Cross-application database restore

Abstract

A system according to certain aspects improves the process of restoring database objects and converting those objects into another database file format. According to certain aspects, a database file is backed up in a block-level fashion. Instead of restoring the entire backup file, the information management system may restore a particular database object from a backup database file that is stored as multiple blocks or other granular units. Then, the information management system can extract the desired data from the restored block(s). By using block-level mapping and storage techniques described herein, the system can restore a database object in a backup database file without restoring the entire backup database file, thereby speeding up restore operations and reducing consumption of storage and processing resources. In addition, the information management system can convert the blocks, using a staging memory, to another database file format as desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for retrieving and converting database data from one database application format to another database application format, the system comprising:
 one or more computing devices comprising computer hardware configured to:
 receive a request to retrieve a secondary copy of a subset of database data blocks from one or more secondary storage devices,
 wherein the subset of database data blocks correspond to a first database object in a first database application format, 
 wherein the request requests the subset of database data blocks to be forwarded in a second database application format, 
 wherein the first application database format is different than the second database application format, 
 wherein the request comprises information indicating location in a database file corresponding to the subset of database data blocks; 
 
 access a table that maps where the subset of database data blocks are located in the one or more secondary storage devices; 
 from the one or more secondary storage devices, retrieve the subset of database data blocks; and 
 forward the retrieved subset of data blocks to a staging computing device; the staging computing device configured to:
 receive each of the retrieved subset of data blocks; 
 store the retrieved subset of data blocks in a staging memory; 
 convert at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks to a second database application format before receiving other blocks of the retrieved subset of data blocks; and 
 forward the converted data blocks in a second database application format. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices is further configured to:
 identify the subset of database data blocks by consulting an index,
 wherein the subset of database data blocks corresponds to a database object in a database file selected by a user, 
 wherein the index compromises mapping information between database objects and corresponding application-level blocks. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein converting the at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks is performed by a second computing device separate from the staging computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the table is stored in an index associated with one or more secondary storage controller computers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a first computing device comprising computer hardware and configured to:
 receive an access request to access the first database object in the database file to use in a second database application. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the staging computing device is further configured to convert at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks to the second database application format at least in part by:
 extracting application-level blocks from the at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks; and   converting the extracted application-level blocks to format usable by the second database application.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first computing device is further configured to present the secondary copy of the database file as a file system in a user interface, and wherein the request to access the first database object is generated in response to selection of the first database object in the user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary storage devices comprises one or more tapes. 
     
     
         9 . A method for retrieving and converting database data from one database application format to another database application format, the method comprising:
 with one or more computing devices comprising computer hardware:
 receiving a request to retrieve a secondary copy of a subset of database data blocks from one or more secondary storage devices,
 wherein the subset of database data blocks correspond to a first database object in a first database application format, 
 wherein the request requests the subset of database data blocks to be forwarded in a second database application format, 
 wherein the first application database format is different than the second database application format, 
 wherein the request comprises information indicating location in a database file corresponding to the subset of database data blocks; 
 
 accessing a table that maps where the subset of database data blocks are located in the one or more secondary storage devices; 
 from the one or more secondary storage devices, retrieving the subset of database data blocks; and 
 forwarding the retrieved subset of data blocks to a staging computing device; and with the staging computing:
 receiving each of the retrieved subset of data blocks; 
 storing the retrieved subset of data blocks in a staging memory; 
 converting at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks to a second database application format before receiving other blocks of the retrieved subset of data blocks; and 
 forwarding the converted data blocks in a second database application format. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying the subset of database data blocks by consulting an index,
 wherein the subset of database data blocks corresponds to a database object in a database file selected by a user, 
 wherein the index compromises mapping information between database objects and corresponding application-level blocks. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein converting the at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks is performed by a second computing device separate from the staging computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the table is stored in an index associated with one or more secondary storage controller computers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 with a first computing device comprising computer hardware,
 receiving an access request to access the first database object in the database file to use in a second database application. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the converting the at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks to the second database application format further comprises:
 extracting application-level blocks from the at least some of the retrieved subset of data blocks; and   converting the extracted application-level blocks to format usable by the second database application.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein method further comprises: with the first computing device, presenting the secondary copy of the database file as a file system in a user interface, and wherein the request to access the first database object is generated in response to selection of the first database object in the user interface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more secondary storage devices comprises one or more tapes.