Abstract: A method that is performed for backing up data. The method includes obtaining, by a backup storage, an incremental backup request; and in response to the incremental backup request, identifying backup extents of a full backup associated with the incremental backup request using backup metadata; generating an intermediate backup file comprising the backup extents, wherein each of the backup extents is a reference to a correspond data block; obtaining modified data blocks from a production host; and updating the intermediate backup file using on the modified data blocks to generate a virtual synthetic backup file.

Abstract: Techniques described herein relate to a method for backing up virtual machines. The method may include obtaining, by a backup storage, a virtual synthetic full backup request targeting virtual machine data of a virtual machine; and in response to the virtual synthetic full backup request: identifying, in the backup storage, backup extents using backup metadata; generating an intermediate backup that includes the backup extents, where each of the backup extents is a reference to one of any number of virtual machine data blocks in a full backup; obtaining modified virtual machine data blocks from a production host, where the modified virtual machine data blocks are obtained from a virtual machine snapshot of the virtual machine data; and generating a virtual synthetic full backup using the intermediate backup and the modified virtual machine data blocks.

Abstract: A method that is performed for backing up data. The method includes obtaining, by a backup storage, an incremental backup request; and in response to the incremental backup request, identifying backup extents of a full backup associated with the incremental backup request using backup metadata; generating an intermediate backup file comprising the backup extents, wherein each of the backup extents is a reference to a correspond data block; obtaining modified data blocks from a production host; and updating the intermediate backup file using on the modified data blocks to generate a virtual synthetic backup file.

Abstract: Systems and methods for backing up data. A backup operation can identify blocks that have changed since a most recent backup operation. The blocks that have changed since the most recent backup operation are compared with the blocks that are being used. Only the blocks that are both used and have changed are backed up. This can reduce the size of the backup be excluding blocks that may have changed but are no longer used.

Abstract: In a block-based backup system, a technique allows indexing changed files between backups so that files not changed are not re-indexed. Block identifiers specifying backed-up blocks are received. A file table record is accessed to determine a location of a file table zone. Records in the file table store last modified timestamps for files associated with the records. The file table zone location is compared with the block identifiers to select a subset of records. Each record in the subset is associated with a block from the file table zone that corresponds to a block identified by the block identifiers. The subset is parsed to extract timestamps. The timestamps are compared with a next-to-last backup date. If the associated file was modified after the next-to-last backup date, a determination is made that the file blocks were backed up in the last backup and the file should be indexed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for backing up data. A backup operation can identify blocks that have changed since a most recent backup operation. The blocks that have changed since the most recent backup operation are compared with the blocks that are being used. Only the blocks that are both used and have changed are backed up. This can reduce the size of the backup be excluding blocks that may have changed but are no longer used.

Abstract: Systems and methods for backing up data. A backup operation can identify blocks that have changed since a most recent backup operation. The blocks that have changed since the most recent backup operation are compared with the blocks that are being used. Only the blocks that are both used and have changed are backed up. This can reduce the size of the backup be excluding blocks that may have changed but are no longer used.

Abstract: Changed files since a last backup are identified to be backed up by reverse mapping changed blocks to files. Block identifiers specifying blocks on a storage volume are received. A location of a file table zone is determined. The file table zone stores a file table of records. Each record stores a last modified timestamp for a file associated with the record. An intersection is created from the file table zone location and the block identifiers. The intersection includes a subset of records where each record in the subset is associated with a block from the file table zone that corresponds to a block identified by the block identifiers. The subset is parsed to extract timestamps. The timestamps are compared with the storage volume's last backup date. If the associated file was modified after the last backup date, a determination is made that the file should be backed up.