WO2018010766A1

WO2018010766A1 - Apparatus and method for backing up data of computing devices in a computer network

Info

Publication number: WO2018010766A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/066478
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yair Toaff; Michael Hirsch; Yehonatan DAVID
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2016-07-12
Filing date: 2016-07-12
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Also published as: CN107851052A

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (102), in particular a backup server, for backing up data of at least one computing device (104) in a computer network (100). The apparatus (102) comprises a data storage (102a) for storing the data and a backup scheduler configured to back up data of the computing device (104) in the computer network (100), when a load measure associated with the computer network (100) is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold.

Description

Apparatus and method for backing up data of computing devices in a computer network

TECHNICAL FIELD

In general, the present invention relates to the field of computer systems having backup or restore components. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for backing up data of computing devices in a computer network.

BACKGROUND

In a data processing system, a backup apparatus can be used to save a recent copy or version of data or portion thereof on some form of backup data storage device. Therefore, the backup apparatus can be used to protect against loss of data. For example, if an online version of some data is destroyed, corrupted, deleted or changed because of power failure, hardware or software error, computer virus, user error or some other type of problem, the latest version (or some other earlier version) of the data which is stored in a backup apparatus can be restored and, therefore, the risk of loss of data is minimized. It is readily apparent that backup apparatuses play an important role in the field of data processing. In the prior art, the majority of backup operations are executed by host computers, which manage the backup functions for one or more data storage devices connected thereto. Typically, a backup operation is performed on the basis of some periodic schedule (such as once per month) or according to the updating of the data. In the prior art, backup apparatuses typically make use of full backup methods and/or incremental backup methods to enable the storage of and retrieval of multiple versions of some given data. A full backup method backs up an entire collection of data regardless of whether individual data in that collection of data have been updated or not. Therefore, in a full backup method, multiple full versions of each data can be maintained on a storage device. An incremental backup method is an alternative to a full backup method where only those data, in any given collection of data, which have been changed since the previous incremental or full backup, are backed up. However, in t e prior art, both full backup methods and incremental backup methods require a predetermined time scheduler to execute the backup. Using a predetermined time scheduler to execute backups of data has several disadvantages related to the complexity of determining the timing of the whole set of backups, e.g. taking into account different clients, in a way that the backups of the different clients will not interfere with each other.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved backup apparatus and method for backing up data of computing devices in a computer network.

SUMMARY It is an object of the invention to provide an improved backup apparatus and method for backing up data of computing devices in a computer network.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures. According to a first aspect the invention relates to an apparatus, in particular a backup server, for backing up data of at least one computing device in a computer network. The apparatus comprises a data storage for storing the data and a backup scheduler configured to back up data of the computing device in the computer network, when a load measure associated with the computer network is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold. Advantageously, the apparatus can determine the details of scheduling the backup in such a way that the whole computer network is used in a flexible and efficient way. Furthermore, the usage of a load measure in the backup scheduling policy can allow to avoid peaks in the apparatus usage and the whole computer network. Another advantage of the invention is that it provides better protection to the data of the computing device. Furthermore, contentions, which cause the backup scheduler to run slowly, can be avoided, since the backup scheduling is configured to run according to the load of the computer network. Lastly, because the backup apparatus and the computer network no longer need to deal with peak performance, it is possible to consider using a substantially cheaper apparatus for this purpose. In a first possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such, the backup scheduler is configured to back up data of the computing device, after a predefined time interval when the load measure associated with the computer network is larger than or equal to the predefined load threshold. Thus, the apparatus or backup sever starts to work when the load of the computer network is low or the predefined time interval is reached. This makes sure that backups are performed, even when the load is high.

In a second possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first implementation form of the first aspect, the start of the time interval is associated with a previous backup of data of the computing device in the computer network.

In a third possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first or second implementation form of the first aspect, the predefined time interval is equal to or smaller than one week, one day or one hour. Other time intervals of the backup scheduler are possible as well, e.g. two hours or twelve hours.

In a fourth possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any one of the first to third implementation form thereof, the backup scheduler comprises an artificial intelligence system configured to estimate a future load measure associated with the computer network for anticipating the best time for backing up the data of the computing device.

In a fifth possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any one of the first to fourth implementation form thereof, the load measure associated with the computer network is a time average of the load of the computer network.

In a sixth possible implementation form of the apparatus according to fifth implementation form of the first aspect, the load measure associated with the computer network is the load of the apparatus and the predefined load threshold corresponds to the load of the apparatus in the idle state. This implementation form has the advantage that peaks in the apparatus or backup server utilization are avoided.

In a seventh possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any one of the first to sixth implementation form thereof, the backup scheduler is configured to perform a full backup of the data of the computing device. This implementation form has the advantage that a reduced amount of data can be saved in the data storage, due to deduplication capabilities of the apparatus or backup server. For example, if the same data is saved by the backup scheduler several times in the data storage, or two or more parts of the data are not identical but include much of the same data, then deduplication can eliminate these extra copies by saving just one copy of the data and replacing the other copies with pointers that lead back to the original copy. In an eighth possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any one of the first to seventh implementation form thereof, the backup scheduler is configured to perform an incremental backup of the data of the computing device. This implementation form has the advantage that only a small amount of extra data is backed up during the incremental backup.

In a ninth possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any one of the first to eighth implementation form thereof, the data storage is a tape drive, a hard disk, a solid state drive and/or a cloud storage or any other type of persistent storage. In a tenth possible implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any one of the first to ninth implementation form thereof, the backup scheduler is configured to determine the load measure associated with the computer network on the basis of the load of the apparatus, a load of the data storage, a communication load of the computer network and/or a load of the computing device. The load of the apparatus, in particular of the backup server, of the computing device and/or of the data storage can be determined on the bases of the CPU usage, free memory, IO load, power consumption and/or heat.

According to a second aspect the invention relates to a method for backing up data of at least one computing device in a computer network. The method comprises the steps of backing up data of the computing device in the computer network, when a load measure associated with the computer network is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold and storing the data in a data storage.

According to a third aspect the invention relates to a computer program comprising a program code for performing the method according to the second aspect of the invention when executed on a computer.

The invention can be implemented in hardware, software or any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the following figures, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a computer network comprising an apparatus for backing up data of a plurality of computing devices in the computer network according to an embodiment; and

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a method for backing up data of a computing device in a computer network according to an embodiment.

In the figures, identical reference signs will be used for identical or functionally equivalent features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific aspects in which the present invention may be placed. It will be appreciated that the invention may be placed in other aspects and that structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, as the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

For instance, it will be appreciated that a disclosure in connection with a described method will generally also hold true for a corresponding device or system configured to perform the method and vice versa. For example, if a specific method step is described, a corresponding device may include a unit to perform the described method step, even if such unit is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures.

Moreover, in the following detailed description as well as in the claims, embodiments with functional blocks or processing units are described, which are connected with each other or exchange signals. It will be appreciated that the invention also covers embodiments which include additional functional blocks or processing units that are arranged between the functional blocks or processing units of the embodiments described below.

Finally, it is understood that the features of the various exemplary aspects described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a computer network 100 comprising an apparatus 102 for backing up data of a plurality of computing devices 104, 106 and 108 in the computer network 100 according to an embodiment.

The apparatus 102 comprises a data storage device 102a for storing the data and a backup scheduler configured to back up data of the computing devices 104, 106, 108 in the computer network 100, when a load measure associated with the computer network 100 is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold.

The apparatus 102 can be a backup server and is configured to communicate with the computing devices 104, 106 and 108 via a communication channel 1 10. The communication channel 1 10 can be a wired, wireless, optical fibers, ETHERNET, LAN or any other communication channel.

The backup scheduler can be configured to back up data of the computing devices 104, 106 and 108, when the load measure associated with the computer network 100 is larger than or equal to the predefined load threshold for a time interval, which is longer than a predefined time interval, wherein the start of the time interval is associated with a previous back up of data of the computing devices 104, 106 and 108 in the computer network 100. The predefined time interval is a predefined arbitrary time interval that can be equal to or smaller than one week, one day or one hour.

Moreover, the backup scheduler can be configured to perform a full or an incremental backup of the data of the computing devices 104, 106 and 108.

The data storage 102a of the apparatus 102 can be a magnetic tape drive, a hard disk, a solid state drive, cloud storage or any other medium that can be used to store data persistently. Magnetic tapes can be used for storing data, since they typically have an order of magnitude better capacity-to-price ratio when compared for example to hard disks. A magnetic tape is a sequential access medium, so even though access times may be poor, the rate of continuously writing or reading data can actually be very fast, so that some new tape drives are even faster than modern hard disks. The main advantages of a hard disk data storage are low access times, availability, capacity and ease of use. Moreover, external disks can be connected via local interfaces like SCSI, USB, FireWire, or eSATA, or via longer distance technologies like Ethernet, iSCSI, or Fibre Channel. The data storage can also be an optical storage (e.g., recordable CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs). However, the capacities and speeds of these and other optical discs are typically an order of magnitude lower than whose of hard disks or magnetic tapes. Solid state data storage (e.g., flash memory, thumb drives, USB flash drives, CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Secure Digital cards) also can be used to store data. These data storage devices are expensive for their low capacity in comparison to hard disks or magnetic tapes. However, they are very convenient for backing up relatively low data volumes.

Advantageously, embodiments of the invention allow to determine the general requirements for the backup scheduler (e.g., weekly full and daily incremental backups) and let the apparatus 102 determine when to perform the backup depending on the network load on the different hours of the day and on the other backups that need to be performed in the next time frame (e.g., hours or days). Furthermore, the backup scheduler can be configured to determine the load measure associated with the computer network 100 on the basis of the load of a storage network, the load of the data storage 102a of the apparatus 102 and/or a power consumption of the computer network.

Moreover, the backup scheduler can be started according to two different conditions. Firstly, the backup scheduler can start, when the apparatus 102 or backup server is idle. Afterwards, the list of scheduled backups, which according to the given parameters should be done in the next time frame, can be examined and according to the load of the computer devices 104, 106 and 108, the apparatus 102 can decide which backup to perform. Secondly, an artificial intelligence can be used to predict the load of the apparatus 102 and/or the computer devices 104, 106 and 108 so that it can anticipate the best times for performing the backups.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention allows to make the backup scheduler even more flexible. For example, there should be 24 hours at most between two incremental backups. Therefore, with this kind of scheduling, the apparatus 102 can decide to do a backup every 12 hours, so that each of the backups is smaller, due to the fact that it is an incremental backup, and, as described above, it can be finished quickly.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a method 200 for backing up data of a computing device 104 in a computer network 100 according to an embodiment. The method 200 comprises the steps of backing up 202 data of the computing device 104 in the computer network 100, when a load measure associated with the computer network 100 is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold and storing 204 the data in a data storage 102a. While a particular feature or aspect of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations or embodiments, such feature or aspect may be combined with one or more other features or aspects of the other implementations or embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "include", "have", "with", or other variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprise". Also, the terms "exemplary", "for example" and "e.g." are merely meant as an example, rather than the best or optimal. The terms "coupled" and "connected", along with derivatives may have been used. It should be understood that these terms may have been used to indicate that two elements cooperate or interact with each other regardless whether they are in direct physical or electrical contact, or they are not in direct contact with each other.

Although specific aspects have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific aspects shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific aspects discussed herein.

Although the elements in the following claims are recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling, unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that particular sequence.

Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Of course, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that there are numerous applications of the invention beyond those described herein. While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

An apparatus (102), in particular a backup server, for backing up data of at least one computing device (104) in a computer network (100), t e apparatus (102) comprising: a data storage (102a) for storing the data; and a backup scheduler configured to back up data of the computing device (104) in the computer network (100), when a load measure associated with the computer network (100) is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold.

The apparatus (102) of claim 1 , wherein the backup scheduler is configured to back up data of the computing device (104), after a predefined time interval when the load measure associated with the computer network (100) is larger than or equal to the predefined load threshold.

The apparatus (102) of claim 2, wherein the start of the time interval is associated with a previous backup of data of the computing device (104) in the computer network (100).

The apparatus (102) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the predefined time interval is equal to or smaller than one week, one day or one hour.

The apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backup scheduler comprises an artificial intelligence system configured to estimate a future load measure associated with the computer network (100).

The apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load measure associated with the computer network (100) is a time average of the load of the computer network (100).

The apparatus (102) according to claim 6, wherein the load measure associated with the computer network (100) is the load of the apparatus (102) and wherein the predefined load threshold corresponds to the load of the apparatus (102) in the idle state.

The apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backup scheduler is configured to perform a full backup of the data of the computing device (104).

9. The apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backup scheduler is configured to perform an incremental backup of the data of the computing device (104).

10. The apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data storage (102a) is a tape drive, a hard disk, a solid state drive and/or a cloud storage.

1 1 . The apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backup scheduler is configured to determine the load measure associated with the computer network (100) on the basis of the load of the apparatus (102), a load of the data storage (102a), a communication load of the computer network (100) and/or a load of the computing device (104).

12. A method (200) for backing up data of at least one computing device (104) in a computer network (100), the method (200) comprising: backing up (202) data of the computing device (104) in the computer network (100), when a load measure associated with the computer network (100) is smaller than or equal to a predefined load threshold; and storing (204) the data in a data storage (102a).

13. A computer program comprising a program code for performing the method (200) of claim 12 when executed on a computer.