System and method for data backup
First Claim
1. A method of managing a backup storage media for storing at least one full backup and a plurality of incremental backups of selected data stored on a first storage device, the method comprising steps of:
- periodically storing a full backup comprising a copy of the data selected from the first storage device in accordance with a first criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, and storing parent information representing attributes of the full backup in a dependency data structure on the backup storage media; and
during each use of the backup storage media between successive full backups;
analyzing the parent information stored in the dependency data structure to identify a parent backup from among backups previously stored on the backup storage media;
storing an incremental backup comprising a copy of the data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria and a second criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, the second criteria being automatically determined in relation to the identified parent backup; and
storing additional parent information representative of a relationship between the further backup and its respective parent backup in the dependency data structure;
wherein the backup storage media can be used to fully restore the data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria, to the date of the most recently stored backup on the backup storage media, independently of any backups stored on another backup storage media.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system of data backup for a computer system is disclosed. Full and incremental backups of data stored to a first storage device coupled to the computer system are stored to a backup storage device coupled to the computer system. The backup storage device may be remotely located and coupled via a network. Data representative of the relationship of each incremental backup to its respective parent backup is stored in a dependency data structure, preferably a tree-like structure. Different types of incremental backups may be performed to provide different data granularity. When two or more storage media are used in a rotational manner, each medium always contains a complete backup. The backup storage device is automatically managed by paring at least one of a full and incremental backup at the backup storage device automatically in accordance with a plan. The plan is preferably configured to manage an amount of available storage space at the backup storage device. When restoring data from a backup, data to be restored that is stored in a parent backup is automatically located and restored. Stored backups may be encrypted and decrypted when restored.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of managing a backup storage media for storing at least one full backup and a plurality of incremental backups of selected data stored on a first storage device, the method comprising steps of:
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periodically storing a full backup comprising a copy of the data selected from the first storage device in accordance with a first criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, and storing parent information representing attributes of the full backup in a dependency data structure on the backup storage media; and during each use of the backup storage media between successive full backups; analyzing the parent information stored in the dependency data structure to identify a parent backup from among backups previously stored on the backup storage media; storing an incremental backup comprising a copy of the data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria and a second criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, the second criteria being automatically determined in relation to the identified parent backup; and storing additional parent information representative of a relationship between the further backup and its respective parent backup in the dependency data structure; wherein the backup storage media can be used to fully restore the data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria, to the date of the most recently stored backup on the backup storage media, independently of any backups stored on another backup storage media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing a backup storage media for storing at least one full backup and a plurality of incremental backups of data stored on a first storage device, the method comprising steps of:
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maintaining a dependency data structure on the backup storage media, the dependency data structure comprising parent information representing attributes of each full backup stored on the backup storage media, and a relationship between each incremental backup and its respective parent backup; and at predetermined intervals; analyzing the parent information stored in the dependency data structure to identify a set of related backups which contain sufficient data to enable a full restoration of the data stored on the first storage device, to the date of the most recently stored backup on the backup storage media; and deleting at least one other backup from the backup storage media so as to increase a storage space of the backup storage media while ensuring that a full restore can be performed from the backup storage media. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification