Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Mathew James Dickson

Ran Kalach

Samuel James McKelvie

David A Nichols

Paul Adrian Oltean

Navjot Virk

Cristian Teodorescu

Patrice Y Simard

Kristin E Lauter

Kamal Jain

John D Mehr

Elissa E S Murphy

Chun Ho Cheung

Chun Ho (Ian) Cheung

Elissa Es Murphy

Cristian G Teodorescu

Techniques are described herein that are capable of heterogeneously optimizing a file. Heterogeneous optimization involves optimizing regions of a file non-uniformly. For example, the regions of the file may be optimized to different extents. In accordance with this example, a different optimization technique may be used to optimize each region or subset of the regions. In one aspect, optimization designations are assigned to respective regions of a file based on access patterns that are associated with the respective regions. The file may be a database file, a virtualized storage file, or other suitable type of file. Each optimization designation indicates an extent to which the respective region is to be optimized. Each region may be optimized to the extent that is indicated by the respective optimization designation that is assigned to that region.

Heterogeneous file optimization

Implementations are described of a computing device that migrates data and software applications from a first computing device to a second computing device, in order to preserve data and other application-related customizations.

Logical migration of applications and data

Techniques are described herein that are capable of optimizing (i.e., deduplicating) data in a virtualization environment. For example, optimization designations (a.k.a. deduplication designations) may be assigned to respective regions of a virtualized storage file. A virtualized storage file is a file that is configured to be mounted as a disk or a volume to provide a file system interface for accessing hosted files. In accordance with this example, each optimization designation indicates an extent to which the respective region is to be optimized (i.e., deduplicated). In another example, a virtualized storage file is mounted to provide a virtual disk that includes hosted files. In accordance with this example, optimization designations are assigned to the respective hosted files. In further accordance with this example, each optimization designation indicates an extent to which the respective hosted file is to be optimized.

Data deduplication in a virtualization environment

Techniques for backup and restore of optimized data streams are described. A chunk store includes each optimized data stream as a plurality of chunks including at least one data chunk and corresponding optimized stream metadata. The chunk store includes data chunks in a deduplicated manner. Optimized data streams stored in the chunk store are identified for backup. At least a portion of the chunk store is stored in backup storage according to an optimized backup technique, an un-optimized backup technique, an item level backup technique, or a data chunk identifier backup technique. Optimized data streams stored in the backup storage may be restored. A file reconstructor includes a callback module that generates calls to a restore application to request optimized stream metadata and any referenced data chunks from the backup storage. The file reconstructor reconstructs the data streams from the referenced data chunks.

Backup and restore strategies for data deduplication

An archive of items, which are computing data accessed by a user, is created at a semantic object level. The object archiving may group seemingly disparate items as a composite object, which may then be stored to enable retrieval by the user at a later point in time. The composite object may include metadata from the various items to enable identifying the composite object and providing retrieval capabilities. In some aspects, an archiving process may extract item data from an item that is accessed by a computing device. Next, the item may be selected by a schema for inclusion in a composite object when the item data meets criteria specified in the schema. The composite object(s) may then be stored in an object store as an archive.

Backup and archival of selected items as a composite object

A backup system that utilizes contextual and semantic concepts is described. The backup system provides for the ability to create a version changes log for listing and tracking all the changes in the different versions of the file. The version changes log creates a contextual description around the changes, deletions and additions. The semantic concept log is created from the version changes log to create a log of all of the semantic concepts associated with each change. A visualization builder then creates visualizations that can be used by the user to search for changes, deletions and additions whether in a text file or an image file.

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Sammamish, WA, United States of America

Mathew James Dickson