METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORKED BACKUP STORAGE

• US 20020156965A1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: HAMILTON, RICK A. II, GUSLER, CARL PHILLIP
• Granted Patent: US 6,938,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a distributed data processing system for backing up data on a computer. A backup image of the data in the computer is created, wherein the backup image is stored in a location in the computer. The backup image from the location in the computer is requested by a server.

Claims

1. A method in a distributed data processing system for backing up data on a computer, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

creating a backup image of the data in the computer, wherein the backup image is stored in a location in the computer; and

requesting, by a server, the backup image from the location in the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup image comprises a copy of data files on the computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup image comprises a copy of applications on the computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup image comprises configuration data on the computer.

5. A method in a distributed data processing system for backing up data on a client, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

creating a backup image of data on the client within the local file system;

retrieving the backup image from the client; and

storing the plurality of backup images locally on a server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the creating step is initiated by instructions located on the client.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the instructions are a script.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the retrieving step and the storing step are initiated by instructions on the server computer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the instructions are a script.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

creating a log of activities occurring during the retrieving step.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

mounting the local file system for use in storing the backup image.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of retrieving is performed asynchronously.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein a number of clients are present for backup activities and further comprising:

querying a database of clients to identify the plurality of clients.

15. The distributed data processing system of claim 14, wherein the server identifies the plurality of clients from which to retrieve backup images by querying a database for identification of the plurality of clients.

16. The distributed data processing system of claim 14, wherein the server creates a log of activities occurring during retrieval of the plurality of backup images.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the backup image comprises a copy of data files on the computer.

19. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the backup image comprises a copy of applications on the computer.

20. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the backup image comprises configuration data on the computer.

14. A distributed data processing system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of clients connected to the network, wherein the plurality of clients each have a file system used to store a backup image, create a backup image, and store the backup image on the file system to form a plurality of backup images; and

a server connected to the network, wherein the server retrieves the plurality of backup images from the plurality of clients.

17. A data processing system for backing up data on a computer, the data processing system comprising:

creating means for creating a backup image of the data in the computer, wherein the backup image is stored in a location in the computer; and

requesting means for requesting, by a server, the backup image from the location in the computer.

21. A data processing system for backing up data on a client, the data processing system comprising:

creating means for creating a backup image of data on the client within the local file system;

retrieving means for retrieving the backup image from the client; and

storing means for storing the plurality of backup images locally on a server.

22. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein the creating means is initiated by instructions located on the client.

23. The data processing system of claim 22, wherein the instructions are a script.

24. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein the retrieving means and the storing means are initiated by instructions on the server computer.

25. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the instructions are a script.

26. The data processing system of claim 21 further comprising:

creating means for creating a log of activities occurring during the retrieving step.

27. The data processing system of claim 21 further comprising:

mounting means for mounting the local file system for use in storing the backup image.

28. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein the means of retrieving is performed asynchronously.

29. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein a number of clients are present for backup activities and further comprising:

querying means for querying a database of clients to identify the plurality of clients.

30. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for backing up data on a computer, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for creating a backup image of the data in the computer, wherein the backup image is stored in a location in the computer; and

second instructions for requesting, by a server, the backup image from the location in the computer.

31. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for backing up data on a client, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for creating a backup image of data on the client within the local file system;

second instructions for retrieving the backup image from the client; and

third instructions for storing the plurality of backup images locally on a server.