Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and processes to perform context-driven (or context-based) data backup and recovery operations. A request to perform a backup operation on a dataset is received. Current external context datasets related to the dataset and generated based on prioritization techniques are collected from computing devices. a saved context dataset is generated based on the current external context datasets. The backup operation is performed by storing a backup image that includes at least a portion of the dataset and the saved context dataset.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and processes to perform context-driven (or context-based) data backup and recovery operations. A request to perform a backup operation on a dataset is received. Current external context datasets related to the dataset and generated based on prioritization techniques are collected from computing devices. a saved context dataset is generated based on the current external context datasets. The backup operation is performed by storing a backup image that includes at least a portion of the dataset and the saved context dataset.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and processes to analyze datasets using heuristic-based data analysis and prioritization techniques to identify, derive, and/or select subsets with important and/or high-priority data for preferential backup are disclosed. A request to perform a backup operation that identifies a dataset to be backed up to a storage device is received. A subset of data is identified and selected from the dataset by analyzing the dataset using one or more prioritization techniques. A backup operation is performed by storing the subset of data in the storage device.

Abstract: A method for replicating a virtual file system of a virtual machine. The method includes accessing a host file system usage map of a host machine that indicates active blocks out of a plurality of blocks of the host file system, and accessing a virtual file system usage map of a virtual machine that indicates active blocks out of a plurality of blocks of the virtual file system. A merged usage map is generated from information of the host file system usage map and the virtual file system usage map that identifies active blocks of the host file system associated with the virtual file system. The virtual file system is then replicated at a replication destination in accordance with the merged usage map.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for optimizing mirror creation. The method includes receiving, within an electronic system, a request for creating a mirror of a portion of a volume and accessing a data structure comprising information about a plurality of regions of the volume. The method further includes determining a plurality of regions comprising non-zeros of the volume based on the data structure and copying only the plurality of regions comprising non-zeros to create the mirror.

Abstract: A method for migrating a selected set of virtual machines from a first volume to a second volume. The method includes receiving a list of virtual machines which are not migrating from a first volume to a second volume, accessing a host file system usage map of a host machine that indicates active blocks of the host file system, and accessing virtual file system usage maps of a plurality of virtual machines that indicate active blocks. A filter usage map that identifies the active blocks of the virtual machines which are not migrating is generated. The plurality of virtual machines are migrated from the first volume to the second volume, wherein the active blocks of the virtual file systems which are not migrating are skipped in accordance with the filter usage map. Subsequently, the metadata at the second volume is processed to reflect the virtual machines which were not migrated.

Abstract: A system, method, and medium for performing multi-level and multi-mode deduplication in a cloud based backup storage system. Fingerprints are generated for data segments from individual clients at a first level, with a separate fingerprint index for each individual client. The fingerprints are compared to their respective fingerprint indexes, and if the fingerprints are unique, then their associated data segments may be deduplicated across data segments from a plurality of clients at a second level. The fingerprints are compared to a common fingerprint index and deduplicated at a second level. The common fingerprint index contains fingerprints generated from data segments from a plurality of clients connected to the backup storage system.

Abstract: A system, method, and medium for dynamically scaling the size of a fingerprint index in a deduplication storage system. Fingerprints are stored as entries in a fingerprint index, and the fingerprint index is scaled to fit into an in-memory cache to enable fast accesses to the index. A persistent copy of the full fingerprint index is stored on a non-volatile memory. The cached fingerprint index uses binary sampling to categorize half of the fingerprint entries as samples and protected, and the other half of the entries as non-samples and replaceable. When a search of the cached index results in a hit on a sample entry, all of the non-sample entries associated with the same container are copied from the persistent index to the cached index.

Abstract: A method for migrating a selected set of virtual machines from a first volume to a second volume. The method includes receiving a list of virtual machines which are not migrating from a first volume to a second volume, accessing a host file system usage map of a host machine that indicates active blocks of the host file system, and accessing virtual file system usage maps of a plurality of virtual machines that indicate active blocks. A filter usage map that identifies the active blocks of the virtual machines which are not migrating is generated. The plurality of virtual machines are migrated from the first volume to the second volume, wherein the active blocks of the virtual file systems which are not migrating are skipped in accordance with the filter usage map. Subsequently, the metadata at the second volume is processed to reflect the virtual machines which were not migrated.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing data deduplication-aware copying of data are provided. In response to a request to copy a source file between a source filesystem and a destination filesystem, file mapping information corresponding to the source file is retrieved. The file mapping information is stored in a source filesystem map. The source filesystem accesses a source logical volume. The source logical volume maps to a deduplication storage area. The destination filesystem accesses a destination logical volume. The destination logical volume maps to the deduplication storage area. The source file comprises data stored in the deduplication storage area. A destination file is allocated, based on the file mapping information, in the destination filesystem. The destination file is mapped to the data stored in the data deduplication storage area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for optimizing mirror creation. The method includes receiving, within an electronic system, a request for creating a mirror of a portion of a volume and accessing a data structure comprising information about a plurality of regions of the volume. The method further includes determining a plurality of regions comprising non-zeros of the volume based on the data structure and copying only the plurality of regions comprising non-zeros to create the mirror.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently locating and processing data on a deduplication storage system are provided. A logical volume is mapped to a deduplication storage area. The logical volume includes a collection of logical block locations and the deduplication storage area includes a collection of physical block locations. The collection of logical block locations is mapped to the collection of physical block locations. A filesystem organizes the logical volume by organizing the logical block locations into a collection of files. Reverse-mapping information is generated for a logical block location that associates the logical block location with at least one file. In response to receiving a logical block address of a logical block location, at least one file is returned.

Abstract: A method for replicating a virtual file system of a virtual machine. The method includes accessing a host file system usage map of a host machine that indicates active blocks out of a plurality of blocks of the host file system, and accessing a virtual file system usage map of a virtual machine that indicates active blocks out of a plurality of blocks of the virtual file system. A merged usage map is generated from information of the host file system usage map and the virtual file system usage map that identifies active blocks of the host file system associated with the virtual file system. The virtual file system is then replicated at a replication destination in accordance with the merged usage map.

Abstract: Techniques for allocating/reducing storage required for one or more virtual machines are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for allocating storage for one or more virtual machines. The method may comprise providing one or more virtual machines. The method may also comprise creating one or more master images containing one or more commonly used blocks. The method may also comprise creating one or more Copy on Write volumes, where each Copy on Write volume may be associated with at least one of the one or more virtual machines and at least one of the one or more master images, and wherein updated blocks may be stored in at least one of the one or more Copy on Write volumes, thereby reducing storage required for one or more virtual machines.