Interfacing with a virtual database system

摘要

User interactions with a database storage system allow creation of virtual databases based on point-in-time copies associated with a source database. Multiple point-in-time copies are obtained for each source database. A point-in-time copy retrieves data changed in the source database since the retrieval of a previous point-in-time copy. A virtual database (VDB) is created by creating a set of files in the data storage system and mounting the files on a database server allowing the database server to access the files. User interactions allow the user to specify the source database, a point in time associated with the source database and a destination server to create the virtual database. User input can specify other attributes associated with the virtual database including the file paths, database parameters etc. The user can specify schedules of various actions, including making and retention of point-in-time copies.

主权项

1. A method of creating a virtual database system, the method comprising:
storing, by a database storage system, point-in-time copies of one or more source databases, wherein each of the one or more source databases stores metadata describing data stored in the source database, wherein a point-in-time copy of a given source database stored in the database storage system comprises one or more database blocks associated with multiple point-in-time copies of the given source database, wherein information stored in a database block comprises metadata associated with the database block; configuring for presentation, by the database storage system, one or more user interfaces for receiving a request for creating a virtual database, the one or more user interfaces configured to receive:
information identifying a source database from the one or more source databases,information identifying a point in time associated with the source database, andinformation identifying a destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created; receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular source database for the virtual database being created; receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular point in time associated with the particular source database; receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created; creating the virtual database on the database storage system, wherein the created virtual database stores data corresponding to a state of the particular source database, the state associated with the particular point in time, wherein the created virtual database shares database blocks with one or more other virtual databases stored in the database storage system; and providing access to the particular destination database server, the access for allowing the particular destination database server to perform read and write operations on the created virtual database.