Method of generating a database for use in an intelligent backup and restoring system

• US 6,684,229 B1
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• 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., Luong, Kristine N.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/256,676
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204, 707/203, 707/202, 707/201, 711/162, 345/334, 345/356, 345/162
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1448 Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore
• 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 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method for generating a database of data resident on a primary storage device of a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system includes generating a database having information associated with data resident on the primary storage device of the computer system. A graphical user interface is then generated to display the information in the database. The displayed information is preferably configured to be selected by a user to define a backup set of data that is available to be copied from the primary storage device of the computer system to a secondary storage device connected to the computer system. The method may further include the operations of setting a flag to designate selected portions of the database, and writing the selected portions of the database to the primary storage device of the computer system. A computer readable media for generating a database of data resident on a primary storage device of a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system also is described.

Claims

1. A method for generating a database of data resident on a primary storage device of a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system, comprising:

generating a database having information associated with data resident on the primary storage device of the computer system; and

generating a graphical user interface to display the information in the database, the graphical user interface including a graphic object proximate to each item of displayed information to enable a user to define a backup set of data that is available to be copied from the primary storage device of the computer system to a secondary storage device connected to the computer system, the backup set of data automatically including information associated with an operating system and information required for booting the operating system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a flag to designate selected portions of the database; and

writing the selected portions of the database to the primary storage device of the computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with data resident on the primary storage device includes a list of programs installed on the primary storage device and a list of logical hard drives together with all files on the logical hard drives.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a first view including the list of programs installed on the primary storage device and a second view including the list of logical hard drives together with the files on the logical hard drives.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface includes a capacity monitor that displays the disk space occupied by selected portions of the database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a dialog box including a first radio button that selects a minimal backup set of data and a second radio button that selects a maximal backup set of data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the minimal backup set of data includes the information associated with the operating system and the information required for booting the operating system and the maximal backup set of data includes all files on the primary storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary storage device is one of a hard drive and a removable media drive.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system is a personal computer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary storage device is one of a hard drive and a removable media drive.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system is a personal computer.

10. A method for generating a database of programs and files resident on a primary storage device of a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system, comprising:

generating a database of programs installed on the primary storage device of the computer system and files resident on the primary storage device of the computer system; and

generating a graphical user interface to display the programs and files in the database, the graphical user interface being configured to display a first view including the programs and a second view including the files, the programs and files being displayed for selection by a user to define a backup set of data that is available to be copied from the primary storage device of the computer system to a secondary storage device connected to the computer system, the backup set of data automatically including information associated with an operating system and information required for booting the operating system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

setting a flag to designate selected programs and files; and

writing the selected programs and files to the primary storage device of the computer system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second view includes a list of logical hard drives together with the files on the logical hard drives.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a dialog box including a first radio button that selects a minimal backup set of data and a second radio button that selects a maximal backup set of data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the minimal backup set of data includes the information associated with the operating system and the information required for booting the operating system and the maximal backup set of data includes all files on the primary storage device.

17. A computer readable media containing program instructions for generating a database of data resident on a primary storage device of a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system, the computer readable media comprising:

program instructions for generating a database having information associated with data resident on a primary storage device of the computer system; and

program instructions for generating a graphical user interface to display the information in the database, the graphical user interface including a graphic object proximate to each item of displayed information to enable a user to define a backup set of data that is available to be copied from the primary storage device of the computer system to a secondary storage device connected to the computer system, the backup set of data automatically including information associated with an operating system and information required for booting the operating system.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17, further comprising:

program instructions for setting a flag to designate selected portions of the database; and

program instructions for writing the selected portions of the database to the primary storage device of the computer system.

19. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the information associated with data resident on the primary storage device includes a list of programs installed on the primary storage device and a list of logical hard drives together with all files on the logical hard drives.

20. The computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a first view including the list of programs installed on the primary storage device and a second view including the list of logical hard drives together with the files on the logical hard drives.

21. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface includes a capacity monitor that displays the disk space occupied by selected portions of the database.

22. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a dialog box including a first radio button that selects a minimal backup set of data and a second radio button that selects a maximal backup set of data.

23. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the minimal backup set of data includes the information associated with the operating system and the information required for booting the operating system and the maximal backup set of data includes all files on the primary storage device.