Method and system for copying backup data

• US 7,069,466 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Yolanda L.
• Application Number:
  US10/218,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 714/6, 714/13, 711/162, 711/111, 711/161
• US Class Current: 714/6.3
• 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 from a data protection application to an on-site virtual tape library wherein the data protection application writes to the virtual tape library as if it were writing to a physical tape library;

wherein a log is kept of all the write operations made while the data is copied to the on-site virtual tape library in order to create additional copies without the use of the data protection application; and

electronically transmitting the data from the on-site virtual tape library to an off-site storage medium, wherein a restore operation may be performed using the data transmitted to the off-site storage medium.

2. method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site storage medium using an authenticated connection.

3. method of claim 2 wherein the on-site virtual tape library and off-site storage medium use a predetermined sequence and format for transmitting the data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the on-site 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.

5. method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site storage medium over a computer network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site storage medium over the internet.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site storage medium over an intranet.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site storage medium over a direct link between the on-site virtual tape library and the off-site storage medium.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site storage medium over a wireless communication system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the off-site storage medium is a virtual tape library.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the off-site storage medium is a physical tape library.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on the on-site virtual tape library is preserved after the data is sent to the off-site storage medium.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on the on-site virtual tape library is deleted after the data is sent to the off-site storage medium.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is multimedia data.

15. A method for copying backup data comprising:

copying backup data from a data protection application to an on-site virtual tape library wherein the data protection application writes to the virtual tape library as if it were writing to a physical tape library;

selecting a criteria for transmitting data from the on-site virtual tape library to an off-site virtual tape library;

wherein a log is kept of all the write operations made while the data is copied to the on-site virtual tape library in order to create additional copies without the use of the data protection application and

electronically transmitting the data from the on-site virtual tape library to the off-site virtual tape library according to the selected criteria, wherein a restore operation may be performed using the data transmitted to the off-site virtual tape library.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the off-site virtual tape library is a physical tape library.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the data in the on-site virtual tape library is deleted after being sent to the off-site virtual tape library.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the data is multimedia data.

19. A system for copying backup data comprising:

an on-site virtual tape library for storing backup data wherein a data protection application copies the data to the on-site virtual tape library as if the data protection application was copying the data to a physical tape library;

wherein a log is kept of all the write operations made while the data is copied to the on-site virtual tape library in order to create additional copies without the use of the data protection application;

means for electronically transmitting the data from the on-site virtual tape library to an off-site storage medium;

the off-site storage medium being selected from the group of;

a virtual tape library; and

a physical tape library; and

wherein a restore operation may be performed using the data transmitted to the off-site storage medium.

20. A system as in claim 19 wherein a physical tape can be created by playing back data copied to the on-site virtual tape library.

21. A system as in claim 19 wherein the data is multimedia data.

22. A system as in claim 19 wherein a physical tape can be created by playing back data transmitted to the off-site virtual tape library.