Drive preparation methods for intelligent backup systems

• US 6,289,426 B1
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Adaptec Incorporated (Steel Partners Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Goshey, Michael M., Maffezzoni, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hiep T.
• Application Number:
  US09/256,601
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 711/162, 711/170, 711/173, 711/112, 707/204, 714/6
• US Class Current: 711/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A computer implemented method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system having a primary hard drive is provided. The method includes generating a list of devices that are connected to the computer system. The list of devices includes at least the primary hard drive and a secondary drive. The method then advances to enable the selection of the secondary drive to be the backup drive of the computer system. The backup drive is then partitioned to match a partition arrangement of the primary hard drive of the computer system. Once partitioned, the method proceeds by fake formatting the partitions of the backup drive. The fake formatting is configured to only partially format the partitions of the backup drive. After fake formatting, the method moves to reboot the computer system from the primary hard drive. The partitions of the backup drive are then formatted implementing a complete formatting scheme. Once completely formatted, data from the primary drive is copied to the backup drive.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system, the computer system further having a primary hard drive, comprising:

generating a list of devices that are connected to the computer system, the list of devices includes at least the primary hard drive and a secondary drive;

selecting the secondary drive to be a backup drive;

partitioning the backup drive to match a partition arrangement of the primary hard drive of the computer system;

fake formatting the partitions of the backup drive, the fake formatting being configured to only partially format the partitions of the backup drive;

rebooting from the primary hard drive of the computer system; and

formatting the partitions of the backup drive with a complete formatting scheme.

2. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

copying files from the primary hard drive to the backup drive, the copying is configured to move files between the partition arrangement of the primary hard drive to the matching partition arrangement of the backup drive.

3. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 2, wherein the partially formatting of the partitions of the backup drive further comprises:

partially filling-in BIOS parameter block structure fields.

4. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein a serial number field of the BIOS parameter block structure fields is filled in with a zero.

5. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein a code for performing a complete formatting is not incorporated as part of the BIOS parameter block structure fields when performing the fake formatting.

6. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

writing the partially filled-in BIOS parameter block structure fields to the partitions of the backup drive.

7. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 6, wherein the partitioning of the backup drive to match the partition arrangement of the primary hard drive is configured to size each partition based on the size of the backup drive.

8. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

allotting an extra space in each partition of the backup drive to enable incremental backups.

9. A method for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the backup drive is one of a hard drive and a removable media drive.

10. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system, the computer system further having a primary hard drive, comprising:

selecting the secondary drive to be the backup drive;

partitioning the backup drive to match a partition arrangement of the primary hard drive of the computer system;

fake formatting the partitions of the backup drive, the fake formatting being configured to only partially format the partitions of the backup drive, the partially formatting is designed to partially fill-in BIOS parameter block structure fields for each one of the partitions of the backup drive;

rebooting from the primary hard drive of the computer system;

formatting the partitions of the backup drive with a complete formatting scheme; and

copying files from the primary hard drive to the backup drive, the copying is configured to move files between the partition arrangement of the primary hard drive to the matching partition arrangement of the backup drive.

11. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein the fake formatting is configured to eliminate a rebooting of the computer system after the formatting of the partitions of the backup drive with the complete formatting scheme.

12. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein the fake formatting is configured to enable long file names for Windows operating systems without having to reboot the computer system after the formatting of the partitions of the backup drive with the complete formatting scheme.

13. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein a serial number field of the BIOS parameter block structure fields is filled in with a zero.

14. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein a code for performing the complete formatting is not incorporated as part of the BIOS parameter block structure fields when performing the fake formatting.

15. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

writing the partially filled-in BIOS parameter block structure fields to the partitions of the backup drive.

16. A method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein the partitioning of the backup drive to match the partition arrangement of the primary hard drive is configured to size each partition based on the size of the backup drive.

17. A computer readable media containing program instructions for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system, the computer system further having a primary hard drive, the computer readable media comprising:

program instructions for generating a list of devices that are connected to the computer system, the list of devices includes at least the primary hard drive and a secondary drive;

program instructions for selecting the secondary drive to be a backup drive;

program instructions for partitioning the backup drive to match a partition arrangement of the primary hard drive of the computer system;

program instructions for fake formatting the partitions of the backup drive, the fake formatting being configured to only partially format the partitions of the backup drive;

program instructions for rebooting from the primary hard drive of the computer system; and

program instructions for formatting the partitions of the backup drive with a complete formatting scheme.

18. A computer readable media containing program instructions for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

program instructions for copying files from the primary hard drive to the backup drive, the copying is configured to move files between the partition arrangement of the primary hard drive to the matching partition arrangement of the backup drive.

19. A computer readable media containing program instructions for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 18, wherein the partially formatting of the partitions of the backup drive further comprises:

partially filling-in BIOS parameter block structure fields.

20. A computer readable media containing program instructions for preparing a drive that is connected to a computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein a serial number field of the BIOS parameter block structure fields is filled in with a zero.