Common backup format and log based virtual full construction

摘要

Systems and methods are described for backing up files and directories using a common backup format. The files and directories may be represented by objects within a data stream constructed using the common backup format. The data streams may be traversed and updated using a size tree such that modifications are made to individual objects within the data streams without complete traversal. This process results in efficient management of storage systems as read and write operations are not dependent on exhaustive traversal of data streams.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for backing up data, the method comprising:
receiving, by a backup program executed by a processor, a request for backing up a directory of one or more files of a file system from a client; in response to the request, generating a backup data stream, including
inserting a first directory application specific data format (ASDF) section into the backup data stream, the first directory ASDF section storing metadata describing the directory of the one or more files,after the first directory ASDF section, for each of the one or more files of the directory, inserting a child file object representing a corresponding file, wherein the file object includes a child file object header, at least one child ASDF section encoding data associated with the corresponding file, and a child file object trailer, wherein the child file object header and the child file object trailer include metadata describing the corresponding file, andinserting a second directory ASDF section, wherein the first and second directory ASDF sections indicate context information of the directory; and transmitting the backup data stream to a backup storage to be stored therein.