Backup and restore for heterogeneous file server environment
First Claim
1. A fileserver, said file server disposed for recording and retrieving each one of a set of files in one of a plurality of data storage and retrieval models;
- each one of said data storage and retrieval models disposed for including metadata with at least some of said files;
said file server including a backup element disposed for preserving said metadata for retrieval associated with said files even when said files are recorded by said backup element in one of said data storage and retrieval models other than associated with said files.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a file server that provides for backup and restore of files in a heterogeneous file server environment. Metadata associated with each file by each model or protocol is preserved across backup and restore operations. The file server performs at least three tasks as part of the backup and restore operations. The file server notes all file attributes associated with each file in either model. These file attributes can include Unix perms, ownership and timestamp information, and link information. On backup, the file server records those file attributes in an analogous record using a different model. The file server records each element of Unix metadata as an NT Extended Attribute for use by an NT backup element. On restore, the file server restores those file attributes from the analogous record. The NT Extended Attributes provided by an NT restore element are translated into Unix metadata. The file server provides an element for translating between Unix metadata and NT Extended Attributes transparently to the NT backup and restore elements, so that NT backup and restore elements that were created without reference to the heterogeneous file server environment can be used.
60 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A fileserver,
said file server disposed for recording and retrieving each one of a set of files in one of a plurality of data storage and retrieval models; -
each one of said data storage and retrieval models disposed for including metadata with at least some of said files;
said file server including a backup element disposed for preserving said metadata for retrieval associated with said files even when said files are recorded by said backup element in one of said data storage and retrieval models other than associated with said files. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a file server, said method including steps for
recording and retrieving each one of a set of files in one of a plurality of data storage and retrieval models; -
including metadata with at least some of said files in each one of said data storage and retrieval models;
performing a backup operation, including steps for preserving said metadata for retrieval associated with said files even when said files are recorded by said backup element in one of said data storage and retrieval models other than associated with said files. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification