Comm Vault Systems, Inc.

Pratik S Rana

Deepak Raghunath Attarde

Henry Wallace Dornemann

Amit Mitkar

Ashwin Gautamchand Sancheti

An illustrative approach accelerates file indexing operations for block-level backup copies in a data storage management system. A cache storage area is maintained for locally storing and serving key data blocks, thus relying less on retrieving data on demand from the backup copy. File indexing operations are used for populating the cache storage area for speedier retrieval during subsequent live browsing of the same backup copy, and vice versa. The key data blocks cached while file indexing and/or live browsing an earlier backup copy help to pre-fetch corresponding data blocks of later backup copies, thus producing a beneficial learning cycle. The approach is especially beneficial for cloud and tape backup media, and is available for a variety of data sources and backup copies, including block-level backup copies of virtual machines (VMs) and block-level backup copies of file systems, including UNIX-based and Windows-based operating systems and corresponding file systems.

Cache management for faster live browsing and file indexing of backup copies, including block-level backup copies of virtual machines and/or file systems

The disclosed enhancements optimize the use of the live browse cache and pseudo-disk storage areas, improving metadata handling so that it can be used more effectively to speed up live browse and file indexing of backup copies in a data storage management system. The enhancements operate granularly to identify within each extent being backed up smaller sectors that comprise metadata. The disclosed approach pre-fetches the metadata of the backup copy before allowing the file scan of the file indexing and/or the live browse operation to proceed. The backup operation, the file indexing operation, and the live browse operation are enhanced to handle the more granular metadata sectors without changing the granularity of the full extents generated and stored in the backup.

Lightweight metadata handling for file indexing and live browse of backup copies

Enhanced file indexing, live browsing, and restoring of backup copies of virtual machines and/or file systems by populating and tracking a cache storage area and a backup index

Enhancing file indexing of block-level backup copies of virtual machines and/or file systems by populating and tracking a cache storage area and a backup index

An illustrative approach accelerates live browse operations for block-level backup copies in a data storage management system. A cache storage area is maintained for locally storing and serving key data blocks, thus relying less on retrieving data on demand from backup copies. Live browse operations are used for populating the cache storage area for speedier retrieval during subsequent live browsing and/or file indexing of the same backup copy, and vice versa. The key data blocks cached while file indexing and/or live browsing an earlier backup copy help to pre-fetch corresponding data blocks of later backup copies, thus producing a beneficial learning cycle. The approach is especially beneficial for cloud and tape backup media, and is available for a variety of data sources and backup copies, including block-level backup copies of virtual machines (VMs) and block-level backup copies of file systems, including UNIX-based and Windows-based operating systems and corresponding file systems.

Live browse cache enhacements for live browsing block-level backup copies of virtual machines and/or file systems

Embodiments described herein detect on-the-fly whether requested subclient data resides on a certain type of storage device, such as cloned Windows Dynamic Disks. The system presents mount requests for the identified disks in a manner that allows for mounting of the disks, where the disks would not be otherwise mountable. For instance, in some embodiments the information management system generates substitute metadata for disk mounting purposes, such as for the purposes of browsing and/or restoring data.

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Edison, NJ, United States of America

Pratik S Rana