Patent ID: 9223811
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: generating a first incremental backup group by backing up block(s) of data stored on one, or more, production disks to a backup repository, the first incremental backup group including a set of backup objects, each backup object of the set of backup objects identified by a corresponding backup object entry and assigned to pre-defined logical region of the one, or more, production disks, at least one of the backup objects of the set of backup objects being one or more blocks of data of the block(s) of data; generating a plurality of subsequent incremental backup groups, each subsequent incremental backup group generated by: (i) determining a set of changed block(s) of data that have changed since generating a most recent prior incremental backup group, (ii) backing up the set of changed block(s) of data as one or more new backup objects assigned to one or more pre-defined logical regions, (iii) identifying the or more new backup objects with corresponding backup object entries, and (iv) providing a set of backup object entries respectively corresponding to each backup object corresponding to one or more unchanged blocks of data stored on the one, or more, production disks; responsive determining an expiration trigger for an expiring incremental backup group, identifying a first backup object represented by a first backup object entry in the set of backup entries, the first backup object assigned to a first logical region of the one, or more, production disks; backing up the first logical region of the one, or more, production disks as a new backup object corresponding to a most recent incremental backup group, the new backup object represented by a most recent backup object entry of the most recent incremental backup group; analyzing a set of backup object entries of the most recent incremental backup group to determine whether any unexpired incremental backup group is not represented by corresponding backup object in the set of backup object entries; and responsive to determining that no backup object of an unexpired incremental backup group is represented by the set of backup object entries of the most recent prior incremental backup group, expiring the unexpired incremental backup group; wherein: the set of backup object entries contains a storage location of each backup object in the backup repository that is needed to restore a most recent set of block(s) of data of the one, or more, production disks.