Use of replicated copies to improve database backup performance

Abstract

A backup computing device detects an interruption while receiving a backup copy of a transaction log of a primary database and directs a secondary computing device to continue generation of the backup copy of the transaction log, based on the copy of the transaction log of the primary database. A primary computing device directs a secondary computing device to generate a backup copy of the data file and the primary computing device generates a backup copy of the transaction log, of a primary database. A primary computing device accesses a snapshot of a plurality of snapshots of a primary database, and generates a first portion of a backup copy of the database. The primary computing device directs a second computing device to generate a non-overlapping portion of the backup copy of the database based on a second snapshot of the plurality of snapshots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating a backup copy of data included in a transaction log of a database within a system that includes a backup computing device, a primary computing device and a secondary computing device, the method comprising:
 a backup computing device directing a primary computing device to generate at least one snapshot of a primary database, prior to generating a backup copy of the data included in a transaction log of the primary database, the at least one snapshot including a copy of data included in a transaction log of the primary database, and the at least one snapshot including a read-only copy of a data file and the transaction log of the primary database;   the backup computing device directing the primary computing device to send a snapshot of the at least one snapshot of the primary database to a second computing device connected to the primary computing device and the backup computing device;   in response to the backup computing device detecting an interruption during receipt of the backup copy of the data included in the transaction log of the primary database from the primary computing device, wherein the backup computing device determines, within a predetermined period of time, a discontinuation of receiving the backup copy of the data included in the transaction log of the primary database from the primary computing device, the backup computing device identifying a last transaction of the transaction log that is received from the backup copy of the data included in the transaction log of the primary database, prior to detection of the interruption; and   the backup computing device directing the secondary computing device to continue generation of the backup copy of the data included in the transaction log of the primary database, beginning from a transaction subsequent to the last transaction received by the backup computing device, wherein continuing to generate the backup copy of the data included in the transaction log of the primary database by the secondary computing device, is based on the snapshot of the at least one snapshot of the primary database, received by the second computing device, from the primary computing device.