Systems and methods to confirm replication data accuracy for data backup in data storage systems

Abstract

A data storage system, according to certain aspects, automatically determines the accuracy of replication data when performing data backup operations. For instance, the system performs data backup using replication data rather than source data to reduce the processing load on the source system. The backup data is then associated with the source data as if the backup had been performed on the source data. If the replication system fails, then backing up replication data results in backup data that does not accurately reflect the source data. The system automatically determines the accuracy of replication data during data backup.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of storing secondary copies of data comprising:
 during a backup operation of replication data that is a replication of source data stored in a native format stored on one or more replication storage devices, automatically determining with one or more computer processors comprising hardware whether the replication data is an accurate replication of the source data by comparing at least a portion of the replication data with a portion of the source data; and   when the one or more computer processors determine that the replication data is inaccurate, automatically backing up the source data to the one or more secondary storage devices to create a backup copy of the source data on one or more secondary storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices and the one or more replication storage devices, and wherein the backup copy is stored in a backup format that is different than the native format of the source data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein when the one or more computer processors determine that the replication data is accurate, automatically backing up the replication data to the one or more secondary storage devices to create a backup copy of the source data on one or more secondary storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices and the one or more replication storage devices, and wherein the backup copy is stored in a backup format that is different than the native format of the source data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the replication data is accurate when the one or more entries in the replication log and the one or more corresponding entries in the source log are the same. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the replication data is accurate when metadata associated with the one or more data values in the replication data and one or more data values in the source data are the same. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises determining whether a replication operation was successful based at least in part on a length of time to process source log to replication log transactions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the replication data is accurate when the length of time is less than a processing time limit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a replication agent queries a storage manager whether the replication operation was successful. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the replication data is inaccurate when one or more replication transactions have stopped. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the comparing is performed by a replication agent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the comparing is performed by a storage manager. 
     
     
         12 . A system to create secondary copies of data comprising:
 computer hardware including one or more computer processors; and   computer-readable storage comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations defined by the computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions configured to:
 during a backup operation of replication data that is a replication of source data stored in a native format, automatically determine with one or more computer processors whether the replication data is an accurate replication of the source data by comparing at least a portion of the replication data with a portion of the source data; and 
 when the one or more computer processors determine that the replication data is inaccurate, the one or more computer processors automatically backup the source data to the one or more secondary storage devices to create a backup copy of the source data on one or more secondary storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices and the one or more replication storage devices, and wherein the backup copy is stored in a backup format that is different than the native format of the source data. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein when the one or more computer processors determine that the replication data is accurate, automatically backing up the replication data to the one or more secondary storage devices to create a backup copy of the source data on one or more secondary storage devices different than the one or more primary storage devices and the one or more replication storage devices, and wherein the backup copy is stored in a backup format that is different than the native format of the source data 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replication data is accurate when the one or more entries in the replication log and the one or more corresponding entries in the source log are the same. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replication data is accurate when metadata associated with the one or more data values in the replication data and one or more data values in the source data are the same. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising determining whether the replication data is accurate comprises determining whether a replication operation was successful based at least in part on a length of time to process source log to replication log transactions. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the replication data is accurate when the length of time is less than a processing time limit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein a replication agent queries a storage manager whether the replication operation was successful. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replication data is inaccurate when one or more replication transactions have stopped. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the comparing is performed by a replication agent. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the comparing is performed by a storage manager.