Abstract: Systems and methods for data recovery, backup and catalog generation are described. In part, the disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for generating a data catalog includes creating a current backup archive; obtaining access to a Master File Table (MFT), or other index table such as an Inode Table, of the current backup archive and a MFT, or other index table such as an Inode Table, of a previous backup archive; comparing each entry in the MFT, or Inode Table, of the current backup to each entry of the MFT, or Inode Table, of the previous backup to identify one or more differences in the current backup archive; and saving one or more of the differences into the data catalog of the current backup archive.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods and systems for optimized re-striping in an erasure encoded storage. In one exemplary aspect, a method may receive a request to re-stripe a plurality of data blocks arranged as a tile in the erasure encoded storage, wherein the request comprises a desired tile width. The method may identify (1) a number of data blocks in the tile and (2) a width of the tile. The method may determine a maximum number of data blocks that do not need to be rearranged when reconfiguring the tile to the desired tile width. Furthermore, the method may determine a tile reconfiguration with the desired tile width that does not rearrange the maximum number of the data blocks of the tile, and may re-stripe the tile in accordance with the tile reconfiguration.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods and systems for optimized re-striping in an erasure encoded storage. In one exemplary aspect, a method may receive a request to re-stripe a plurality of data blocks arranged as a tile in the erasure encoded storage, wherein the request comprises a desired tile width. The method may identify (1) a number of data blocks in the tile and (2) a width of the tile. The method may determine a maximum number of data blocks that do not need to be rearranged when reconfiguring the tile to the desired tile width. Furthermore, the method may determine a tile reconfiguration with the desired tile width that does not rearrange the maximum number of the data blocks of the tile, and may re-stripe the tile in accordance with the tile reconfiguration.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, computing system, and system for recovery of virtual machine files are described. The method may include creating a backup archive file, the backup archive file including a backup of a first virtual disk corresponding to a virtual machine hosted by a virtualization host device. The method may further include storing the backup archive file including the backup. The method may also include creating a second virtual disk that emulates the first virtual disk using data from the backup archive file. The method may additionally include communicatively attaching the second virtual disk to the virtual machine hosted by the virtualization host device. Moreover, the method may include transferring data from the second virtual disk to the first virtual disk corresponding to the virtual machine hosted by the virtualization host device.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for recovery of virtual machines are described. A method may include creating, via a computing device, an image of at least a portion of a virtual machine disk. The method may further include comparing, via the computing device, the image of the portion of the virtual machine disk with the portion of the virtual machine disk that currently exists to determine changed sectors of the portion of the virtual machine disk. The method may additionally include restoring, via the computing device, the changed sectors of the portion of the virtual machine disk.

Abstract: Systems and methods for migrating and/or replicating computer systems are disclosed. Computer systems may be migrated and/or replicated from physical systems or virtual systems to physical or virtual systems. Migrating/replicating computer systems comprises determining the structure of the source computer system, generating instructions for migrating/replicating the structure of the computer system, and packaging the instructions in an executable package. The instructions may be formatted as a template, such as an OVF template, and be packaged with an executable agent and task list. The executable agent may be received and executed by a destination computer system. Executing the executable package may cause the instructions to be executed, as well as the optional agent, there configuring the destination computer system, possibly copying data present on the source computer system, and possibly rebooting the destination computer system.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for creating an archive of a set of logical storage units stored on at least one storage medium. A first plurality of LSU descriptors may be generated. Each LSU descriptor may describe a current version of one of the set of LSUs at about the time of the generating. A first archive may be read to produce a first archive plurality of LSU descriptors. Each of the first archive plurality of LSU descriptors may describe a version of one of the set of LSUs when the first archive was created. The first archive plurality of LSU descriptors may be compared with the first plurality of LSU descriptors to identify a first LSU from the set of LSUs that has an associated LSU descriptor that does not match a corresponding LSU descriptor from the first archive plurality of LSU descriptors.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for using performance-maintaining commands for generating backup data of an unsupported file system. An example method includes intercepting a plurality of data storage commands transmitted from the file system to a storage device, where the plurality of data storage commands indicating sectors of the memory of the computer that do not contain valid data. The method further includes analyzing the plurality of data storage commands to determine sectors of the memory that contains valid data, generating a data structure that indicates the sectors of the memory that contain valid data and the sector of the memory that do not contain valid data, and subsequently generating the backup data copy of the memory of the computer based on the data structure.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, computing system, and system for snapshotless backup are described. The method may include receiving, via a backup agent, an indication of a virtual machine to be backed up in a backup archive file. The backup agent may run outside of the virtual machine. The virtual machine may be hosted by a virtualization host device. The method may further include identifying, via the backup agent, a virtual disk associated with the virtual machine indicated to be backed up. The method may also include tracking, via a virtualization host agent running on the virtualization host device outside the virtual machine, changes to the virtual disk associated with the virtual machine on a sector level basis. The method may additionally include reading the virtual disk and transmitting sectors from the virtual disk to the backup archive file on a first pass.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for reducing a physical size of a data file that includes a plurality of blocks in sequence with each block having a defined size with a starting position and an end position. According to one aspect, the method includes obtaining information relating to an occupied physical region of the data file, where the occupied physical region contains unused space and/or unused data, and determining positions of first and second boundaries of the occupied physical region of the data file relative to the plurality of blocks in the data file. Furthermore, the method includes equalizing the occupied physical region by adjusting the first and second boundaries of the occupied physical region of the data file and removing data between the start and end of the removal region to reduce the physical size of the data file.

Abstract: A method for creating an inconsistent backup and then a consistent backup is described. The method may include creating an inconsistent, full backup of a storage device. The method may further include creating a first snapshot of the storage device. The method may also include creating a consistent backup increment of the storage device based on the first snapshot. Additionally, the method may include adding the consistent backup increment to the inconsistent, full backup.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for hot recovery of virtual machines are described. The method may include initiating a recovery process to transfer data, from a backup archive of a virtual machine to be restored, to a virtual disk at the virtual machine host computer. The method may further include booting the virtual machine to be restored. The method may also include intercepting a read request from the virtual machine to the virtual disk at the virtual machine host computer. The method may additionally include determining if the read request from the virtual machine requested data from the virtual disk which has not yet been restored from the backup archive to the virtual disk by the recovery process. Moreover, the method may include, in response to determining that the requested data has not been restored from the backup archive to the virtual disk, returning the requested data.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for using performance-maintaining commands for generating backup data of an unsupported file system. An example method includes intercepting a plurality of data storage commands transmitted from the file system to a storage device, where the plurality of data storage commands indicating sectors of the memory of the computer that do not contain valid data. The method further includes analyzing the plurality of data storage commands to determine sectors of the memory that contains valid data, generating a data structure that indicates the sectors of the memory that contain valid data and the sector of the memory that do not contain valid data, and subsequently generating the backup data copy of the memory of the computer based on the data structure.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for reducing a physical size of a data file that includes a plurality of blocks in sequence with each block having a defined size with a starting position and an end position. According to one aspect, the method includes obtaining information relating to an occupied physical region of the data file, where the occupied physical region contains unused space and/or unused data, and determining positions of first and second boundaries of the occupied physical region of the data file relative to the plurality of blocks in the data file. Furthermore, the method includes equalizing the occupied physical region by adjusting the first and second boundaries of the occupied physical region of the data file and removing data between the start and end of the removal region to reduce the physical size of the data file.

Abstract: A method of incremental backup of a storage device includes reading descriptors of logical storage units of the storage device; comparing the descriptors of the logical storage units of the storage device with descriptors of archived logical storage units; for logical storage units of the storage device whose descriptors are not identical to the descriptors of the archived logical storage units, backing up contents of physical storage units that correspond to those logical storage units of the storage device; and, for logical storage units of the storage device whose descriptors are identical, performing a comparison step to check if these logical storage units need to be backed up. The logical storage units can be files. The comparison step can be, e.g., (1) bit-wise comparison of the logical blocks, (2) comparing control sums of the logical blocks, and (3) comparing log files relating to the logical storage units The physical storage units can be blocks. The descriptors can be, e.g.