Backup using metadata virtual hard drive and differential virtual hard drive

US8856080B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Pankaj Khanzode · Darsi, IN
• Vanita Prabhu · Bengaluru, IN
• Abid Ali · Darsi, IN
• Amit Singla · Redmond, US
• Dilip Madhusudan Ranade · Pune, IN
• Sriram Balasubramaniam · Hyderabad, IN
• Karandeep Singh Anand · Redmond, US
• Charumathy Srinivasan · Darsi, IN
• Manoj K. Valiyaparambil · Hyderabad, IN
• Ravisankar V. Pudipeddi · Sammamish, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 7, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 6, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F11/1451
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for backup using a metadata virtual hard drive (VHD) and a differential VHD. A particular system includes a memory device that stores files and a backup agent configured to detect changes to the files. The system includes a translation module configured to translate the detected changes into VHD formatted changes and a VHD module configured to write the VHD formatted changes to a metadata VHD stored at the memory device. The VHD module is also configured to generate a differential VHD based on the metadata VHD. A network interface at the system is configured to transmit the metadata VHD and the differential VHD to a remote storage device.