US6535998B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System recovery by restoring hardware state on non-identical systems
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1999-07-26
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Granted: 2003-03-18
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Expires: 2019-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for recovering from a system failure wherein the failed system is restored to a new system that has different hardware. Hardware state is preserved during a backup process, and following a failure, a restore is performed to the extent possible using that hardware state but on a system having a different hardware configuration. Rules are provided for handling the differences through selective merging, arranging, and replacement of data, with the logic and work performed transparently to the user. Hardware state includes hard disk configuration information, the location (partition) of the operating system, devices installed on the system and any additional drivers to load. When restored, for hardware that is identical, the hardware state is restored as specified in the file. If the hardware state is not identical, then a set of rules are used to restore the hardware state. Via these rules, hard disks may be restored to differently sized or a different number of hard disks, disk mirror pairs may be handled appropriately, and so on. Critical devices that are required to restore the system are merged as necessary during the restore process, while new or different non-critical devices are preserved during the restore process for future use. Updated drivers may be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Luis Felipe Cabrera
- 👤 Kartik N. Raghavan
- 👤 Glenn A. Thompson
- 👤 Wesley Witt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for recovering from a failed computer system, comprising: reading, at a new computer system, saved state information of the failed computer system; detecting as part of an automated restore operation at least one state difference between the new computer system and the failed computer system; and configuring the new computer system based on state information of the failed computer system and a set of rules for handling differences, the set of rules accessed during the automated restore operation so as to configure the new computer system in a substantially transparent manner based on the saved state information, each state difference and the set of rules.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for recovering from a failed computer system, comprising: reading, at a new computer system, saved state information of the failed computer system; detecting as part of an automated restore operation at least one state difference between the new computer system and the failed computer system; and configuring the new computer system based on state information of the failed computer system and a set of rules for handling differences, the set of rules accessed during the automated restore operation so as to configure the new computer system in a substantially transparent manner based on the saved state information, each state difference and the set of rules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes detecting a difference in a number of disk drives on the new system relative to the failed system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes detecting a difference in a size of at least one disk drive on the new system relative to the failed system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes detecting at least one new hardware device on the new system relative to the failed system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the saved state information indicates that non-critical hardware changed on the new system relative to the failed system, and further comprising, preserving the non-critical hardware for use in the new system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the saved state information indicates that a critical device is missing on the new system relative to the failed system, and further comprising, merging new hardware device information with saved state information for the critical device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising locating substitute hardware on the new system for merging with the critical device that is missing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference between the new computer system and the failed computer system includes detecting a different device driver or support for a hardware device, and further comprising, loading the different device driver or support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes, detecting from the state information a plurality of disks on the failed system, detecting a lesser number of disks on the new system, and wherein configuring the new computer system based on state information of the failed computer system and a set of rules for handling differences therebetween includes restoring at least two disk partitions of the failed system to a single disk of the new system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes, detecting from the state information a mirrored disk set on the failed system, detecting a single disk on the new system, and wherein configuring the new computer system based on state information of the failed computer system and a set of rules for handling differences therebetween includes restoring only one disk partition of the mirror set to the single disk of the new system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes, detecting from the state information a mirrored disk set on the failed system, evaluating the amount of available disk space on the new system, and if the space is not sufficient, restoring only one disk partition of the mirror set to a disk of the new system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one state difference includes, detecting from the state information a lesser amount of disk space on the new system, and wherein configuring the new computer system based on state information of the failed computer system and a set of rules for handling differences therebetween includes, restoring the system volume and boot volume to a disk of the new system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, restoring data backed up from the failed system to the new system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, restoring at least one driver backed up from the failed system to the new system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1 .
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for recovering from a failed computer device, comprising: a new computer device having at least one hardware-related difference from the failed computer device; a medium having stored thereon saved state information of the failed computer device; a detection process for detecting the at least one hardware-related difference; and a restore process operatively connected to the detection process of the new computer device, the restore process reading the medium and configuring the new computer device based on the state information and a set of rules for handling the at least one hardware-related difference.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for recovering from a failed computer device, comprising: a new computer device having at least one hardware-related difference from the failed computer device; a medium having stored thereon saved state information of the failed computer device; a detection process for detecting the at least one hardware-related difference; and a restore process operatively connected to the detection process of the new computer device, the restore process reading the medium and configuring the new computer device based on the state information and a set of rules for handling the at least one hardware-related difference.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 16 wherein at least one hardware-related difference corresponds to a different number of disk drives relative to the failed device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 16 wherein at least one hardware-related difference corresponds to at least one disk drive that is a different size from each disk of the failed device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 wherein at least one hardware-related difference corresponds to at least one new hard ware device relative to the failed device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the restore process determines via the detection process and the saved state information that non-critical hardware is changed on the new device relative to the failed device, and wherein the restore process preserves the non-critical hardware for use in the new device based on the set of rules.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the restore process determines via the detection process and the saved state information that critical hardware is changed on the new device relative to the failed device, and wherein the restore process locates substitute critical hardware for use in the new device based on the set of rules.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 16 wherein at least one hardware-related difference corresponds to at least one different device driver relative to the failed device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the restore process installs the different device driver to the new device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the new device includes a lesser number of disks on the new system relative to the failed system, and wherein the restore process configures at least two disk partitions corresponding to the failed system to a single disk of the new system based on the set of rules.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the new system includes a single disk and the saved state information indicates that the failed system had a mirrored disk set, and wherein the restore process configures only one disk partition of the mirror set on the single disk of the new system based on the set of rules.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the saved state information indicates that the failed system had a mirrored disk set, and wherein the restore process evaluates the amount of available disk space on the new system, and if the space is not sufficient, configures only one disk partition of the mirror set on a disk of the new system based on the set of rules.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 16 wherein there is insufficient disk space on the new system to restore the failed system, and wherein the restore process determines that sufficient disk space exists on the new system to restore the system volume and boot volume.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the restore process restores the system volume and boot volume.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the restore process further restores application data backed up from the failed system to the new system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the saved state information includes a specialized driver, and wherein the restore process installs the specialized driver to the new system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer-implemented method, comprising: reading, at a second computer system, saved state information of a first computer system, the saved state information including hardware device configuration data for a first hardware device of the first computer; detecting a difference between the hardware device configuration data of the first computer system and hardware device configuration data of a second hardware device of the second computer system; and automatically configuring the hardware device of the second computer system based on an established set of rules that includes information for handling differences between hardware devices.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer-implemented method, comprising: reading, at a second computer system, saved state information of a first computer system, the saved state information including hardware device configuration data for a first hardware device of the first computer; detecting a difference between the hardware device configuration data of the first computer system and hardware device configuration data of a second hardware device of the second computer system; and automatically configuring the hardware device of the second computer system based on an established set of rules that includes information for handling differences between hardware devices.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the hardware device comprises a storage mechanism.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the hardware device comprises at least one hard disk drive.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 31 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-09-16 | 2007-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-09-16 | 2011-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-17 | 2014-09-16 | 2015-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |