Method and system for copying backup data

• US 20040034811A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alacritus, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnston, Craig Anthony, Trimmer, Don Alvin, Stager, Roger Keith, Blaser, Rico
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process

Abstract

A method and system for copying backup data is disclosed. Backup data may be copied to a first virtual tape library in the same format as it would be copied to a physical tape library. The backup data may also be electronically copied to a second virtual tape library or to a physical tape library.

Claims

1. A method for copying backup data comprising:

copying backup data to a first virtual tape library; and

copying said data from the first virtual tape library to a storage medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the backup data is copied to the first virtual library using a data protection application.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data protection application copies the data to the first virtual tape library by copying the data to the first virtual tape library as if the data protection application was copying the data to a physical tape library.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a log is kept of all the write operations made while the data is copied to the first virtual tape library.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first virtual tape library is a disk based repository for backup data that serves to backup data in the same manner as a physical tape library.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein data is copied from the first virtual tape library to the storage medium by electronic transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein data is copied from the first virtual tape library to the storage medium over a computer network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein data is copied from the first virtual tape library to the storage medium over the internet.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein data is copied from the first virtual tape library to the offsite storage medium over an intranet.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein data is copied from the first virtual tape library to the storage medium over a direct link between the first virtual tape library and the storage medium.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein data is copied from the first virtual tape library to the storage medium over a wireless communication system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage medium is a second virtual tape library.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage medium is a physical tape library.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on the first virtual tape library is preserved after the data is sent to the storage medium.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on the first virtual tape library is deleted after the data is sent to the storage medium.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the backup data is multimedia data.

17. A method for copying backup data comprising:

copying backup data to a first virtual tape library;

selecting a criteria for copying data from the first virtual tape library to a second virtual tape library; and

sending the data from the first virtual tape library to the second virtual tape library.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second virtual tape library is a physical tape library.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the data in the first virtual tape library is deleted after being sent to the second virtual tape library.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the backup data is multimedia data.

21. A system for copying backup data comprising:

a first virtual tape library for storing backup data wherein said backup data may be electronically copied to a storage medium; and

the storage medium being selected from the group of;

a second virtual tape library; and

a physical tape library.

22. A system as in claim 21 wherein a data protection application copies backup data to the first virtual tape library as if the data protection application was copying the data to a physical tape library and wherein a physical tape can be created by playing back data copied to the first virtual tape library or by playing back data copied to the second virtual tape library.

23. A system as in claim 21 wherein the backup data is multimedia data.