virtual hard disk (VHD), Common Internet File System protocol, or differencing driver may be used to present a read/write version of the data. Additionally, the data may be presented using iSCSI or other technologies to present the data as local data, even though the data may be remotely located. The backup and restore system may additionally use VHD differencing technologies to create multiple backups.

Abstract: A system and method for restoring site collections stored in different content databases of a web application are disclosed. A restoration GUI may be displayed. Displaying the restoration GUI may include determining a plurality of databases used for the web application. For each respective database of the plurality of databases, one or more site collections stored in the database may be determined. Displaying the graphical user interface may further comprise displaying an aggregated view of the site collections stored in each database of the plurality of databases. The aggregated view may enable each site collection to be selected for restoration.

Abstract: A NAS device providing a snapshot function for executing CoW processing in multiple successive block units is provided, wherein upon restoring a file saved in a file system sharing from a snapshot, the speed for restoring files is enhanced by restoring only data blocks that have been changed within the data blocks constituting a file, to thereby reduce the amount of data being restored and cut down CoW processing. Upon restoring a file stored in file system sharing from a snapshot file, data blocks storing different data between the restore source file and the restore destination file are specified based on a differential map table and a differential block table, and only the specified data blocks are restored. Further, upon restoring data from a file other than the snapshot, the data blocks constituting the restore source file and the restore destination file are compared, and only the data blocks storing different data are restored.

Abstract: A system and method for restoring multiple content databases of a web application are disclosed. A restoration GUI may indicate one or more available recovery times. User input selecting a particular recovery time may be received. The selected recovery time may correspond to a first time when a first database was backed up. The system may determine that the web application also included one or more other databases in addition to the first database at the first time. Information indicating the first database together with the one or more other databases may be displayed in association with the selected recovery time in the graphical user interface.

Abstract: In an embodiment, communities are generated on demand. In this specification a community is a group of webpages in which users share ideas with one another by posting ideas and sending messages for one another to read. An on-demand community is a community that may be created via tools specialized for creating communities, with just a few keys strokes and/or mouse clicks and by adding information (e.g., about the members and/or the topic or set of topics that the community is focused upon), such that a community maybe established within a short amount of time, such as a few minutes or a few hours. Optionally, the communities may be initially populated with ideas related to a particular topic or set of topics. Optionally, each member may be provided with tools for establishing one or more profile page and/or one or more friend pages.

Abstract: A virtual disk can be created by using data from critical sectors of a primary physical disk. The creation of a virtual disk involves receiving sector numbers and corresponding data for critical sectors of a primary physical disk on a primary computing system, creating a virtual disk that comprises sectors, and writing data from the critical sectors of the primary physical disk into respective sectors of the virtual disk.

Abstract: A method includes quiescing a file system of source storage system through a backup engine associated with the source storage system and a destination storage system and capturing, at the source storage system, a point-in-time image of the file system thereof through the backup engine. The method also includes sharing the captured point-in-time image of the file system of the source storage system with the destination storage system to enable the storage systems to have a common base data and negotiating between the storage systems for the common base data. Further, the method includes applying, to the common base data at the source storage system, a differential change corresponding to a difference between the common base data and a point-in-time image of the file system of the source storage system backed up at the destination storage system.

Abstract: In an embodiment, communities are generated on demand. In this specification a community is a group of webpages in which users share ideas with one another by posting ideas and sending messages for one another to read. An on-demand community is a community that may be created via tools specialized for creating communities, with just a few keys strokes and/or mouse clicks and by adding information (e.g., about the members and/or the topic or set of topics that the community is focused upon), such that a community may be established within a short amount of time, such as a few minutes or a few hours. Optionally, the communities may be initially populated with ideas related to a particular topic or set of topics. Optionally, each member may be provided with tools for establishing one or more profile page and/or one or more friend pages.

Abstract: A system, method, and medium for performing incremental backups of a Microsoft SQL server database. A snapshot of the database is created, and then a map identifying the changed extents is retrieved from the snapshot. The changed extents are then retrieved from the snapshot and stored in a backup storage device. For a restore operation, a full database backup file is written to a storage device and then the changed extents from a stored incremental backup file may be merged with the full backup file. Next, the database server is notified of the reconstructed file and then the reconstructed file is mounted by the database server as a live instance of the database.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a differential backup from a storage image are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing a differential backup from a storage image comprising identifying one or more dirty blocks in a storage image, creating a differential backup data structure, and transmitting the one or more dirty blocks to a data management process utilizing the differential backup data structure to provide a differential backup.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reliably updating a data group in a read-before-write data replication environment. The method reliably updates the data group by receiving an updated data group sent from a first storage medium to a second storage medium, comparing the updated data group with a previous data group previously existing on the second storage medium and writing the updated data group to the second storage medium. The read-before-write and differencing method disclosed maintain reliability by storing multiple copies of changes made to the second storage medium during and after the write process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing single instance restoration of data files is provided. In one embodiment, a method for using a signature database to provide a single instance data restoration solution includes processing a restore request for a data file, wherein the data file is associated with a signature and examining a signature database using the signature to identify at least one locally available data file having at least one signature that matches the signature associated with the data file.

Abstract: An image outputting apparatus obtains attribute information about image data prior to acquisition of the image data stored in an external apparatus. The image outputting apparatus accepts an output request of the image data by using the attribute information while obtaining the image data. The image outputting apparatus holds the output request in accordance with the acceptance of the output request before completion of acquisition of the image data and allows the outputting the image data in response to the output request after acquisition of the image data has been completed.

Abstract: A backup and restore system may present recovered backup data as local resources and in a read and write manner so that the recovered backup data may be accessed using an application that created the data. In some embodiments, the recovered data may be read only data, but a differencing virtual hard disk (VHD), Common Internet File System protocol, or differencing driver may be used to present a read/write version of the data. Additionally, the data may be presented using iSCSI or other technologies to present the data as local data, even though the data may be remotely located. The backup and restore system may additionally use VHD differencing technologies to create multiple backups.

Abstract: A full backup of a database is created at a first point in time. To restore the database to its state at a second point in time (after the full backup was created), a set of incremental backups, including the incremental backup that corresponds to the second point in time and incremental backups created between the first and second points in time, is used in reverse chronological order. For example, blocks in the full backup can be selectively overwritten with corresponding blocks from the incremental backups in reverse chronological order.

Abstract: A system for storing encrypted data comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive an encrypted segment. The encrypted segment is determined by breaking a data stream, a data block, or a data file into one or more segments and encrypting each of the one or more segments. The processor is further configured to determine whether the encrypted segment has been previously stored, and in the event that the encrypted segment has not been previously stored, store the encrypted segment. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: System and method for distributing volume status information in a storage system. According to one embodiment, a system may include a plurality of volumes configured to store data, where the volumes are configured as mirrors of one another, and a plurality of hosts configured to access the plurality of volumes. A first one of the plurality of hosts may be configured to execute a mirror recovery process and to maintain a progress indication of the mirror recovery process, and the first host may be further configured to distribute the progress indication to another one or more of the plurality of hosts.

Abstract: A computer system having a first storage system which includes a first logical volume and a second logical volume, wherein the second logical volume stores a first differential data item representing a differential between data that was stored in the first logical volume at a first time instant and data that was stored in the first logical volume at a second time instant being later than the first time instant, and a second storage system which includes a third logical volume. The first storage system transmits the first differential data item to the second storage system, the second storage system stores the first differential data item into the third logical volume, the first storage system deletes the first differential data item from the second logical volume, and the computer system retains management information set for associating the first logical volume with the third logical volume storing therein the first differential data item.

Abstract: A computer system and restoration method that can facilitate restoration work is suggested. A management server collects necessary information from at least a business server, a storage apparatus with a primary volume formed therein, and a storage apparatus with a secondary volume formed therein; calculates, in response to a restoration request given externally, restoration time required for execution of requested restoration processing by each of a plurality of types of predetermined restoration methods based on the information collected by an information collecting unit; decides a restoration method with the shortest restoration time to be the restoration method for the restoration processing to be executed in response to the restoration request; and notifies the business server of the decided restoration method.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a backup of a virtual machine running on a host computer is described herein. The system and method operate by creating a copy or “clone” of a virtual machine running on a first host computer on a second host machine connected thereto. After generation of the clone, a backup of the virtual hard disk of the clone can be obtained in a manner that does not consume any resources of the first host machine. The backup of the virtual hard disk of the clone can then be used as the backup of the original virtual machine.

Abstract: A technique for implementing policy-aware backup and restore capability in a tiered storage system. If a data set's contents are backed up from the tiered storage system to a backup storage system, metadata for the data set may also be backed up. Prior to the data set being restored from the backup storage system to the tiered storage system, the backed up metadata is restored and processed to determine a tier among the tiered storage pools to which the data set will be restored.

Abstract: A network storage server restores a selected file or files from a block-level backup of a data set that contains multiple files, by using a client-server backup protocol, without restoring the entire data set. The backup can include at least one incremental backup image, in which case the file can be restored at least partially from the incremental backup image. A particular version of a file can also be restored, from a block-level backup image that includes multiple snapshots, by automatically selecting a particular snapshot associated with that version of the file, from the backup image, and using the selected snapshot to restore the file.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for retrieving and retaining data relating to the configuration of a storage system. Data relating to the configuration of a storage system may be retrieved and stored in an accessible file, stored locally or remotely. When a loss of configuration data event occurs, such as a catastrophic failure of a storage system, a configuration file in accordance with the present invention may be retrieved and loaded into the computing system of the storage system in order to rebuild the storage system with the set of configuration settings stored on the configuration file of the present invention. A detection module of the present invention may also detect a change of configuration data such that the configuration file may reflect the most current configuration for a storage system.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for managing database snapshots. One user interface is provided for managing the automated creation and deletion of database snapshots. Parameters are received through the user interface that define how the database snapshots should be created and deleted. Once the parameters are defined, a timer job is executed that causes a DBMS to create and delete the database snapshots according to the specified parameters. A user interface is also provided for manually managing the creation, deletion, and restoration of database snapshots. A request may be received through this user interface to recover data from a database snapshot. In response to such a request, another user interface is provided for specifying the data that should be recovered. Once the data to be recovered has been specified, the desired data is recovered from the database snapshot.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system and program for backing up the contents of a source storage device as an object in a data storage subsystem wherein the object contains image data representing the contents of the source storage device, and restoring the contents of the source storage device from the object to a file such as a flat file. The contents of the file may be copied to a target storage device to restore the contents of the source storage device from the file to the target storage device which may be the source storage device or another target storage device.

Abstract: Described are techniques for representing a data segment comprising. A list of one or more tokens representing one or more data portions included in the data segment is received. A unique identifier uniquely identifying said data segment from other data segments is received. A signature value determined in accordance with said list of tokens and said unique identifier is received. The list of tokens, said unique identifier, and said signature value are stored as information corresponding to said data segment.

Abstract: In a job management device: a request reception unit stores job-input information in a storage device on receipt of a job-execution request; and an execution instruction unit sends to one or more job-assigned calculation nodes a job-execution instruction together with execution-resource information, and stores job-assignment information in the storage device in association with a job identifier. When the contents of the job database are lost by a restart of the job management device, a reconstruction unit collects the job-input information and the job-assignment information from the storage device, collects the execution-resource information from the one or more job-assigned calculation nodes, and reconstructs the job information in the job database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing single instance restoration of data files is provided. In one embodiment, a method for using a signature database to provide a single instance data restoration solution includes processing a restore request for a data file, wherein the data file is associated with a signature and examining a signature database using the signature to identify at least one locally available data file having at least one signature that matches the signature associated with the data file.

Abstract: The present invention is capable of determining the rights to a file based on providing a descriptor. The descriptor can be calculated using an algorithm, which may be cryptographic and/or non-cryptographic. The descriptor may further be based on the file contents, metadata of the file, other file data, or any combination thereof to uniquely identify the file in a shared file repository. Since the descriptor is generated based on file data it will be the same regardless of which user generates it. Accordingly, only one copy of the file needs to be maintained in the shared file repository, thereby reducing the amount of network bandwidth required to assure the file is backed up and further reducing the amount of storage required to backup the files. This results in a vastly more efficient method of backup in terms of processing time, network bandwidth, and storage requirements.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method for providing incremental backups for a source computing machine, the method including: (a) creating a first backup snapshot including a virtual machine (VM) snapshot of an initial copy of a source computing machine volume, wherein said VM snapshot includes a timestamp and a first redo log file; (b) reconfiguring and customizing said first backup snapshot to create a first bootable VM, writing changes associated with said reconfiguring and customizing into said first redo log file, then creating a first bootable snapshot including a VM snapshot of said first bootable VM, wherein said VM snapshot of said first bootable VM includes a timestamp for said first bootable VM and a redo log file; (c) performing an incremental update of said first backup snapshot or a subsequent backup snapshot, then creating a subsequent backup snapshot including a VM snapshot of said incremental update, wherein said VM snapshot of said incremental update includes a timestamp for said incremental update and

Abstract: Provided is technology in which a first storage system includes a first logical volume and a second logical volume, the second logical volume stores therein a first differential data item representing a differential between data that was stored in the first logical volume at a first time instant and data that was stored in the first logical volume at a second time instant being later than the first time instant, a second storage system includes a third logical volume, the first storage system transmits the first differential data item to the second storage system, the second storage system stores the first differential data item into the third logical volume, the first storage system deletes the first differential data item from the second logical volume, and the computer system retains management information set for associating the first logical volume with the third logical volume storing therein the first differential data item.

Abstract: Compressing and decompressing compressed index lists. One or more index lists include at least a portion of the list that is compressed. A method includes reading an entry from a list. The method further includes determining that the entry indicates the start of a compressed block of the list. The compressed block is compressed using a compression algorithm including a plurality of delta pointers. Each of the delta pointers point to data store entries by reference to a difference from a reference in a previous entry in the list. An entry size indicator is referenced. The entry size indicator is configured to indicate a memory storage size for a delta pointer, and the entry size indicator supports indications for all of fixed storage sizes, variable storage sizes, and run length encoding. The compressed block of the list is decompressed according to the entry size indicator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for generating a point-in-time restoration of database files and associated log files by utilizing a snapshot feature of the file system storing the files. At regular intervals, snapshots, which produce read-only copies of the files, are taken along with backups of the associated log files. To restore to a given point-in-time, the snapshot and stored log files are transferred to the active file system. In a second embodiment, all log files associated with snapshots taken after the selected snapshot are also restored.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for backing-up and restoring files including files referenced with multiple file names. Files to backup are determined. A determination is made from the files to backup files referenced with multiple names. An entry is created for each file to backup in a backup directory indicating file attributes and each name used to reference the file. The determined files and the backup directory are backed-up.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing a copy operation. A fast reverse restore command indicating a new source and a new target is received, wherein the new source is an original target and the new target is an original source. A synchronous scan is performed on the new target. A new target structure associated with the new target is updated using a new source structure associated with the new source. Techniques are also provided for performing a copy operation in which a fast reverse restore command is received after an instant virtual copy has been performed from a new target to a new source and wherein the fast reverse restore command is performed before a background copy has been performed by the instant virtual copy.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for space recovery with storage management coupled with a deduplicating storage system. A notification is received that one or more data objects have been logically deleted by deleting metadata about the one or more data objects, wherein the notification provides storage locations within one or more logical storage volumes corresponding to the deleted one or more data objects, wherein each of the one or more data objects are divided into one or more extents. In response to determining that a sparse file represents the one or more logical storage volumes, physical space is deallocated by nulling out space in the sparse file corresponding to each of the one or more extents.

Abstract: Provided is a computer system including: a client computer; a storage system coupled to the client computer via a network; a folder deciding module; and a file storage module, in which each of a plurality of files is stored in one of a plurality of folders; the client computer receives an instruction to store a file; the folder deciding module judges how strongly the plurality of folders are each related to the designated file based on a matching degree between each of the plurality of files stored in the plurality of folders and the designated file; and the file storage module stores the designated file in one of the plurality of folders that has been judged to be most strongly related to the designated file. According to this invention, a created file is stored in a suitable folder so that the file can easily be found by the user.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing a copy operation. A fast reverse restore command indicating a new source and a new target is received, wherein the new source is an original target and the new target is an original source. A synchronous scan is performed on the new target. A new target structure associated with the new target is updated using a new source structure associated with the new source. Techniques are also provided for performing a copy operation in which a fast reverse restore command is received after an instant virtual copy has been performed from a new target to a new source and wherein the fast reverse restore command is performed before a background copy has been performed by the instant virtual copy.

Abstract: A database processing system including a plurality of partitioned databases. Data processing is performed with pieces of information processing apparatus associated with each of the partitioned databases respectively. In response to a query, a status table indicating availability of each information processing apparatus is read from the storage. Of the pieces of information processing apparatus for processing the received query, at least a serviceable one is determined as a process request destination. A process request corresponding to the query is transmitted to the information processing apparatus determined as the process request destination. The process request is received through a communication unit, and data on the database are consequently processed. A processing result is transmitted to a transmitting source through the communication unit.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system providing a storage volume and being coupled via a network to a secondary storage system for storing a backup of data stored in the storage volume, the storage system copies data stored in the storage volume to the secondary storage system, upon receiving an instruction to create a backup; records the size of the data copied; predict the size of data to be copied in the future based on the recorded size of the copied data; records a usable bandwidth of the network at a time when the data is copied to the secondary storage system; predicts a usable bandwidth in the future based on the recorded usable bandwidth of the network; and predicts a time period required for copying data to the secondary storage system based on the predicted size of data to be copied and the predicted usable bandwidth of the network.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methodologies for highly efficient restoration in a network-based backup system. As described herein, differential-based analysis can be utilized such that a new complete differential is calculated based on signatures and/or other information relating to a given item to be restored prior to retrieving backup data. Based on the differential, only blocks determined to be unique between the current version of the item and the desired version are transmitted, which can then be merged with non-unique locally present blocks to obtain the fully restored version of the item. Further, a hybrid architecture can be employed, wherein signatures and/or data are stored at a global location within a network as well as one or more local peers. Accordingly, a backup client can obtain information necessary for restoration from either the global location or a nearby peer, thus further reducing latency and bandwidth consumption.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for applying incremental changes prior to initialization of a point-in-time copy. For example, one method involves identifying an incremental change to information stored on a primary device. The incremental change is identified subsequent to a first point in time. The incremental change is applied to a first target device, prior to completing initialization of a second target device. The initialization of the second target device initializes the second target device as a point-in-time copy of the primary device. The point-in-time copy of the primary device is a copy of the primary device at the first point in time.

Abstract: Information representing a hierarchy of categories is stored. An indication is received that a first case is either a positive case or a negative case for a first category in the hierarchy of categories. The first case is identified, by inference, as a positive case or negative case for a second category in the hierarchy based on relationship of the second category to the first category. A training set for the second category is modified based on the identification by reference.

Abstract: A restore system may perform a two staged restore operation. The first operation may restore system state and basic operational data to a system sufficient that the system may begin performing a set of basic operations. The second operation may restore secondary data over a period of time while the system is at least partially operational. The system state and basic operational data may be identified and backed up in a separate operation than the secondary data, or may be extracted from a backup volume of the system. The system state restore may be performed by installing a base set of data or applications and injecting specific system state information.

Abstract: The storage controller of the present invention can efficiently execute recovery by using the storage contents of the primary volume and of the base volume as much as possible. The difference between the primary volume and the base volume is managed by using difference bitmaps that differ in the sections. At the time of recovery, the differences that occur after the restoration point and before the restoration point are managed in the respective bitmaps. The base volume can be used in the area updated only after the restoration point, and the primary volume can be used in the area updated only before the restoration point. In the areas that are updated before and after the restoration point, the data of the base volume is copied to the primary volume, and thereafter the journal data obtained up to the restoration point are written to the primary volume.